PL
Drought is affecting Polish cities here and now. It’s not just a problem for farmers, affecting the quantity and quality of crops. We’re also dealing with it in cities, both large and small. However, although drought is a problem in our daily lives, we’re not completely helpless. Each of us can get involved in counteracting the effects of drought, as experts discuss in our latest podcast.
The climate is constantly changing. Rising temperatures are contributing to the heating of ubiquitous concrete. The scarcity of trees and shrubs, replaced by artificial, man-made surfaces, contributes to the deepening problem. Therefore, we must change our approach. Modern cities should reconnect with nature – not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for functional ones. Plants do a lot of good: they cool, retain water, and purify the air. Scientific knowledge confirms the effectiveness of blue-green solutions, so they must be translated into practical actions in cities.
Blue-green infrastructure is crucial in combating drought in cities. It involves enhancing natural processes that aid water infiltration into the soil. Even with hardened surfaces – such as concrete or granite slabs in squares – it’s worth investing in appropriate solutions, such as retention tanks hidden beneath the concrete. These collect rainwater, which can be used to water urban greenery.
It’s crucial that good ideas don’t just remain on paper. Appropriate funding is secured to implement them. Local governments should therefore not only promote but also actively support environmentally friendly initiatives. They can do this, for example, by changing lawn mowing regulations or landscaping practices.
Education and demonstration investments are equally important in building understanding of the drought problem in Polish cities. In our podcast, we discuss the many solutions available to everyone. There are subsidies available for municipalities and residents; we also have access to national and local funds, which are enjoying significant popularity. The Ministry of Climate also plans to reactivate micro-retention programs, which include residential reservoirs.
And how can each of us contribute to improving local retention?
– don’t mow the grass too short, and if possible, replace lawns with flower meadows, which retain water even better
– plant shrubs and birch trees, which also contribute to better water retention in the soil
– avoid using artificial fertilizers to reduce groundwater pollution
– collect and use rainwater, for example, for watering plants
– save water in everyday activities
Drought poses a threat to critical infrastructure, which is why crisis management plans are being prepared at every level – in municipalities, counties, voivodeships, and nationwide. Information about droughts is publicly available on the websites of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW), Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG*), and the Polish Geological Institute (PIG), as well as in the media, where we receive information through announcements, orders, and prohibitions.
Nature-based solutions bring us many benefits and are often cheaper than traditional systems. Some benefits increase over time, for example, larger trees provide more shade. During this time, operating costs decrease as nature begins to cooperate with the system. Furthermore, communities gain spaces for relaxation and local activities surrounded by nature.
Blue-green infrastructure is an investment with multi-level benefits: environmental, social, and financial. Each of us can contribute to the fight against drought in the city, from the ministry, through local governments, to every resident. Let’s not wait for the effects of drought, but act proactively – let’s retain water, change our surroundings, and educate each other.
For more information, we encourage you to listen to the latest episode of our podcast
* IUNG – The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation
