In the context of sustainable and durable development postulates, local leadership and rural governance is a matter of particular importance. As a local leader, the commune mayor should have a vision of the commune’s development and possess the ability to influence the citizens and involve them in the process of realizing that vision. Such a manner of governance is the essence of transformational leadership, which, according to the multifactor model developed by Bass and Avoilo, facilitates the achievement of positive organizational and social results. The authors’ research is an attempt to answer the question about the style of governance adopted by the political leaders of rural communes in Poland and its links with their engagement in social activation and the use of participatory tools. A survey was conducted on a sample of 49 commune mayors from the Greater Poland Province (43%) using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and a questionnaire about public participation developed by the authors. The results indicate that components of transactional leadership predominate among commune mayors from the Greater Poland Province. Transformational leadership, which is largely based on the leader’s charisma, is exhibited much less frequently. At the same time, the majority of commune mayors use only the most basic forms of participation, without going beyond the requirements specified in the provisions of the law. Those commune mayors who rely more strongly on transformational leadership more often use public participation techniques as well.

Participatory budgeting has become a vital tool in making urban spatial planning more community oriented. Examination of how participatory budgeting has evolved is a pertinent subject in theoretical research and in practical applications. Projects proposed by local communities improve the quality of life in cities and enhance benefits offered by public spaces. The main goal of the paper is to present an overview and examine projects that transform public space, which have been implemented in selected Polish cities, namely in Katowice, Łódź, and Poznań within the framework of participatory budgeting exercise. Our research has demonstrated that in many cases participatory budgeting has acted as a catalyst of a variety of local bottom-up initiatives addressing public space in researched cities. It is thanks to the engaged and creative people at the local level that new functions which improve the quality of life are developed in cities.

The aim of the research presented in this paper was to identify differences in environmental awareness among students of degree programmes in various fields of study. A research hypothesis was adopted stating that the field of science within which a given field of study is conducted influences students’ perception of environmental problems. Based on surveys conducted using an original questionnaire among 418 students representing 106 fields of the study carried out at 44 Polish universities, within the framework of all fields of science, a number of regularities were revealed. It was shown that each of the distinguished groups of students has its own, separate characteristics. The greatest similarities can be found between the students of medical, natural and social sciences. Students of the humanities and technical sciences differ significantly from them.

This paper explores the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing blue-green infrastructure (BGI) in urban environments, particularly within regenerative cities. It addresses how BGI initiatives can align with urban sustainability goals, especially in densely developed areas where traditional infrastructure practices often hinder the integration of new ecological solutions. The study employs a narrative literature review and case studies to identify and categorise formal-legal, organisational, and financial barriers to implementing BGI projects in urban areas. The analysis includes examining legal documents, scholarly articles, and real-world examples, providing insights into common obstacles and practical implications for urban planning. Findings reveal significant regulatory, technical, and administrative challenges to BGI implementation, particularly related to the inflexible nature of local planning regulations and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. The paper outlines practical recommendations, such as adjusting local policies, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and valuing ecosystem services to facilitate BGI projects. While the study highlights existing challenges, further empirical research on the long-term impacts of BGI in various climatic and urban contexts is recommended.

Municipalities according to existing environmental law ought to have regularly updated local environmental protection programs. Part of the municipalities in Poland, unfortunately, does not comply this requirement. In a changing and contrasting climate with increasing frequency of rainfall...