Transformative innovation for better climate change adaptation - Case study: Mazovia - Stare Babice, Poland

The aim of this report is to investigate the potential for harnessing key features of Transformative Innovation to improve the design and the implementation of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) strategies for Mazovia region and the municipality of Stare Babice, in Poland, as at October 2023, based on empirical analyses. The study draws on the conceptual framework on this question previously defined for the JRC (European Commission, 2024), and the methodology for case studies articulated in the same report. 

Some of the main findings from the study include:

Mazovian Voivodeship, Warsaw City and Stare Babice municipality are signatories of the Mission Charter on Adaptation to Climate Change. Features from the transformative innovation approach can further support Mazovia region and the municipality of Babice in their efforts towards systemic change, building on the following state-of-play.

• Directionality: The region's authorities are aware of climate change and the challenges it poses, including climate risks affecting key community systems. CCA is not explicitly targeted in innovation strategies, nor does innovation play an important role in CCA-related strategies at national level or in Mazovia region. Elements of a transformative approach are visible in efforts towards a circular economy and in the energy sector, areas that are more closely linked to climate change (although not explicitly adaptation) in the context of innovation.
• Instrument portfolios and funding synergies: Sources of funding for CCA include EU funds, the Mazovian Climate Change Adaptation Support Instrument, and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The municipality of Stare Babice has insufficient own funds and seeks additional resources. Climate policy networks and transnational cooperation projects support an exchange of good practices and increase the capacity to act on climate change issues, but activities are fragmented and uncoordinated. 
• Ensuring cross-domain synergies: CCA is increasingly taken into account in sectoral policies, programmes and regulatory frameworks, however not every document contains proposals for concrete actions. Synergies between CCA and innovation policy in Mazovia region seem to be lacking. Incidental attempts exist for more interdepartmental cooperation. 
• Stakeholder involvement: Polish law regulates the participation of socio-economic partners in the development policy (including drafting strategies). However, quality is neglected because there are no government guidelines or local customs regarding active involvement of stakeholders in this process. In Mazovia and Stare Babice, some examples of stakeholder engagement relate to CCA activities. Business involvement in CCA is still low, especially developing CCA strategies.