Strengthening climate-proofing in EU-funded transport infrastructure projects in Poland

Key Learnings

• Raising awareness boosts Transformation: To build climate-resilient cities and transport infrastructure requires shifting mindsets in the investment design process. Raising awareness and communicating new knowledge to investors and designers fosters climate adaptation action.  
• Engagement and Training: Engaging environmental scientists and designers ensures the needed support from the beginning. Training designers on climate-proofing is crucial to enable informed decisions about suitable materials and solutions, ensuring the best possible adaptation outcome.
• Cost-effectiveness: Adapting projects to climate change notably reduces infrastructure maintenance costs as climate-proofing necessitates more durable materials adapted to more extreme weather events.

Summary

Strengthening climate-proofing in EU-funded transport infrastructure in Poland shows the value of early awareness, expert input, and training for designers to embed resilience from the start. While challenges such as late or superficial analyses and resistance to new approaches remain, projects like railway station reconstructions prove that effective measures, from biodiverse planting to water retention and weather monitoring, can be integrated even at later stages. Key outcomes include the creation of a Climate Adaptation Expert Team, practical guidance and online resources, and regular training workshops, which are already improving project quality and building more resilient transport infrastructure.

Contact

Ewa Paderewska, Head of Environmental Protection Unit, Transport Analysis Department, Centre for EU Transport Projects in Poland

Email: epaderewskacupt [dot] gov [dot] pl (epaderewska[at]cupt[dot]gov[dot]pl)