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Implementation of climate change adaptation policy in the local spatial development plans in Warsaw: A case study Cover

Implementation of climate change adaptation policy in the local spatial development plans in Warsaw: A case study

Open Access
|Feb 2026

Figures & Tables

Analytical categories, provision classes and their description

Categories related to climate change
CategoryLabelsDescription of the category/Provisions aiming to counteract the climate change threat in the city
Heat [island]Cat.1
1. Ventilation of the city1. Provisions ensuring the proper airing and ventilation of the city.
2. Protection of green areas2. Provisions protecting delimited green areas and increasing their portion in the total city area.
3. Thermal comfort in microscale3. Provisions improving thermal comfort in the microscale of the city.
4. Restrictions for buildings (materials, colours)4. Provisions introducing solutions that adapt buildings to climate change.
Water [retention and flooding]Cat.2
1. Flood protection measures1. Provisions ensuring the construction, maintenance, expansion, or reconstruction of existing flood protection measures.
2. Restrictions on high flood risk areas2. Provisions limiting the urbanisation pressure on floodplains.
3. Water retention systems in the city3. Provisions ensuring the establishment of water retention systems in the city.
4. Water retention solutions on a micro scale4. Provisions ensuring the development of solutions that promote water infiltration or retention on a micro scale.
5. Rainwater management5. Provisions ensuring the application of systemic rainwater management.
WindsCat.3
1. Protection zones around trees1. Provisions introducing protected zones around old trees (natural monuments, trees of exceptional natural and landscape value).
2. Cabling the power lines2. A provision providing for the cabling of power lines underground.
Categories related to the sustainable built environment
Infrastructure [resilience]Cat.4
1. Usage of renewable energy sources1. Provisions introducing solutions to increase the city’s energy autonomy (heat and electricity), including increasing the renewable energy usage.
2. Cabling the power lines2. A provision providing for the cabling of power lines underground.
3. Applying rainwater collection solutions3. Provisions ensuring protection against overloading/damage to the rainwater collection system by introducing rainwater collection solutions.
Green spacesCat.5
1. Protection of larger green areas1. Provisions ensuring the protection of larger green areas, including parks and allotment gardens, and increasing their size.
2. Protection of smaller patches of greenery2. Provisions ensuring protection of and introducing smaller patches of greenery, including roadside greenery and around buildings.
3. Selection of species for planting3. Provisions ensuring the usage of a specific type of species for new planting and more drought-resistant plants.
4. Protection zones around trees4. Provisions introducing protected zones around old trees.
5. Degraded land transformation5. Provisions promoting the transformation of degraded land into green spaces.
6. Development of elements of BGI in microscale6. Provisions promoting the application of a systematic approach to develop green roofs, walls, facades, rain gardens, ponds and other BGI elements.
7. Protection of natural greenery7. Provisions ensuring protection of natural greenery.
8. Modelling of natural connection networks8. Provisions ensuring protection and modelling of natural connection networks.
9. Green spaces within the boundaries of the conservation area9. Provisions ensuring protection of green spaces within the boundaries of the conservation area.

Local spatial development plans from the Warsaw area considered in the study [https://architektura_um_warszawa_pl/informacje-o-planach]

