This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the European Emissions Trading Scheme – the EU ETS, a ‘cap and trade’ system that covers more than 11,000 power plants and production facilities in EU Member States, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, covering approximately 45% of total EU emissions.

Counteracting climate change in the time of economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic was the main topic of the 11th edition of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. The meeting, held on 28 April 2020, was attended by the Minister of Climate Michał Kurtyka and Vice-Minister Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the energy sector was the main subject of a video conference of EU energy ministers, which was held on 28 April 2020. The informal EU Council meeting was attended by the Minister of Climate Michał Kurtyka and Vice-Minister Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński.

Yesterday evening, one of the largest transport aircraft in the world - AN 124 Ruslan, loaded with equipment purchased by the Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu touched down in Wrocław. This time, more than 14 million protective masks and 140,000 shoe protectors flew from Shanghai to the distribution hubs of the Material Reserves Agency, from where they will be distributed to entities indicated in the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

Over three million two hundred thousand PLN for the management of clothing items used by medical professionals, paramedics and medical personnel while providing care for persons diagnosed with the coronavirus - that is the total amount allocated by the sixteen Polish Voivodeship Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management for the measures against the effects of COVID-19. The initiative is implemented under the patronage of The Material Reserves Agency

The Minister of Climate has appointed the Panel on Renewable Energy Sources Industry Development and the Benefits for the Polish Economy.

On March 30th of 2020, the Arbitration Tribunal in Stockholm has passed a judgement in the dispute with Gazprom over the price of natural gas which is favourable to PGNiG S.A. – “The victory of PGNiG is a great message for the company, for the recipients of natural gas as well as for the entire energy sector. This victory opens a way for PGNiG for further measures in diversifying gas supply and energy transformation” - stressed the Minister of Climate minister Michał Kurtyka.

Clean air, as well as the urban dimension of the air quality protection policy, are the key topics at the inauguration of the first stage of the LeadAIR programme organised by Energy Forum on March 9th of 2020 at the Ministry of Climate. The event was attended by the Minister of Climate Michał Kurtyka and the Deputy Minister Ireneusz Zyska, Government Plenipotentiary for Renewable Energy Sources.

Improving the quality of life of residents and supporting cities in their transition towards sustainability and climate neutrality – these are the main objectives of the Urban Agenda of the Ministry of Climate, announced on 4 March 2020 in Warsaw. The event, which was attended by the Minister of Climate Michał Kurtyka, was accompanied by the inauguration of a series of urban workshops to be held in all 16 voivodeship cities.

The main assumptions of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Programme, including areas of support, information on potential applicants and the competition agenda, were some of the main topics raised during the inaugural conference of the programme, which is carried out as part of the third edition of the Grants. The total budget allotted for this instalment of the programme is 164 million €. The event, which took place on 3 March 2020, was attended by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, as well as the President of the Republic of Iceland Guðni, Thorlacius Jóhannesson.