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CHIEF EDITOR: Renata Jasiołek
CONTACT WITH THE EDITORIAL OFFICE: Małopolska Region Brussels Office rue de la Sience 41, 1040 Brussels, Belgium e-mail : bruxelles@umwm.malopolska.pl
GRAPHIC DESIGN: www.aplanmedia.pl
CLOSER TO BRUSSELS
EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL
1. Preface Marshal Witold Kozłowski 2. The European Green Deal as an opportunity to transform the Polish economy Michał Kurtyka, PhD 3. Just Transition Mechanism financing tool for the European Green Deal Marek Prawda, PhD 4. The European Green Deal - a unique opportunity? Christian Egenhofer 5. Interview with Juan Espadas Cejas the Chair of Working Group “Green Deal Going Local” of the European Committee of the Regions 6. Małopolska conquers Brussels Małopolska Region – together for the environment Marta Bosak, Justyna Mazurkiewicz 7. Questio Iuris
Preface
Closer to Brussels #27
Ladies and Gentlemen! The latest issue of “Closer to Brussels” is devoted to the so-called European Green Deal, that is, an action plan to ensure sustainable economy in the European Union. Climate change and environmental degradation pose a threat to Europe and the rest of the world. Therefore, to meet these challenges, Europe needs a new strategy to transform the EU by 2050 and create a modern, resource efficient and competitive economy. These ambitious goals require transformation of entire industries. This strategy also requires enormous financial resources. Therefore, the draft EU budget for the years 2021-2027 of 1,074 trillion euros assumes that 30% of total expenditure (taking into account all EU programs) is to be allocated to climate targets. At the same time, all expenses of the new EU budget must be compatible with the main objective of European Green Deal, which is, climate neutrality by 2050. The EU Economic Reconstruction Plan proposed after the COVID19 pandemic in July 2020 by the European Committee, the so-called Next Generation EU instrument, is also subject to the requirements of the European Green Deal: member countries will rise from the current crisis by making their economies “green”. For many years, Małopolska Region has been taking steps to protect the environment, among others, by countering climate change, ensuring the protection of air and supporting decarbonization. We have launched a new project titled LIFE EKOMAŁOPOLSKA, which will prepare us for the implementation of the European Green Deal. Two scenarios for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be prepared for the region, respectively for the 2035 and 2050 goals, as well as investment projects that will be able to apply for financial support under the Just Transition Fund, a European Green Deal tool intended for regions most affected by the negative effects of decarbonization. I encourage you to read this issue of our magazine. At the same time, I would like to remind you that changes start from ourselves. Regardless of legal and systemic regulations, we all have an impact on the environment. By our daily actions and behaviours, we can consciously use Earth’s resources and take responsibility for the future of our planet.
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I hope you enjoy the issue! Witold Kozłowski Marshal of the Małopolska Region
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European Green Deal
The European Green Deal as an opportunity to transform the Polish economy The European Green Deal is a new, comprehensive approach to the conduct of the European Union’s policy, assuming the achievement of climate neutrality for the entire Community in 2050.
The future EU climate policy should take into account the various starting points in terms of reducing emissions, as well as the social challenges that need to be addressed in the transition process. In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is of particular importance. The process of changes in the Polish economy and energy sector means a huge challenge as well as benefits and opportunities to be used. The transformation carried out after 1989 allowed for a significant reduction of greenhouse gases and improvement of the environment, which is our contribution to the implementation of the obligations of the Paris Agreement signed in 2015. Poland is an active participant in the discussion on the future shape of the European climate policy. It brings opportunities for the development of new branches of the economy that will build a competitive advantage not only on the EU market, but also around the world. We want to modernize our energy sector towards zero- and low-emission generation sources in order to achieve the common goal of climate neutrality in the future. The „just energy transition” proposed by the European Union should not only be a community of goals. It is important to reassure each member state that the energy transition will take place in a sustainable manner, appropriately adapted to its conditions and capabilities.
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Michał Kurtyka, PhD He graduated from the prestigious Parisian Ecole Polytechnique and received a scholarship in quantum optics from the National Institute of Standards and Technologies near Washington (DC). He defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Warsaw. He was a lecturer in the field of change management, economics, market organization and industrial strategy at the University of Warsaw, Collegium Civitas, and the Oxford Programme On Modern Poland. He is the co-author of the concept of effective changes in the enterprise, described in the book Zarządzanie zmianą. Od strategii do działania [Change management. From strategy to action], as well as the author of the book Od restrukturyzacji do modernizacji. Opóźniona transformacja polskiego sektora elektroenergetycznego w latach 1990-2009 [From restructuring to modernization. Delayed transformation of the Polish power sector in 1990-2009]. He started his professional career at the Office of the Committee for European Integration in Warsaw. Then he carried out modernization of many Polish companies.
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Our partners see the unique situation of Poland and the point from which we start the transition process, as expressed at the European Council meeting in December 2019. The historical past determined the shape of the Polish economy and power sector, the basic raw material of which for decades was coal. Currently, nearly 80% of the energy produced in our country comes from this raw material. With each passing year, this percentage will decrease. We must look at the power sector as a system that will ensure a predictable energy supply at a price acceptable to society. We want renewable energy sources to be an increasingly important and in the future the main element of our energy mix, the foundation of changes, which we will supplement with low-emission sources in conventional energy. In order to realize the scale of the challenges that await us, only in terms of the power engineering, we will have to build a system based on renewable energy parallel to the conventional energy system. The modernization of the Polish energy system is very much needed. Taking into account the average age of the installations, the prospective development of demand and the need to ensure Poland’s energy security, the European Union noticed the scale of challenges that Poland will have to face when implementing individual initiatives under the European Green Deal. Under the proposed Just Transition Mechanism, Poland could receive over PLN 100 billion in the nearest financial perspective, which is the most among all EU Member States. We perceive the Commission’s proposal as an expression of confidence that our country will earnestly strive towards a low-carbon economy. Bearing in mind that the EU’s energy and climate transformation process will continue over the next decades, it will be necessary to further discuss, at the member state level, the possibility of obtaining new, significant EU funds and guaranteed support for further investments after 2027. At the EU level, we are talking to our partners about the need to create appropriate financial instruments that will allow Poland to come closer to achieving the goal of climate neutrality. A just transition means, above all, making responsible decisions, especially as the whole world is battling the spreading Covid-19 pandemic.
