Regional adaptation in practice. Second meeting of the Working Group on Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plans

On Friday, 13 June 2025, the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship hosted the second meeting of the Working Group on Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plans. The event brought together representatives of key institutions involved in planning regional climate adaptation efforts—driven by shared experience, concrete progress, and a vision for the future.

The meeting was opened by Paweł Jaworski, Director of the Department for Climate Change Adaptation and Urban Policy at the Ministry of Climate and Environment, and Aneta Szpindor, Director of the Department of Regional Projects at the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship, which hosted the session.

One of the key points of the agenda was a presentation by Dr. Helena Jadwiszczok-Molenecka, Head of the Regional Eco-Information Centre, who discussed pilot activities implemented under the LIFE project Silesia. Blue Sky Restored. Participants explored innovative models of sustainable construction and concepts for integrating green infrastructure into urban planning—practical solutions already supporting climate resilience in Silesia.

The progress of regional adaptation documents was also a major focus. Barbara Porębska, Head of the Climate Unit at the Silesian Marshal’s Office, presented the ongoing development of the Regional Adaptation Plan for the Silesian Voivodeship. Justyna Mazurkiewicz – Head of the Climate Team at the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Voivodeship, followed with an update on the Małopolska Regional Adaptation Strategy. Aleksandra Sieradzka-Stasiak from the Institute for Territorial Development in Wrocław outlined the assumptions behind the pioneering Lower Silesian Water Policy—an innovative approach to integrating climate adaptation with water resource management.

A working session focused on aligning adaptation plans with key strategic documents such as the National Adaptation Strategy (KSA), municipal adaptation plans, and sectoral policies. The discussion sparked particular interest around the legal status of regional adaptation plans: should they be mandatory or voluntary? Strategic or implementation-focused? Binding for local governments?

Participants agreed that RPA development should be grounded in a strong legal basis while also considering local realities and the needs of communities. The debate addressed the question of what such documents should include and how they should be developed—whether through expert-driven, participatory, or hybrid processes. These insights will directly inform the evolving shape of national adaptation policy.

The meeting gathered representatives from:

• the Department for Climate Change Adaptation and Urban Policy at the Ministry of Climate and Environment,
• the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship,
• the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Voivodeship,
• the Institute for Territorial Development in Wrocław,
• the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute,
• and the Upper Silesia-Zagłębie Metropolis.

In this diverse and expert group, participants held discussions on practical aspects of regional climate adaptation. They compared experiences, exchanged good practices, and identified potential partners for joint action—spanning ministries, regional governments, and research institutions.

The meeting concluded with the agreement on the next steps and the date of the following working group session. The collaborative work on Regional Adaptation Plans is gaining momentum—with a clear mission: to move beyond strategy documents and deliver real, measurable regional climate resilience.