Hard-working documents? A practice-oriented analysis of developing urban climate change adaptation plans in Poland

This study adopts an organisational ethnography perspective to assess the impact of integrating document production as a central element of environmental policy. The implementation of urban adaptation plans in Poland from 2007 to 2023 illustrates how EU-inspired, project-based development of environmental documents effectively addresses climate change adaptation as a manageable urban issue, engaging urban administration. However, attempts to go beyond this framework encounter constraints, and emphasising administrative feasibility has introduced challenges in addressing factors hindering policy success. The findings advocate for a critical approach to developing environmental documents, highlighting the multidimensional influence of document production on policy implementation.