Revision of the Waste Directive, countering greenwashing and soil monitoring were some of the topics discussed at the Environment Council (ENVI) meeting attended by Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska and Deputy Minister Mikołaj Dorożała in Luxembourg on 17 June 2024.

The potential for industrialisation in the context of the energy transition and an ambitious climate policy were the topics of a meeting on 11 June 2024 at the Ministry of Climate and the Environment headquarters between Secretary of State Christopher Bolesta and Secretary of State and Special Envoy for International Climate Action at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany Jennifer Morgan.

Nuclear energy and the commitment of EU countries to a responsible and safe energy future was the topic of a conversation between Deputy Ministers of Climate and Environment Maciej Bando and Miłosz Motyka and the French Ambassador Etienne de Poncins and the Vice-President of the EDF Group, responsible for the development of new nuclear projects, Vakis Ramany. The meeting twas held on 7 June 2024 at the Ministry's headquarters.

Deputy Ministers Miłosz Motyka and Maciej Bando met with Christopher Hanson, Chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and Marek Brzezinski, US Ambassador to Poland, on 10 June 2024. They discussed the development of strategic relations with the US in the field of energy, including the prospect of building Polish nuclear power plants.

The Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, and the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Poland, Břetislav Dančák, discussed the challenges of the energy transition, as well as the implementation of the agreement on the Coal Mine (KWB) Turów. The aim of the meeting, which took place on 3 June 2024 at the Ministry of Climate and Environment, was to exchange experiences between the countries and strengthen bilateral cooperation in energy and fuels.

Energy security and the upcoming EU term were discussed during a meeting between the Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, and Leonore Gewessler, Federal Minister for Climate, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of Austria. The meeting, held on 3 June 2024 at the Ministry of Climate and Environment headquarters, was also attended by Deputy Minister Urszula Zielińska and Andreas Stadler, Austrian Ambassador to Poland.

Conclusions on the development of sustainable energy networks were the main topic of discussion at the EU Energy Council meeting held on 30 May 2024 in Brussels. Poland was represented by the Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Krzysztof Bolesta.

The Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment was nominated as the Chair of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention as a representative of the region of Central and Eastern European countries. The relevant diplomatic note was transmitted on 8 May 2024 by the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland in Geneva to the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

The European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) entered into force on 23 May 2024. This act aims to ensure a stable, secure, and sustainable supply of critical raw materials for the EU industry. Safe access to critical raw materials is essential for strategic sectors, including clean energy technologies and the digital, defence, and aerospace industries.

Twenty years ago, we decided to join the EU, a community that shares our values, including our concern for the environment and the fate of our planet. This decision has led to significant positive changes in our environment and our lives. These changes, which we should be proud of, have become an integral part of our everyday life, making it difficult to imagine life without them. As we mark the anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union, let us not only remember these changes but also celebrate our achievements together!