– In terms of energy transformation, Poland has a very long distance to overcome. Our energy base is based on coal, but it was not our choice. That is why a fair transformation is a basic condition for us – said Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology Jadwiga Emilewicz at the opening of the Energy Transformation Forum under the patronage of BiznesAlert.pl.
– Until a dozen years ago, when we talked about global competition, we believed that the competitiveness of the Chinese economy did not take into account the requirements of modern industry. These arguments are no longer true, because spending on environmental protection is greater in China than in the European Union – said Emilewicz.
The head of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology emphasized that we live in a time of breakthrough in climate policy: – It appears that the liberal-leftist model of climate policy has gone bankrupt; time for a model that puts man in the center. The Paris Agreement assumes a permanent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of a zero-emission economy by 2050 poses huge challenges for us. The success of such a climate policy requires intergovernmental, intra-social cooperation and careful consideration of what and at when it is possible to achieve. In this respect, Poland has a very long distance to overcome. The Polish energy base is based on coal, but it was not our choice. That is why a just transformation is a basic condition for us. At the same time, we must conduct an international dialogue because we know that some countries will increase their climate ambitions – said Jadwiga Emilewicz.
The Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology reminded that this year the ME adopted the PEAiC, which assumes the diversification of the Polish energy mix: – The energy industry is responsible for the majority of emissions in Europe, which is why the plan assumes an increase in energy efficiency and the pursuit of a circular economy. Poland has its own specificity on the European map. The Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology is working on the National Low-Carbon Strategy, which will define the goals and scenarios of our energy transformation. Zero-emissivity seems difficult to achieve and a significant reduction in emissivity will cost us a lot of effort. The projects of offshore wind farms and prosumer energy are becoming more and more advanced. It is important because it will contribute to the achievement of the RES objective for 2020, it will help to remove the so-called white spots on the energy map of Poland and because it will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are not afraid to take up this challenge, „Emilewicz concluded.