No.LSDP resolution number Date of starting preparation of the plan Date of adoption of the plan DistrictMain terrain functions and terrain features related to the study
1.LXXXVIII/2872/2023 14.10.2021 – 21.09.2023 MokotówGreen areas (parks, allotment gardens, cemeteries), multi-family housing, services (various), residential greenery, trees recognised as natural monuments, roads of multiple categories, and an air exchange corridor.
2.XXIII/887/2025 19.09.2024 – 10.07.2025 BielanyGreen areas (parks), groups of trees, and trees of exceptional natural and landscape value, as well as areas vulnerable to flooding in the event of a breach in the flood barrier.
3.LXXXVIII/2873/2023 10.06.2021 – 21.09.2023 Mokotów/OchotaServices (various), roads of different categories, green areas (parks), buffer green areas, rows of trees, trees of exceptional natural and landscape value, trees recognised as natural monuments, and the air exchange corridor boundary.
4.IX/201/2024 10.06.2021 – 29.08.2024 OchotaServices (various), multi-family housing, green areas (parks), residential greenery, buffer green areas, and roads of multiple categories.
5.LXXXI/2661/2023 18.06.2020 – 25.05.2023 OchotaMulti-family housing/services, green areas (parks), residential greenery, rows of trees, technical infrastructure, and access road.
6.XXIII/885/2025 14.05.2020 – 10.07.2025 SródmieścieResidential areas (various), services (different), green areas (gardens), rows of trees, surface waters, water intakes from Oligocene wells, border of the Natura 2000 Area OSO Middle Vistula River Valley, border of the Warsaw Landscape Protection Area, border of the area of particular flood risk, roads of multiple categories.
7.XCVI/3221/2024 24.09.2020, 12.05.2022 – 14.03.2024 TargówekMulti-family housing, services (various), green areas (parks), residential greenery, rows of trees, trees to be preserved, and roads of multiple categories.
8.XXIII/880/2025 6.07.2023 – 10.07.2025 UrsusMulti-family housing, single-family housing, services, green areas (parks), residential greenery, buffer green areas, rows of trees, trees recognised as natural monuments, trees of exceptional natural and landscape value, water reservoir, roads of multiple categories.
9.X/307/2024 13.10.2022–19.09.2024 UrsynówMulti-family housing, educational services, green areas (parks), residential greenery, rows of trees, trees of exceptional natural and landscape value, roads of multiple categories.
10.LXXII/2380/2022 15.10.2020 – 17.11.2022 WłochyServices (various), including sport and recreation, rows of trees, trees to be preserved, and roads of multiple categories.

