Minister Kurtyka emphasised the need to wrap up the key energy investments that have been launched, as well as to develop and implement low-carbon innovations, while supporting employment, especially in the regions most affected by the transition of the energy sector.

“It is particularly important to reinforce key industrial sectors while lowering their carbon emissions, including through more widespread implementation of available and proven solutions, such as energy efficiency, low-carbon transport and circular economy,” he said.

The Minister also pointed out that in the current situation, our key priority is to prevent the spread of the pandemic and revive the economy.

“Although the energy transition is being put on the back burner in the short term, it needs to remain a long-term priority in order to achieve climate neutrality in line with the adopted commitments,” he said.

As he added, all the measures taken in order to revive the economy can and should be consistent with this long-term goal.

“Nevertheless, given the uncertainty surrounding the social and economic costs of the current crisis, it would be irresponsible to focus the current discussion on making the climate objectives more stringent. Achieving the long-term climate objectives and getting out of the economic crisis ushered in by the coronavirus pandemic is the most ambitious and robust plan we all need now,” he added.

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual high-level meeting on global climate policy organised by the German government. The event, of which Poland is a regular participant, brings together representatives of selected countries, which play the most active role in setting directions for the global debate on climate change.