Good practice in designing green participatory budgets in Poland

Abstract

The article examines the design and practice of 13 standalone green participatory budgets implemented in Poland between 2016 and 2024. The research combines a literature review with critical analysis of local regulations to identify good practices that advance procedural and distributive dimensions of environmental justice.

The study addresses three questions: (1) which local authorities adhere most and least closely to environmental-justice principles in their green participatory budgets; (2) which statutory and organisational arrangements most effectively enhance procedural and distributive justice; and (3) what shortcomings characterise the examined mechanisms and how these can be addressed to realise the full potential of green participatory budgets.

Findings show considerable variation in how rules are devised. On the whole, procedures in Łódź and Ustka align most strongly with the environmental-justice framework, while several municipalities struggle to satisfy even basic procedural or distributive criteria. Several good practices are highlighted, including consulting residents when drafting procedures (Łódź) and expe-rimenting with alternative vote aggregation methods to limit elite capture (Wieliczka).

Overall, existing rules contribute far more to procedural than to distributive justice. Yet, the key necessary improvement across all municipalities is the introduction of a distinct evaluative stage within participation schedules, enabling civil society to engage more actively in co-creating and revising the rules of participation.