During the meeting, representatives of the government, scientists and local government representatives discussed the development of Poland. During the opening session of the Forum, Minister Henryk Kowalczyk pointed out the complex activities of the Ministry of Environment in the field of air quality improvement in Poland, primarily through the Clean Air priority programme.

Low emissions from households are the main source of air pollution in Poland; therefore, the Clean Air programme envisions financing both improving thermal performance and replacement of heat sources. We are going to allocate PLN 103 billion for such activities by 2029, said the Minister of Environment.

Depending on the income, beneficiaries of the programme may count on a subsidy of up to 90% of the investment costs, he added.

According to a CBOS survey, 44% Poles believe that smog is a serious problem in the area in which they live, including 17%, who consider it a very serious problem. Therefore, the interest in the Clean Air programme is growing every month. Over 35,000 applications for the amount of over PLN 567 million were submitted to voivodeship funds for environmental protection and water management.

The Minister informed that the Ministry of Environment also responded to the needs related to the ongoing air quality monitoring.

Starting from 1 January 2019, the Institute for Environmental Protection – National Research Institute has a statutory responsibility for calculations and forecasts of air quality for the territory of Poland. This ensures not only up-to-date information on air quality in particular regions, but also the possibility to check the forecasts for the next 3 days, Minister Kowalczyk recalled.

This is particularly important for those who are most sensitive to pollution – pregnant women, elderly people, people with asthma and caregivers of small children, he stressed.

Minister Kowalczyk also took part in the Local Government Forum, where he talked about the most important local issues. In addition to combating air pollution, waste management is currently one of the most important issues for local government officials. Within their respective territories, municipalities establish selective collection of municipal waste and are responsible for the functioning of the municipal waste collection and management system. The costs incurred by the municipality in connection with the operation of the above-mentioned system should be covered by municipal waste management fees collected from the residents. The Ministry of Environment recommends that local authorities increase the level of selective waste collection.

The standards of selective collection of municipal waste throughout the country assume the division into four fractions – glass, paper, metals and plastics, including multi-material packaging, and biodegradable waste, Minister Kowalczyk pointed out.

We aim to keep as little waste as possible in landfills. In 2017, the recycling rate reached 29%. By 2020, we plan to recover and reuse at least 50% of all waste, he added.

About the Welconomy Forum

The Welconomy Forum in Toruń is an economic event, serving as a platform for annual meetings of representatives of the world of politics, business, science and local government, held since 1994. Toruń has been hosting it since 2008.