An overwhelming majority of people in Poland believe it is important for their country to adapt to climate change, according to the annual Climate Survey commissioned by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The seventh edition of the survey also shows that nearly eight in ten Polish respondents expect to adapt their lifestyles to climate change. That figure stands above EU average and is driven by a more widespread first-hand experience of extreme weather conditions like droughts, severe storms and floods in Poland, compared to some other EU countries. Moreover, most Poles believe that investing in climate adaptation is needed now to prevent the toll of extreme weather events from rising. That comes despite the fact that they rank climate change as only the seventh-biggest challenge facing Poland, with costs of living and security threats related to Russia’s war in Ukraine topping the list.
Key findings
- 93% of Polish respondents say it is important for their country to adapt to climate change. Among them, 25% say this needs to be prioritised.
- 77% (5 points above the EU average) recognise that they will have to adapt their lifestyle because of climate change.
In 2024, Poland faced significant extreme weather events, in particular severe flooding mid-September caused by exceptionally heavy rainfall. Described as the heaviest ever recorded in the region, this rainfall affected nearly two million people and resulted in at least 24 deaths across Central Europe, including Poland. The Polish government declared a state of natural disaster in response to the crisis, mobilising significant resources for recovery efforts.
As natural disasters increase in frequency and severity, the economic toll of climate change continues to escalate. Scientists warn that these disasters will become increasingly costly. According to a report by the European Environment Agency[1], Europe is currently the fastest warming continent and extreme weather events are expected to increase as global temperatures rise. This escalation poses significant challenges to infrastructure and threatens the stability of global water and food supplies, underlining the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation strategies.
"The European Investment Bank is committed to assisting Poland in the aftermath of floods that hit south- western parts of the country last September. Devastation wrought by this extreme weather event serves as a tragic example of the growing costs of climate change. The EU’s climate bank stands ready to provide the necessary financing and advisory services to support Poland in developing top-notch infrastructure from modern water systems to resilient power grids designed to face the challenges of climate change,” said EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska.
“We are currently witnessing major floods in Spain, and scientists expect more such natural disasters as global temperatures grow. This is where the EIB’s strategic funding has a major role to play. Investing in adaptation is a must to safeguard our communities. It also represents a major economic opportunity as it comes with technological innovations that help boost competitiveness,” she added.
The EIB today published its seventh annual Climate Survey, capturing the views of more than 24,000 respondents across the EU and the US about climate change. In Poland, 1,000 people took part in the survey, which was conducted in August 2024, prior to the September floodings.
Climate change impact and changing lifestyles
While Poles overall rank climate change as a lower priority than other challenges facing their country, they are more aware than the EU average of the need to adapt. That is because they have more frequent first-hand experience of extreme weather events, as well as related consequences to their livelihoods and living conditions.
- 83% (compared to the EU average of 80%) have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the last five years. More specifically, 56% have suffered from extreme heat and heatwaves, 47% have faced droughts (12 points above EU average of 35%) and 47% severe storms or hails (13 points above EU average of 34%).
The consequences of extreme weather events are both tangible and varied.
- 69% of Polish respondents mentioned they have experienced at least one direct consequence of extreme weather events (close to the European average of 68%). 35% faced power cut or energy supply issues (15 points above the EU average), 19% suffered from the destruction of forests or natural spaces near their home, 17% had health issues.
In this context, people in Poland are aware of the need to adapt.
- 77% of Poles (5 points above the EU average of 72%) recognise that they will have to adapt their lifestyle because of climate change;
- 37% think they will have to move to a less climate-vulnerable place, even locally (to avoid floods, forest fires or other extreme weather events);
- 27% say they will have to move to a cooler region or country.
An important issue
- 93% of Poles recognise the need to adapt to climate change (compared to 94% for the EU average). 68% consider it to be important and a quarter (25%, compared to 50% of EU citizens) consider that adaptation to climate change is a priority for Poland in the coming years.
Adaptation to climate change is also seen as an economic opportunity and a long-term investment for the country:
- 83% of Polish respondents say that investing in adaptation to climate change can help create jobs and boost local economy.
- 77% believe that adapting to climate change requires investment now to avoid higher costs in the future (compared to 85% in the EU).
Individual adaptation to climate change requires a good level of information. Encouragingly, 70% of Poles say they are informed about measures they can take to adapt their homes and lifestyles effectively (close to the EU average of 71%). However, more than two-thirds (60%, similar to the EU average) remain unaware of public subsidies or financial incentives to support such efforts.
Priorities for adaptation measures
Polish respondents identified the following key priorities for local climate adaptation:
- Cooling cities by adding tree-lined streets or creating green spaces (50% vs. 42% in the EU)
- Planting vegetation that is more resilient to climate change (39%)
- Improving infrastructure, for example via better drainage systems, flood barriers, storm shelters or resilient power grids (37%)
On the question of who should pay for adapting to climate change:
- 39% think that the costs should be borne by the companies and industries that contribute most to climate change.
- 36% thinks everyone should pay equally.
- 9% say that wealthier individuals should bear the costs through higher taxes (6 points below the EU average).
As to who should benefit first from help in adapting:
- 31% (compared to the EU average of 38%) believe that everyone should benefit equally.
- 28% think the elderly should be given priority.
- 28% say that people living in high-risk areas should be the first to benefit (5 points above the EU average).
Concerns about who should benefit from adaptation aid extend beyond local priorities. In Poland, opinions are evenly divided, with half of respondents believing that the country should do more to help the most vulnerable developing countries adapt to climate change (compared to the EU average of 57%).
Background information
EIB Group
The ElB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by the Member States. It finances sound investments that pursue EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed a total of €88 billion in new financing in 2023 – 90% of it in the European Union. These commitments are expected to mobilise around €320 billion in investment, supporting 400 000 companies and 5.4 million jobs.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil fuels. It is on track to deliver on its commitment to support €1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030, as pledged in its Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects that contribute directly to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment.
Around half of EIB financing within the European Union is directed to cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower. This underscores the Bank’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and the convergence of living standards.
EIB and climate adaptation in Poland
More than half of the total €5.1 billion financing provided by the EIB Group in Poland last year went to green and climate investments, an increase from 49% in 2022. As the EU’s climate bank, the EIB invests in a just energy transition in Poland. The Bank’s support to Poland’s energy transition jumped 80% to €1.78 billion last year and covered development of sustainable infrastructure at both national and regional levels, among others.
The EIB Climate Survey
The EIB, the climate bank, released the seventh annual EIB Climate Survey today. The survey contains the views of over 24 000 respondents. Since its inception in 2018, it has provided valuable insight into how people in the European Union and the United States feel about climate change. This year’s survey was run by BVA Xsight from 6 to 23 August 2024. Respondents could complete it online by computer, tablet or mobile phone. More information about the methodology can be found here.
[1] Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks | European Environment Agency's home page (europa.eu).