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Are Polish local authorities really effective in tackling air and waste pollution?
Can investment in new technologies help solve these problems? Answers to these questions
were sought by the participants of the debate during the 4th International Climate Summit TOGETAIR 2023
moderated by Roman Młodkowski, editor-in-chief of Biznes24. Biznes24.
One of the main topics of the debate was new technologies and their role in the fight against climate change. As Julije Domac, President of FEDARENE and member of the Board of the EU Covenant of Mayors, noted, thanks to new technologies we are able to control our future. “We finally have the technologies that allow us to save the climate, Europe and our future. We should be able to control our energy and our future for the preservation of democracy,” – he said.
However, as Andrzej Guła, leader of the Polish Smog Alarm, pointed out, there are still many people in Poland living in a situation where their health is threatened by smog. “We have a serious problem with air pollution in Poland. Every year, thousands of people die from diseases related to inhaling
polluted air” – he stressed.
Jacek Boguslawski, member of the Board of the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, pointed out that in Poland, local governments are becoming increasingly involved in the development of transport and the fight against waste. “We see involvement in municipalities in the development of transport, the fight against waste – Polish local authorities are becoming more eco – but are they really?” he wondered.
Marek Wójcik, Board Plenipotentiary and legislative expert for the Association of Cities, stressed that the fight against
climate change requires changes not only in infrastructure and technology, but also in the way we think.
“We need to change our approach to waste management, to energy. We need to focus on systemic changes, not just on introducing new technologies,” – he said.
Marcin Podgórski, deputy director of the Department of Waste Management, Emissions and Integrated Permits in Mazovia, pointed out that one of the biggest challenges is to ensure adequate funding for investment in new technologies. “We need more funds for investment in environmental protection. We need to act in a sustainable way in order to meet climate targets.”
Is the industry in control? Are local authorities in Poland sufficiently involved in the fight for a cleaner environment? What challenges do local authorities face in terms of climate protection?
In Poland, we still have a lot to do in this area. The Wielkopolskie Voivodeship is betting on renewable energy sources. As Jacek Bogusławski says, this form of energy generation is being used by municipalities and districts in the region. However, as he points out, every measure requires funding, and the cost and burden cannot be shifted onto local authorities.
Marcin Podgórski from the Mazowsze region emphasises that local authorities are taking many measures to protect the environment. They have local and European funds at their disposal so that their actions are visible in the space. Podgórski points out that a lot depends, however, on the awareness of the inhabitants and their willingness to
action.
Marek Wójcik from the Association of Cities stresses that in local communities, sustainability of solutions and tools is built, but also awareness is built. Wójcik points out that without appropriate legislation and a coherent vision from the government, local governments are unable to act locally in an effective manner.
Andrzej Guła of the Polish Smog Alarm points out that industry is the main emitter of pollution. However, as he says, if it is under control, everything seems to be fine. Unfortunately, it is not always the case that everything is under control. Guła stresses that the energy revolution is happening before our eyes and requires a very wise and coherent energy policy at national and local level. Wójcik points out that it is important to control the quality of actions and decisions, at government level and
then local level. Such a controller should constantly monitor decisions and then the activities themselves.
The debate allowed different perspectives and proposals for environmental action to be presented.
All participants agreed that we need to act decisively and collectively to achieve our climate goals and protect our planet.
climate goals and protect our planet.
DZIĘKUJEMY, ŻE JESTEŚCIE Z NAMI – TOGETAIR 2023!
PARTNER STRATEGICZNY: PKN ORLEN PARTNER GŁÓWNY: Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, 3W
GŁÓWNY PARTNER ŚRODOWISKOWO- KLIMATYCZNY: Lasy Państwowe
PARTNER ENERGETYCZNY: Tauron
PATRONATY INSTYTUCJI EUROPEJSKICH: Komisja Europejska przedstawicielstwo w Polsce, Roberta Metsola, przewodnicząca Parlamentu Europejskiego.
HONOROWY PATRONAT UCZELNI: Uniwersytet Warszawski
HONOROWY PATRONAT: Prezes Rady Ministrów Mateusz Morawiecki
PATRONATY MINISTERSTW: Ministerstwo Finansów, Ministerstwo Zdrowia, Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska, Ministerstwo Rozwoju i Technologii, Ministerstwo Funduszy i Polityki Regionalnej
PARTNERZY EKO+: McDonald’s, Stena Recycling
PARTNER EKO: Robert Bosch, Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia, Saint-Gobain, Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu, Polski Fundusz Rozwoju, Fortum, PGE, Danone, Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz, VELUX Polska
PARTNERZY: Rekopol, EKO-PAK, Federacja Konsumentów, Bank Ochrony Środowiska, PKO Bank Polski, Instytut Ochrony Środowiska – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, ERGO- Hestia, Medicover, Ekoenergetyka, PIOIRO, Izba Branży Komunalnej, Clochee, Polski Związek Firm Deweloperskich, Górażdże, Xylem, Green Office Ecologic, Daily Fruits, Assay Management, ZMPD-Zrzeszenie Międzynarodowych Przewoźników Drogowych, KIKE-Krajowa Izba Klastrów Energii, Polska Rada Pelletu, DPD, Giełda Papierów Wartościowych, Grupa LUX MED, LPP, Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
PATRONAT MARSZAŁKÓW WOJEWÓDZTW: Dolnośląskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Łódzkie, Małopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Pomorskie, Śląskie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmińsko Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie
PATRONATY I PARTNERZY MERYTORYCZNI: KONGRES ESG – POLSKA MOC BIZNESU,
Narodowy Fundusz Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej, Rzecznik MŚP – Małych i Średnich Przedsiębiorców, Polskie Regiony – Związek Województw RP, Związek Gmin Wiejskich, Business Center Club, Francusko-Polska Izba Gospodarcza CCIFP, Polskie Stowarzyszenie Paliw Alternatywnych, Polskie Stowarzyszenie Budownictwa Ekologicznego, Urząd Regulacji Energetyki, Polski Alarm Smogowy, Fundacja Republikańska, H&M, Polska Izba Magazynowania Energii i Elektromobilności – PIME, Rolnictwo Zrównoważone, PSME
Polskie Stowarzyszenie Magazynowania Energii, Fundacja Fair Trade Polska, Columbus, Centralny Port Komunikacyjny
PATRONATY UCZELNI WYŻSZYCH: Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza w Krakowie, Polska Akademia Nauk, Politechnika Warszawska, Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, Szkoła Główna Handlowa, Uniwersytet Warszawski
PARTNER MIĘDZYNARODOWY: UN Global Compact Network Poland
PATRONATY MEDIALNE: WP.pl, Money.pl, Interia, Zielona Interia, Polsat News, Rzeczpospolita, Polskie Radio, Audytorium 17, Polska Press, PAP, Forbes, Dziennika Gazeta Prawna, Biznes 24, Wysokie Napięcie, Teraz Środowisko, Audytorium17, Energetyka24.pl, Comparic.pl, Klub Integracji Europejskiej, EcoEkonomia, ESGinfo.pl, reach4.biz, magazyn Raport Kolejowy i Raport Tramwajowy, Magazyn Inżynier Budownictwa, Eciepło.pl, Magazyn Business HUB, SmartMe, Magazyn Przedsiębiorcy, EkoRynek, Siła Nauki, SmogLab, Świat OZE, EkoNatura, Biznes i Ekologia, Business Magazine
