Climate City Contract for Krakow

The aim of the contract is to support European cities in a systemic transformation towards climate neutrality and transform them into centres of innovation. The cities accepted into the mission are blazing a trail towards climate neutrality using innovative technical, organisational, business and social solutions. The pathway is a detailed plan for the transformation of the city, and is enshrined in this document.

‘The Climate City Contract for Krakow’ was signed by the Mayor of the City of Krakow in September this year and positively reviewed by key local partners, and it is currently awaiting evaluation by European Commission experts.

Cities whose contracts obtain a positive opinion receive a ‘Mission Label’ and support in the implementation of the contracts, which consists primarily of assistance in unlocking the local potential of the city, removing legislative and procedural barriers, preparing packages of investment activities for financing, and facilitating contacts with financial institutions. Cooperation with other mission cities (Warsaw, Łódź, Wrocław and Rzeszów) and the opportunity to benefit from ready-made solutions, experiences and good practices are also of great importance.

‘Climate City Contract for Krakow’

The contract presents an approach to the gap between projects already implemented or planned and the actions needed to achieve climate neutrality, and consists of three parts:

• part one: ‘Commitments’ – these describe the city’s climate ambitions, indicate the target, and include a declaration of actions to achieve it.
• part two: ‘Action Plan’ – this indicates the areas of intervention, the list of actions and how they will be implemented.
• part three: ‘Investment plan’ – this includes cost scenarios, funding sources, barriers and implementation risks.

The contract is based on an economic model prepared by experts at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and on data compiled by the City: the ‘Emission Inventory’, strategic management documents at various levels, the city budget and the Multiannual Financial Forecast.

The target adopted in the ‘Climate City Contract for Krakow’ is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2030 compared to 2018, with a large part of the emission reductions (4,473,000 t CO2e) resulting from measures implemented after 2018 or planned in the strategic documents of the city and the Polish government. The contract includes a detailed description of the additional 58 actions to be taken to achieve additional emission reductions of 1,614,000 t CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent). The cost of these actions was estimated at PLN 28,769 million.

However, the economic model calculations indicate that the total financial, direct and indirect benefits (reduced energy expenditure, healthcare, additional jobs, etc.) outweigh the costs of the transition. The vast majority of emission reductions will result from the implementation of national strategies, implemented by private actors: energy companies, businesses, and building owners and managers. Eight key actions on the road to climate neutrality are:

decarbonisation of the district heating system,

development of citizen energy communities,

renovation of municipal public buildings,

modernisation of road and square lighting,

construction of a metro and development of rail transport,

renovation of residential buildings and development sites,

increasing resilience to the effects of climate change,

involving citizens and entrepreneurs in city management.

The contract comprehensively describes the city’s path to climate neutrality and presents key actions to achieve climate neutrality for the city, while recognising the scale and complexity of the challenge and the difficulties that implementation may encounter. The contract is a declaration of cooperation and action, with ethical and image commitments. Contrary to its name, it is not a legally binding contract.