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.