Minister of Climate and Environment, Michał Kurtyka, pointed out that the global challenge now is to move toward precise actions for climate neutrality. Europe currently accounts for only around 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, Polish minister stressed that the key to our collective success in the fight against climate change will above all be to encourage non-European partners to make an effort in reducing emissions comparable to the European ambitions.

“Poland emphasises the need to balance ambitious plans and technological opportunities. The success of efforts to create a low-carbon economy depends primarily on the public acceptance of the changes that are taking place. We should plan socially and environmentally sustainable development, with emphasis on modernisation, technological change and innovation, enabling more efficient and environmentally friendly use of resources,” said Minister Kurtyka.

On what concerns the reimagining of the transatlantic energy and climate relations, the head of the Ministry of Climate and Environment pointed out that President Biden’s declaration about the re-accession of USA to the Paris Agreement bodes well for the further of global climate negotiations.

However, practical action is much more important. Now is the right time to design a new global transatlantic cooperation plan based on common values and interests. The initial assumptions of the clean energy transition presented by the new US administration seem to resemble a lot the European Green Deal, he said.

As Minister Michał Kurtyka highlighted, Poland – due to the special nature of the energy mix – entered the path to achieving climate neutrality at a completely different point and it will thus take us more time than our European partners.

Poland has entered the period of transition with the energy balance almost entirely dependant on one raw material, namely coal. Over the next two decades, we are planning to build a new, carbon-free energy system based on renewable energy sources and nuclear energy, he explained.

We want to achieve the objective of climate neutrality in the spirit of fair and effective transition. We need to follow the principle of solidarity, taking into account the needs of various stakeholders, he added.