Karolina Zubel for Rzeczpospolita.pl on the Sponge City Project
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Karolina Zubel
Environment, Energy and Climate Change Director
Karolina Zubel is Environment, Energy and Climate Change Director at the CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research. In this role, she leads and contributes to research, pilot and implementation projects, as well as the preparation of policy recommendations, with a strong focus on climate adaptation, resilience and sustainable urban development. Her work at CASE is strongly grounded in local and regional perspectives, supporting cities and regions in addressing climate, environmental and socio-economic challenges through innovative governance approaches, financing mechanisms and applied solutions. She is currently involved in projects financed by European institutions, including the European Commission (notably Horizon programmes), the European Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee, and regularly contributes to policy-oriented publications.
Media from this author:
- Karolina Zubel on the “Sponge City” project in naTemat
- Karolina Zubel on the record-breaking weather in the first half of 2025 for Rzeczpospolita.pl
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Interview with Karolina Zubel and Agnieszka Maj
The interview in Civil Society Organisations’ Bulletin with Agnieszka Maj and Karolina Zubel discusses their study on affordable and sustainable housing in the EU. They emphasize the role of digitalization—such as AI, digital building permits, and databases—in improving efficiency, though barriers like high costs, traditional stakeholder resistance, and lack of incentives limit its impact. The co-authors highlight the importance of social economy entities, such as cooperatives and limited-profit housing associations, in providing cost-effective, stable housing solutions. They cite Vienna’s model, where non-profit housing accounts for 30% of production, helping to keep rents affordable. In their recommendations, the authors call for an EU-wide “New European Deal for Affordable Sustainable Social Housing” and a “Housing Directive” to harmonize policies. They suggest expanding social housing to middle-income families, integrating digital tools, and focusing on both new construction and renovations. Looking ahead, they stress the need for research on AI's role in cost savings, inclusive urban planning, and innovative housing models to enhance affordability and sustainability across the EU.
We started to ask ourselves: there are opportunities, programs, and funding available for both large and small cities. So why isn’t this happening in Warsaw?
Environment, Energy and Climate Change Director