For some time now, the conversation in Polish public discourse has been growing louder not about how to carry out the energy transition, but whether to do it at all. This step backward fortunately does not concern those who want to realistically shape urban policy.
The discussion of urban energy regeneration is not, counterintuitively, only about energy, but also about social problems, urban policy or adaptation strategy. In addition to the technical context, an inseparable element is the social one, which will also appear at the upcoming Third International Congress on Energy Urban Regeneration, and Rafal Matyja talks about its value in more detail.
stages of great adjustments
In an article published a few days ago, Professor Rafal Matyja points out what adjustments the capitalist system has undergone over the past three centuries - from the level of workers' rights to the development of services such as education and health care. The current situation, related, among other things, to the climate crisis and the development of new technologies affecting the labor market, as well as energy security issues, should engage us all the more in the search for solutions to reduce the negative effects of these factors. As Rafal Matyja writes:
The regeneration of cities implies a return to the logic of imposing limits on capitalism, not only in terms of social inequality, but also in terms of its relationship with the environment, limiting the destructive role of information technology or ways of using energy.
Professor Matya's text is available on the OEES website
© OEES
breaking taboos
One of the conditions for a change in thinking is the distribution of centers of action. The hierarchical nature of today's government, as well as the relationships between entities such as local governments, NGOs and small business, makes it difficult to innovate and harness local energy. It is necessary to move away from the traditional model of governance and change to a more inclusive one. Poland has already passed the test of such governance once, and it has shown that it can be done. As Rafał Matyja points out:
Cities are struggling to move from a top-down managerial and bureaucratic mode to forms involving animation, cooperation, and adaptation to the expectations of social partners. A good test was the interaction during the migration crisis in February and March 2022. Some of the structures had no problem with participating in the rush, for some it required breaking the routine and changing the entire culture of operation.
Who will be able to afford to innovate?
The biggest threat to the adaptation of local energy, will be the invisible or overlooked fact of weakening local governments and centralization drives. How to unscrew these trends? You can read about it in Professor Rafal Matya's article, which is available on the congress website.
Social energy is one of the elements you will hear about during the 3rd edition of the International Congress
Energy Regeneration of Cities. Online participation in the event is free, we encourage you to attend!
The full program and registration for the event are available at: www.regeneracjamiast.pl
Architecture&Business is a media patron of the event, and A&B editor-in-chief, Malgorzata Tomczak will moderate a panel on diversity in cities. You are welcome!
An event accompanying the congress is the Festival of Open Architectural Studios, during which we will virtually visit the offices of JAZ+Architekci, KWK Promes and Landscapes. You can read more about the festival here.
The congress is accompanied by the Festival of Open Architectural Studios
© A&B
