Planning for the Sake of Planning vs. Climate-Threats-Oriented Planning: A Comparative Analysis of the Consistency of Adaptation Plans in Selected Polish Cities

The growing popularity of climate change adaptation planning in cities raises questions regarding its effectiveness in mitigating climate-related threats to urban areas. This study aimed to assess the extent to which adaptation measures included in municipal adaptation plans address identified climate threats. The attempt to categorize planned adaptation measures according to their potential links to mitigating selected climate threats represents a new approach to categorizing these measures. This study uses 44 municipal adaptation plans (MAPs) for climate change for the largest cities in Poland, developed between 2015 and 2020. The main types of climate hazards identified and included in the MAPs are heat waves, heavy rainfall, urban flooding, droughts, and strong winds. A comparison of the types of planned measures and identified threats in individual MAPs reveals a partial discrepancy and, a predominance of indirect, preparatory measures. Once implemented, measures classified as indirect do not directly reduce climate threats or decrease their frequency and/or intensity. However, they support adaptation and enable the achievement of the expected adaptation out-comes once subsequent measures are implemented. A positive effect is only possible at a later stage, after implementing subsequent measures. The preparation process is necessary and unavoidable; however, it should be shortened to the absolute minimum to prioritize the physical implementation of adaptation measures in urban areas.