Download Press release - Koalicja Klimatyczna

Warsaw, 24th October 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Success signed and sealed in coal
Polish Climate Coalition of 23 environmental NGOs welcomes the fact, that European leaders, including
Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, accepted EU 2030 climate targets. At the same time, Coalition
points out to the fact that detailed decisions of the European Council do not guarantee achievement of
these targets and threaten that dependence of Polish economy on coal will be maintained.
EU Member States agreed to reduction of EU domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below the 1990
level, increase of share of renewable energy in the EU's energy consumption to at least 27% and improvement
of energy efficiency by 27%. The target for renewable energy is binding only on the EU level, not for Member
States, and the target for energy efficiency is not binding at all, which threatens their achievement. Both targets
are also too weak, considering EU’s real potential.
Without binding national targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency, these two sectors will not develop
properly in Poland. Because of that, we are losing a chance to limit our dependence on coal and decrease
imports of fossil fuels – says Tobiasz Adamczewski, energy expert at WWF Poland. Therefore it is crucial to fill
this loophole with good, citizen-friendly national legislation.
According to calculations of Warsaw Institute for Economic Studies, energy efficiency target of 30% itself would
allow Poland to decrease it gas and oil imports by 17% and 19% respectively in comparison to maintaining
current policy. Poland would also no longer need to import hard coal1.
Moreover, Polish government negotiated free allocation of allowances for the power sector and significant
financial support, which is supposed to ease transition of Polish economy to a low-emission development path.
However, unless these funds are properly used, these provisions and free allowances may lead to prolongation
of our dependence on coal and delay necessary changes in energy sector.
It is now crucial to use the financial support negotiated by Polish government is a proper way: to increase
energy efficiency and development of citizen-owned energy system, so that every Polish citizen can feel that
climate policy equals benefits – says Zbigniew Karaczun, President of the Polish Ecological Club, Mazovian
Branch. Currently climate solidarity mechanisms only reduce budget deficit and increase profits of energy
companies.
In 2013-2019 Poland receives more than EUR3 billion from climate solidarity mechanisms. Unfortunately, all of
these funds will support state budget, instead of households budgets. Moreover, EUR7,5 billion which are to be
spent in 2013-2019 by energy companies on turning away from fossil fuels in exchange for emissions
allowances which they were granted, will be directed mostly towards projects preserving status quo in Polish
energy sector2.
Warsaw Institute for Economic Studies, EU energy efficiency target and Polish energy security till 2030 (in Polish), Warsaw
2014
2 CAN Europe, WWF, Greenpeace, Stronger together, Investment support and solidarity mechanisms under the EU's 2030
climate and energy framework, September 2014
1
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Sekretariat Koalicji Klimatycznej:
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Polski Klub Ekologic zny Okr ęg Mazowiecki
e-mail: [email protected]
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www.koalicjaklimatyczna.org
European Council plans to revise its today’s decisions on the basis of results of international climate
negotiations concluded by an agreement at Climate Summit COP21 in Paris in 2015. It means that set targets
can still be either strengthened, or weakened in the future.
More information:
Anna Drazkiewicz, Alliance of Associations Polish Green Network (member of Climate Coalition), +48 514 32 67 80,
[email protected]
The Polish Climate Coalition is an association of 23 non-governmental organizations engaged in climate protection activities.
Members: Aeris Futuro Foundation, Association Workshop for All Beings, ClientEarth Poland, Ecological Association Eko-Unia,
Ecological Foundation for Ziemia Legnicka “Green Action”, FER Foundation, Foundation for Sustainable Development, GAP
Poland Foundation, Greenpeace Poland, Green Mazovia, Institute for Sustainable Development, Klub Gaja, Polish Foundation
for Energy Efficiency, Polish Green Network, Polish Ecological Club Lower-Silesian Branch, Polish Ecological Club UpperSilesian Branch, Polish Ecological Club Mazovian Branch, Polish Ecological Club Greater Poland Branch, Polish Ecological
Club Świętokrzystkie Branch, Polish Ecological Club Eastern Pomeranian Branch, Social Ecological Institute, The Ecology
Foundation Arka, The Polish League for Nature Protection, WWF Poland.
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Sekretariat Koalicji Klimatycznej:
t e l . / f a x: + 4 8 2 2 8 2 7 3 3 7 0
Polski Klub Ekologic zny Okręg Mazowiecki
e-mail: [email protected]
u l . M a z o wi e c k a 1 1 / 1 6
0 0 - 0 5 2 W a r s z a wa
www.koalicjaklimatyczna.org