New report urges Poland to phase out its coal-powered plants

by Martin Banks

 

At present, Poland is almost entirely dependent on coal for its energy needs with over 80 per cent of its coal-powered industry state-owned.

 

The report, drafted by Polish scientists, asserts that this is not economical or environmentally sustainable if it is to meet EU obligations for cutting emissions.

 

Called "Low Emission Poland 2050", the report calls for a gradual phasing out of the country`s coal-powered power plants.

 

Instead, it suggests the emphasis should  in future be on "eco-innovation" and light, rather than heavy, industry.

 

Policymakers should, in particular, target efforts to cut emissions in buildings and in transport, argues the 200-page report.

 

One of the authors, Maciej Bukovski was in the European Parliament in  Brussels on Tuesday to present the findings.

 

He said, "A central theme of the report is modernisation.

 

"We in Poland have to change our way of thinking  and behaving and invest in innovativeness and resource efficiency."

 

He added that implementation of its recommendations "will support economic growth by 2050."

 

The report is published as European Commission President José Manuel Barroso launches a White Paper on the EU’s 2030 Climate and Energy Package on Wednesday.

 

This will contain recommendations for Europe’s climate and energy targets and policies for the next two decades, setting the direction of Europe’s economy and coming at a crucial point to build ambition for a global climate deal to be finalised in Paris in 2015.

 

The White Paper by no means seals the deal or sets a final limit on European ambition.

 

After Wednesday, it is up to member states to finalise their positions and reach agreement on key headline elements of the package at the Heads of State Council on 20-21 March 2014. Energy ministers will meet two weeks earlier to try to prepare the ground for agreement.

 

The campaign group RenewEconomy says the stance the EU agrees to take on climate and energy in March has implications that go far beyond the policy wrangles and personality battles which dominate the media reporting.

 

"Without a strong statement of intent in March, the EU will effectively renege on its longstanding commitment to work to keep the world within 2 degrees of warming, damaging the its ability to align with the large number of emerging and developing countries calling for higher climate ambition," said a spokesman.