Poland plans to set date to stop using coal – 01/16/2024 – Environment

Poland plans to set a date for the end of energy from coal, the Secretary of State for Climate, Urszula Zielinska, announced on Monday (15). The decision represents a change from the previous government’s position on the climate crisis.

The Polish elections in October 2023 ended eight years of rule by the Law and Justice (PiS) party and gave way to a new government that, according to Zielinska, is increasing environmental efforts, including a date for phasing out the coal.

“Only with a deadline can we plan and only with a deadline can the industry plan, can people plan. So yes, for sure, we will try to set a deadline,” she told press in Brussels.

Poland gets around 70% of its energy from coal, the fossil fuel that emits the most CO_twoalthough in recent years wind and solar generation have increased.

The previous government made a deal with unions to continue extracting coal until 2049. But scientists say it is necessary to drastically reduce emissions from burning coal this decade to avoid the most serious effects of climate change.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries to phase out coal by 2030.

Zielinska’s comments mark a change of tone from Poland, which has opposed certain European Union environmental measures. Warsaw took Brussels to court last year to try to overturn EU climate policies, including a ban by 2035 on new cars that emit CO._two.

Zielinska said Warsaw is also willing to accept the EU’s target of reducing emissions by 90% by 2040 and will push for its impact on society to be taken into account.