Eco-Szczecin

by Krzysztof Michalski

Szczecin is currently going through the rapid transformation and in the new economic reality it has actually changed its profile from a port-industrial city to regional service provider and academic centre, with strong maritime traditions. The process will be strengthened even more through locating technological parks within the agglomeration. At the same time, the city is implementing new regulations aiming at mitigating the climate changes. Despite some noticeable changes in the Polish regulations and recent media campaigns, the awareness of climate changes and their negative impact on our daily lives is still low. Among numerous social endeavours, the city educates the youngest and supports pro-ecological organizations and their publications. The most spectacular event here is the Day of the Earth. For many years Szczecin has best been known as ,,the green city" or the ,,garden city". That is why while planning its development, one considers the necessity of reducing burdensome transport. The Inner City Ring is under construction to allow reducing the inner city traffic and shortening the time necessary to travel through the city and will improve the traffic flow. Introducing of the so called buffer car parks together with the three paid parking zones, closing down some of the streets, will result in the reduced emission of pollution and warm gases. The city will also gain more public spaces in the city centre.

Szczecin also works on bettering thermal conditions of the council housing. The city, together with the
tenants, co-finances the programme of smaller improvements related to improving the technical condition of buildings, including their heating. The city successively eliminates stoves by promoting more effective gas heating or district heating system.

In new buildings, according to the local master plans, no coal stoves are allowed any more, although they are still cheapest in the Polish market However, heating pumps or other renewable energy systems are allowed. Due to landscape restrictions one does not allow wind power stations. Under the municipal environmental policy, the city managed to minimalize a number of permits for locating here hazardous or arduous industry branches.