The results of the content analysis of the set of LSDPs for Warsaw

LSDP’s resolution number/Provisions
CategoryLXXXVIII/2872/2023XXIII/887/2025LXXXVIII/2873/2023IX/201/2024LXXXI/2661/2023XXIII/885/2025XCVI/3221/2024XXIII/880/2025X/307/2024LXXII/2380/2022
Plan No12345678910
Cat.11. Ventilation of the city: active protection (·), passive protection (◊);no ventilation corridor located in the area covered by the plan (-).
--·-··◊---
2. Protection of green areas (G): parks (Ш), allotment gardens (и), cemetery (c), greenery zones in residential and services areas (⌂), buffer green areas in communication areas (║), pocket parks (ш), garden zones (ω); groups or rows of trees (ஃ), individual trees (↑); public access (☺).
Ши║c⌂ωஃ↑☺☺Шஃ↑☺Ш⌂║ ஃ↑☺Ш⌂║ஃ ↑☺Ш⌂║ஃ ↑☺Ш⌂ωஃ ↑☺⌂║шஃ ↑☺Ш⌂║ஃ ↑☺Шஃ☺⌂ஃ↑☺
3. Thermal comfort in microscale: green areas (G), green walls or vertical gardens (#), green roofs (∧), green tram tracks (ㅒ); permeable surfaces (…).
G…G…Gㅒ…G#∧ㅒ…G#ㅒ…G∧G#∧…G#∧ …G∧…G∧…
4. Restrictions for buildings: materials (슴), colours (✐); no buildings in the plan area (-).
슴✐-슴 ✐슴✐슴✐슴✐
Cat.21. Flood protection measures: measures located at the plan area (ⅿ); measures located outside the plan area (~); no such measures needed (-).
-~-------
2. Restrictions on high flood risk areas: delineation of areas (☁), land use – the park (P), natural greenery (–), transportation areas(v)), only construction of park pavilions in the form of temporary structures is permitted (ח); temporary commercial structures are prohibited (banned) ⊠; no such areas (-).
-☁P⊠---☁Pח–v----
3. Water retention systems in the city (R): natural watercourse (≈); larger retention reservoirs (U), drainage ditches (▬) or other artificial retention facilities (f); no larger retention facilities at the plan area (-); larger retention areas (––); the area of the plan within the reach of the groundwater reservoir (ῡ).
-----––≈---
4. Water retention solutions in microscale – located within the boundaries of the plot (mR): permeable surfaces (…), rain gardens (⇣), small retention reservoirs (U), bioretention basins (e), absorption trenches (⌣), filtration ditches (␣), other solutions (o); prohibition on introducing permanent changes to water conditions (℗).
…⇣e⌣␣o…o…⇣e⋃⌣o℗….e ⌣␣o…⇣e ⌣o℗⋃ ⌣o℗…⋃e⌣␣o℗…⇣⋃eo…⇣⋃e⌣o℗…⋃e⌣␣
5. Rainwater management (RM): mandatory pre-treatment of rainwater/meltwater from contaminated paved surfaces (▨), drainage of rainwater/meltwater from the plot or building site into the ground (»), “exceptionally” discharging rainwater/meltwater into the sewage system (for example excess water) (↓); permeable surfaces (…); construction of rainwater/meltwater management systems and facilities that, in addition to their retention/infiltration functions, will serve social and recreational purposes (®), vegetation planting to support filtration (í).
mR▨»↓… ®…ímR▨»↓…®mR▨»↓…®mR▨»↓…®mR»↓mR»↓mR▨»↓…®mR▨».… ®mR▨»↓ …®
Cat.31. Protection zones around trees (○).
2. Cabling the power lines (©).
©©©©©©©©©©
Cat.41. Promoting of renewable energy sources: wind (O), solar (☼), geothermal energy (⟲); no such provisions in the plan resolution (-).
O☼⟲-O☼⟲☼⟲O☼⟲
2. Cabling the power lines (©).
©©©©©©©©©©
3. Applying rainwater retention solutions to protect the sewage and rainwater collection system.
RMRMRMRMRMRMRMRMRMRM
Cat.51. Protection of larger green areas: min BBA in %; no such areas (-).
Parks.
707080708070-70, 8075,80-
Allotment gardens.
80--------
Residential and services areas (with higher values of min BBA in % for zones of greenery or internal backyards).
40-20 – 3025 – 4015 – 250 – 45 (40-60)20 – 50 (60)25 – 4025 – 4040
Zones of greenery in transportation areas - buffer green areas.
1 – 40-10, 2010, 1510, 201 – 305 – 401 – 205 – 351 – 15
2. Protection of smaller patches of greenery: pocket parks, garden zones;no such areas (-).
-----60, 8070---
3. Protection zones around trees of exceptional landscape value (♧) and monuments (♣).
♣♧♣♧♣♧
4. Development of BGI elements: requiring the development of greenery on all non-built-up areas (%); green walls or vertical gardens (#), green roofs (∧); green tram tracks (ㅒ); rain gardens (⇣), small retention reservoirs (⋃), bioretention basins (e), absorption trenches (⌣), filtration ditches (␣), other solutions (o);the park covers the whole plan area (**).
⇣e⌣␣o**o%ㅒ⇣e⋃⌣o#∧ㅒ e⌣␣oㅒ#⇣e⌣o%∧⋃⌣o%#∧⋃e⌣␣o#∧⇣⋃eo∧⇣⋃e⌣o∧⋃e⌣␣
5. Degraded land transformation into green areas (❀); no degraded land in the plan area (-).
---------
6. Selection of species for planting; species composition adapted to local conditions (ʟ), climate change threats-resistant species (ʀ).
ʟʟʟʟʀʟʟʟʀʟʀʟ
7. Protection of natural greenery (□);no natural greenery in the plan area (-).
---------
8. Modelling of natural connection Network (*); restrictions on land use in accordance with separate regulations concerning priority landscapes (j), Warsaw Protected Landscape Area (k), Natura 2000 Middle Vistula Valley area (l).
**j**j**jkl----
9. Green spaces within the boundaries of the conservation area with an order to preserve existing greenery (!); land development in accordance with separate regulations (3)
!-!-!3!3---!3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oszn-2025-0019 | Journal eISSN: 2353-8589 | Journal ISSN: 1230-7831
Language: English
Published on: Feb 11, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
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© 2026 Maria Markiewicz, published by National Research Institute, Institute of Environmental Protection
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

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