Italy vs Poland: a comparative analysis of planning system attitudes toward adaptation to climate changes and green infrastructures

Spatial planning evolution is currently characterized by several driving issues. While
the implementation of the European Landscape Convention requires the modification of
theoretical and practical frameworks, continental countries deal with two big specific
concerns. The first is the adaptation to climate changes (ACC) and the second the
management of green infrastructures (GI). ACC is steering renovation of spatial planning and
management with the continuous calls for the necessity to prepare properly to tackle severe
climatic events. GI are conceived as a coordinated network of green areas with the
precise purpose of delivering as many ecosystem services (ES) as possible. ES
consist of beneficial functions for many forms of life on Earth (i.e., carbon sequestration, water
retention, etc.). ACC implementation is led by an efficient and ready spatial planning system and
effective GI management, in a lot of senses, helps realizing many objectives connected with
the strengthening of local landscapes. In this paper, we aim at comparing the
attitudes of Italian and Polish spatial planning systems, along two main filters. According to the
first, we will be describing general commonalities and differences between the two
spatial planning frameworks with the focus on the institutional premises. With respect to the
second filter, we will be delving into the implementation of two concerns: ACC and GI
planning and management. The results demonstrate that institutional
and historical features matters: i.e., the evolution of spatial planning is driven by power
organization and citizen representation. Secondly, they prove that the pattern of ACC
and GI implementation paths differ, because of local spatial planning tradition and maturity.