Climate change is a fact that cannot be denied. All around the world we can observe its manifestations and respective countries and communities need to adapt to them. Also Polish cities and municipalities become more and more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, such as hurricane winds, droughts or tempestuous rains that threaten people’s lives and properties. Therefore they need to introduce solutions, which will make them more resilient to negative impacts of climate change. Such solutions should be a part of wider climate adaptation strategies containing detailed analysis of local situation, potential climate hazards, likelihood of their occurance and possible impacts on the local situation. Within the framework of the project implemented by the Polish Ministry for Environment climate adaptation plans have been developed for 44 cities above 100 000 inhabitants. It is desirable that next cities and municipalities follow in their footsteps planning own adaptation measures.

There are many climate adaptation tools that can be implemented on the local level, depending on the city’s particular situation, vulnerabilities and needs. They include, among others, modernisation of buildings and infrastructure to improve their resilience, better water management  (maintenance of existing and construction of new small water retention structures, reduction of surface sealing, development and modernisation of rainwater drainage and management system), construction of urban ventillation corridors, introduction of a weather hazards warning system and educational campaigns. An important component is also the development of so called „green infrastructure”. Under this term we mean the network of  natural and seminatural areas, designed and managed in a way ensuring wide variety of ecosystem services, on one hand improving city esthetics and the quality of life of its citizens, and on the other hand creating response to many environmental challenges, also the ones related with the climate change.

Green infrastructure in cities is composed of unbuilt areas covered with vegetation (parks, allotment gardens, home gardens, …), as well as green roofs, living walls, rain gardens, green belts and passages, city meadows, green track-ways, green stops etc.. Out of this pool specific attention should be paid to green roofs, which have many environmental and social benefits, but still are not popular enough.  Green roofs not only improve esthetics of their surroundings, but also are an important climate mitigation and adaptation tool as they:

• absorb rainwater reducing flood risk;  
• absorb CO₂ and other air pollutants;
• mitigate urban heat Island effect;
• improve micro-climate;
• improve buildings’ thermal insulation;
• contribute to the restoration of green spacer lost in result of urbanisation processes;
• improve urban biodiversity.

Potentially, green roofs may also become a place of recreation for the citizens. Therefore, there is an environmental and social need to build new green roofs and encourage members of local community to do the same.