LOCAL POLISH SELF-GOVERNMENTS AGAINST THE CHALLENGES CREATED BY THE RISK OF NON-FINANCIAL FACTORS (ESG)

Abstract

The article aims to systematize the state of knowledge about the risk of ESG factors in the Polish local government. The risk of climate change, energy transformation, population aging or pandemic risk is just an example of this affecting local government units (LGUs). In particular, the article presents the areas of public services provided by local governments most sensitive to ESG risk. Attention was paid to the adjustment mechanism and actions taken by the local government in Poland to reduce the negative impact of ESG risk on the activity of local government units and the stability of their budgets. The issues of the impact of EU regulations relating to “low-emission” and affecting public transport were presented, as well as the problems related to activities for the energy transformation or the fight against smog. The article uses critical literature analysis, comparative methods, observation, induction, and deduction methods. The study is one of the first to discuss the role and risk place of ESG factors in the activities of local government units.