• From 14 to 16 September 2026, the G20 ministerial meeting took place in Houston, United States, organised under the US G20 presidency.
• The event focused on regulatory issues in the energy sector, the environment and the field of critical raw materials.
• The Polish delegation was represented by Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Climate and Environment  and Krzysztof Galos, Chief National Geologist of Poland.
• Representatives of the ministry took part in panel discussions organised by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of the Interior.
• During the event, the ministers also met with Doug Burgum, the US Secretary of the Interior; Lee Zeldin, the Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency; and Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

Throughout the first two days of the ministerial forum, during panels organised by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discussions focused, amongst other things, on modern licensing procedures that can enhance energy security and economic competitiveness whilst maintaining high standards of environmental protection and public health. The Polish party takes the stance that streamlining administrative processes and improving regulatory efficiency should take into account both the long-term costs and the impact of investment on ecosystems and key natural resources.

Poland strongly supports any measures aimed to simplify the regulations. Our reforms reduce excessive documentation requirements, introduce more transparent deadlines, improve coordination between administrative bodies and ensure significant private sector involvement in the implementation of major energy infrastructure projects, thereby shortening the time needed to take decisions

- said Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska during the panel discussion at the symposium organised by the EPA on regulatory aspects in the energy and environment sectors.

During the formal discussion among G20 environment ministers, Minister Hennig-Kloska also highlighted the fact that strong public institutions, in particular regional and local authorities involved in the planning and implementation of infrastructural projects, are the key element of a modern permit-granting system.

We must ensure higher efficiency of the procedures and better coordination between all parties involved, both during the preparation and implementation phases of such projects

– said the minister.

According to the Polish party, digitalisation and new technologies can significantly improve the efficiency of administrative procedures relating to issuing of permits and other regulatory processes. Digitalisation and better use of environmental data can significantly streamline the processes of issuing decisions and permits. Due to easier information exchange, businesses and public authorities would be able to fulfil their obligations regarding environmental monitoring and the preparation of the required reports more efficiently. It would also speed up the administrative procedures associated with the implementation of investment projects. At the same time, data must be exchanged in a secure manner, in compliance with data protection and privacy regulations.

The Polish party also emphasised that the designation of areas for energy projects should be based on reliable environmental data, whilst favouring locations of lower environmental sensitivity.

During a debate on critical raw materials organised on 16 September 2026 by the US Department of the Interior, Deputy Minister Krzysztof Galos emphasised the role of international cooperation as a key pillar of the State Raw Materials Policy, with particular emphasis on the role of multilateral cooperation.

In 2026, Poland actively participates in the work of the G20 group on critical raw materials, supporting efforts to build secure, diversified and sustainable supply chains. At the same time, it is involved in initiatives carried out under the UN Panel on Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition and the European Council on Critical Raw Materials, contributing to the development of solutions strengthening raw material security and the energy transition.

We believe that bilateral and multilateral cooperation should contribute to better functioning of the market, promote fair participation of countries rich in mineral resources in global value chains and strengthen value creation at the local level. In this context, Poland contributes valuable knowledge and experience. We are ready to share our expertise in order to support global security of supply and the development of more resilient transparent supply chains, free from political restrictions and trade barriers. We also share the objectives of clean transition to avoid the most serious climate change scenarios

- Deputy Minister Krzysztof Galos emphasised.

During the event, Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska and Deputy Minister Krzysztof Galos held bilateral talks with Doug Burgum, the US Secretary of Natural Resources. The Polish party supported the priorities of the US G20 Presidency regarding critical raw materials; discussions also took place on the development of Polish-American cooperation and the implementation of the Memorandum on Cooperation on Raw Materials, signed in April 2026. Critical raw materials were also the main topic of the talks with Minister Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada.

Meanwhile, during talks with Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, discussions focused, amongst others, on the protection of water resources, which remains one of the top priorities in Poland, just as it does for the US Environmental Protection Agency.