Future changes of selected climate indices in Poland based on the results of dynamical downscaling

The paper shows the expected changes in selected climatic indices on the basis of the results of dynamic downscaling for the 2041–2070 period with regard to the 1971–2000 period in the Polish territory. Results of the EURO CORDEX simulations with a resolution of 50 km and 12.5 km and regional models HIRHAM5, RACMO22E and the RCA4 driven by EC EARTH global climate model and RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios have been used.
The maps showing absolute differences in the following climatic indices: number of frost days, ice days, summer days, wet days and days with precipitation exceeding 10 and 20 mm, between the values obtained in the scenarios and the values obtained for the reference period have been analysed. All the model results show an increase in the global temperature resulting in a decrease in the number of frost and ice days and an increase in the number of summer days. The models also show an increase in the frequency of extreme precipitation. Despite general similarities between the results of the simulations, some differences are evident, mainly due to model-specific setup.

Energiewende in a Polish commune. Consequences of local policy based on renewable energy sources, on the example of Kisielice

The increasing role of renewable energy sources implies significant socio-economic changes at the local level. In Poland, a great importance in that area is attached to wind turbines and biofuel-based combined heat and power stations. Localization of these investments often leads to social conflicts. The aim of this study is to assess the consequences of local policy in Kisielice, which in the years 1998 to 2015 gave priority to RES development. Considering this problem from the perspective of the energy justice framework and the law on wind energy investments, a case study has been investigated. The case study consists of: (1) literature review, including nine interviews with the local authorities (2) statistical and spatial analysis (3) fieldwork in five villages located in the direct neighbourhood of wind energy turbines. The results show that long-term local energy policy in Kisielice, implemented with an intensity comparable to the German Energiewende, has met the most of social acceptance conditions. Support for RES in the villages susceptible to anthropogenic influence displays similar patterns to trends at the national level. However, the inhabitants have a sense of injustice resulting from the fact that only a small group obtains benefits from the use of wind turbines. According to the author’s opinion, a compromise between restrictive provisions of the law on wind energy investments and local community’s interests can only be based on creating the atmosphere of trust and partnership, as well as implementing mechanisms of direct compensations for negative external effects created by renewable installations.

Urban space after socialism as a common good. An overview of theoretical concepts

While cities are sites of both individuality and collectivity, the resulting dualism translates into contradictory processes. On the one hand, city dwellers are inclined to adopt egoistic and self-concerned attitudes, while on the other, there is an opposite tendency with common interests secured and celebrated through common actions for the common sake. The aim of the article is to discuss the notions of common good, to examine urban space as its particular case and to conduct a preliminary analysis of conditions typical for Central European cities, all of which is followed by a proposal for an empirical study and conclusions

Factors influencing preferences and actions of Polish municipal authorities regarding mitigation and adaptation to climate change

In the article we analyze types and determinants of local climate policies undertaken by Polish communes. We use a distinction between adaptation and mitigation policies. Our study is based on a survey on all Polish communes conducted in 2014 (response rate 51%).
The research has revealed a far-reaching coherence of situation in Polish and foreign communes (when compared to foreign literature). Polish communes declare most frequently mitigation activities, which we explain by national and EU support. Obligation for local plans of low emission economy, together with financial incentives for this goal has led to a local focus being placed on air quality.
Among the factors explaining differentiation in locally undertaken actions, the most important one is size (population) of a commune (which influences e.g. the competences of local administration). In the case of adaptation, the perceived vulnerability of a commune (experience of past and expectation of future extreme weather events related to water) is also important. Other factors, like the affluence of municipality a commune, has turned out to have secondary importance, determined by size. When looking at determinants of the will to spend more money on mitigation than adaptation, we have discovered that it depends on the conviction that human activity influences climate changes and that local governments should undertake climate policies.

Secondary data: Evaluation of usefulness for studying social conflicts around protected areas in three spatial scales

Secondary data comprise resources collected in various sectors of social life, independently from the researcher undertaking their analyses. Collecting such data is usually less time consuming and less costly compared to reactive studies, thus, each time when planning a research study, inclusion of secondary data should be considered. This specifically requires: 1) usage of systematic, multi-criteria evaluation methods; 2) separate evaluation of certain categories of secondary data; 3) separate reference to each of the research specific aims.
The following paper presents an example of such an evaluation that meets all the criteria mentioned above. Using a point grading technique we assessed usefulness of three categories of secondary data (scientific literature, data used in content analysis and content of the public statistics) to meet all three specific aims of an interdisciplinary research project conducted by the same authors. Each of the aims differs in a) spatial scale of analyses (regional, local and topological) and b) dominant form of enquiry (quantitative, qualitative and qualitative accompanied with the use of GIS techniques). The results suggest usefulness of the technique in the context of multifaceted research projects: final evaluation scores for particular secondary data categories differed substantially depending on the specific aim. However, we suggest all the analysts to perform a deep insight into the evaluation process itself before deciding to replace reactive research with secondary data analyses. Among others, this is because weights assigned to certain criteria of the evaluation process are often dependent on organisational capacity of a particular research project. At the same time, exemption of the proposed stage of research planning may result in various negative consequences, e.g. 1) reduction in funding perspectives due to weak justification of the planned costs, or 2) lowering research scientific value of the study due to a lack of critical insight into the data, which are out of actual analyses.

Tourism Organisations as a factor for regional development: Functional assessment

Tourism development is perceived as one of the strategies with a positive impact on national and local economies Following global trends these three levels was introduced in Poland in 2000 for organisations devoted to the development and promotion of tourism. This paper focuses on tourism development at the local level, i.e. Local Tourism Organisations (LTOs). It aims to assess whether the 3-tier tourism development system complies with its purpose at the LTO level. In 2013, questionnaires were sent to all LTOs registered in Poland (only 30 of 130 LTOs participated in the research), and next to members of these LTOs, which completed the survey (88 of 500 participated in the research). Study results suggest that LTOs do fulfil their primary task of contributing to the development of tourism in the region. The main advantages of membership are marketing benefits and the consolidation of activities with other members. Moreover, the presence of LTOs on the local market supports activities associated with tourism promotion. Despite the positive study results, the functioning of LTOs in Poland requires corrective measures. Organisations should place stronger emphasis on the integration of the various stakeholder groups in the region and become more involved in inter-regional cooperation and the development of new tourism products.

Do urban people prefer exceptional natural environment areas for building suburban homes? Case study of Olsztyn suburban area

Dynamic migrations from urban to suburban areas and related to them development of residential buildings in rural areas are both desirable by local authorities and raise many concerns, including anticipation of natural environmental values degradation. The source of those concerns is common opinion, that urban people prefer moving out toward areas with exceptional natural environmental values and, through transforming them with intensive residential building, eventually destroy them. The aim of the article was the attempt to find the answer for the following question: do urban people actually select areas with exceptional natural environmental values for their suburban residential houses? What are their motives to select the particular localization for suburban homes? Studies were carried out in the area including all communes surrounding Olsztyn, the capital of Warmia and Mazury region, where almost half of the region’s area is legally protected. Achieving the aim required considering natural environmental values, analyzing the preferences toward suburban localization for residential buildings and its actual concentration. As a result, it was eventually verified, that areas with exceptional environmental values were not simultaneously attractive for residential building, therefore properly directed suburbanization do not have to explicitly mean environmental degradation, but can even contribute to gentrification of villages located in the areas that are of less importance for agriculture or maintaining valuable ecosystems.