During the session on ‘Challenges and opportunities for the energy sector’s transformation to tackle climate change’,  Deputy Minister Krzysztof Bolesta pointed out that the success of the transition depended on public acceptance.

Man must be at the centre of the energy transition. We are doing it for people and their perspective is most important. The transition of the economy means new jobs, better air quality and comfort of living

- he explained.

Poland focuses on just transition

He added that Poland focused on a just transition where no-one would be left alone. This is a difficult task, but it can be done. We are working on exactly such a transition. In Paris, we talked about the best practices and cooperation with other countries in order to mutually strengthen our potential.

The Deputy Ministers stressed that an increase of green energy sources in the Polish energy mix strengthened the national security. They also pointed out that the dependence on fossil fuel imports exposed us to price variations. The war in Ukraine demonstrated how important it was to become independent from imports – irrespective of their source.

We are at an important point, as we have begun the transition process, but in the successive years we will bear a double responsibility, since we must take care of the present system based on fossil fuels and build, in parallel, a green alternative for energy.

The 50th anniversary of the International Energy Agency

The IEA Meeting was devoted to the global efforts for a fast transition of the economy. Given the scale of the challenge, the coordination of states and the sharing of good practices are very important. After 50 years have passed since the establishment of the Agency it still continues to be very needed, although its tasks and the challenges which it faces have changed.

The potential of this organisation lies in its substantive character. It is one of the best data sources and analytical centres in the world. Poland has drawn and will draw even more in the future on the expertise of the IEA.

Summing up of the two days of the IEA Ministerial Meeting

During the Meeting in Paris Poland led one of the Ministerial Dialogues. Mr. Krzysztof Bolesta and Mr. Miłosz Motyka, Deputy Ministers of Climate and Environment, also had many bilateral meetings, among others, with Ms. Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy; Ms. Jennifer Morgan, State Secretary at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Mr. Tinne Van der Straeten, Minister of Energy of Belgium, during which they talked about joint actions and interests.

In the transition, we will use all the available technologies and tools, since we need fast and wide changes. We are doing it for the Polish women and men, as we are working to ensure an adequately large amount of cheap energy generated in the manner which does the least harm to the Planet

- Deputy Minister Krzysztof Bolesta concluded.