A new tool, new possibilities? Ecobudget in participatory climate change adaptation: the case of Łódź

This article evaluates the Ecobudget for Łódź, Poland, as an innovative instrument for the city’s participatory climate change adaptation, and identifies the benefits and limitations in its design and implementation. The article’s theoretical framework is based on three integrally linked themes: public participation in environmental protection, deliberative democracy (mini-public), and participatory climate change adaptation instruments. The empirical research was conducted as a qualitative case study of the first edition of the Ecobudget. It included participant observations, a focus group interview with representatives of institutions involved in the implementation, and six individual in-depth interviews with project applicants. The results indicate that the Ecobudget effectively mobilised residents around specific green spaces, drawing on their attachment to the place and their concern for its future. At the same time, it fostered cooperation between residents, experts, and the public administration. Its main strengths include its strong local roots, its educational function, and its tripartite cooperation model. The most significant limitation lay in the implementation phase of the selected projects and the communication issues that accompanied it. The case study of the Ecobudget for Łódź may serve as a source of inspiration for cities seeking new participatory tools. The strengths and barriers of the instrument identified in this study can help other cities make use of its potential and avoid mistakes.