Socio-spacial aspects in decision-making

Keywords: Social attitudes, environment, pro ecological activities
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Nowadays, climate change is the biggest problem facing cities all over the world. In the context of urban spaces, it is extremely important to counteract these changes at the local level. It is particularly important to ensure that all activities undertaken are coherent with activities undertaken at regional, national or international level. Therefore, key of importance is the analysis and interpretation of pro-ecological activities undertaken by cities as a result of top-down imposed standards and directives. In the case of Polish cities, the type and directions of undertaken activities were particularly influenced by the European Union ecological policy. Moreover, adopting sometimes controversial strategies resulted in a diversity of public opinions. Therefore, the following question arises: are the objectives and directions of counteracting climate change adequate to the pro-ecological attitudes adopted by the urban society, in particular in post-socialist cities?
The research confronts the activities carried out by urban local governments with the pro-environmental attitudes adopted by the urban community.
The study illustrates some geographical variation, e.g., in the way the citizens perceive pro-environmental actions. It was also observed that the type of inhabited space can determine the approach to ecology, including the conscious choice transport or influence on shaping the space closest to the place of residence.