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European Green Deal
He was a promoter of European cooperation in the field of industrial changes and adaptation of industry in Europe to the challenges of globalization. He is the author of the government programme for the development of electromobility in Poland. On 1 January 2016 he was appointed the Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Energy, and on 27 April 2018 he became the Plenipotentiary for COP24 Presidency. From 2 December 2018 he chaired the negotiations during the COP24 Climate Summit in Katowice. From July 2018 he was the Secretary of State in the Polish Ministry of Environment, and on 15 November 2019 he was appointed minister in the newly created Polish Ministry of Climate.
The „just energy transition” proposed by the European Union should not only be a community of goals. It is important to reassure each member state that the energy transition will take place in a sustainable manner, appropriately adapted to its conditions and capabilities.
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We already know that the pandemic will leave its mark on the economy of the European Union. We do not know how serious it will be. During the pandemic, the most important thing is to ensure the health and safety of citizens. However, the process of economic transformation cannot be abandoned, as it is ongoing. Its abandonment would have serious consequences for Poland and the entire EU in the coming years. The coronavirus will not stop our efforts in this area, but the scale of the challenges means that the implementation of some elements of the Green Deal may be an even greater or more time-consuming challenge. Undoubtedly, additional EU funds will be necessary to implement our priorities in the conditions of economic slowdown. We are discussing this with our partners in the European Union and - which I am delighted with - we speak with one voice on many issues. The current situation shows how important it is to ensure energy security and keep the pace of the clean energy transition by providing funds for investments in renewable energy sources. Therefore, the main objective of the Green Deal should still be pursued while ensuring that no burdens are imposed that would prevent people from overcoming the current crisis. Additionally, the poorest and most vulnerable groups in society should not be burdened with the double costs of the transition and the crisis caused by the pandemic. Pursuing the goals of the Green Deal, we must not forget the most disadvantaged people, often at risk of energy poverty. We will not win the race towards climate neutrality alone. We believe that, according to the announcements of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, no one will „be left behind” and that together we will reach the „finish line” of climate neutrality, in solidarity with all EU member states.
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European Green Deal
At the EU level, we are talking to our partners about the need to create appropriate financial instruments that will allow Poland to come closer to achieving the goal of climate neutrality.
We will not win the race towards climate neutrality alone. We believe that, according to the announcements of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, no one will „be left behind” and that together we will reach the „finish line” of climate neutrality, in solidarity with all EU member states
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Just Transition Mechanism
Just Transition Mechanism - financing tool for the European Green Deal
When the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, took office, she made her goal very clear: moving to a sustainable, climate-neutral economy is an absolute priority. Only 10 days into the term, the new EC presented the European Green Deal - a vision of a climate neutral European community by 2050 and a special plan outlining 50 actions to help achieve this. The European Green Deal is more than just a series of measures to reduce emissions. It is a new growth strategy that moves away from the „old” model of increasing the use of fossil fuels, and hence pollutant emissions, towards an economy where the modes of production and consumption work for the benefit of citizens while respecting our planet’s resources. This last element is very important: this strategy is designed to work for all. Some regions, businesses, and thus employees, are more dependent on carbon-intensive industries than others. This is especially true of Poland, where about 140,000 employees work in the mining industry alone. That is why it is so important to make sure that these people are not left on their own. As it has been emphasized many times, the green transformation will either be for everyone or it will not work at all. That is why the European Commission has presented the Just Transition Mechanism, which is an essential element in the financing of the European Green Deal; it is aimed in particular at those regions that will be most affected by the green transition. In its original proposal, the Commission proposed to provide EUR 100 milliard through this mechanism.
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Marek Prawda, PhD He assumed the position of the Director of the Representation of the European Commission to Poland on 1 April 2016. In 2012-2016, he was the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the European Union. Previously, he was the Polish ambassador to Sweden and Germany. In the 1980s, he was active in „Solidarity”. He collaborated with the Polish Academy of Sciences, where in 1984 he defended his doctoral dissertation in the field of labour sociology. In his academic work, he focused on Polish-German relations and European integration. He was awarded the Grand Cross of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Order of Merit of the Federal State of Brandenburg and the Cordi Poloniae Medal awarded by the Convention of Polish Organizations in the Federal Republic of Germany.
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Just Transition Mechanism
This amount has been significantly increased in the new EC proposal for the next long-term EU budget, presented on 27 May 2020. The Just Transition Mechanism is now expected to provide at least EUR 150 milliard through various funding sources. The Mechanism consists mainly of the Just Transition Fund worth EUR 40 milliard. It will support all EU countries, but will focus on those areas and regions where the challenges of climate transformation are greater. The fund’s financial resources are allocated according to clear and objective criteria, taking into account greenhouse gas emissions from industrial plants, employment in the coal and lignite mining and other high-carbon industries, as well as peat production and oil shale exploitation. The prosperity of each country will also be taken into account. No wonder that if the general budget of the fund and the distribution key are approved by the European Parliament and the Member States, Poland will receive the lion’s share of the total amount: EUR 8 milliard out of EUR 40 milliard. In addition to funding from the EU budget, the Just Transition Mechanism also includes leveraging private and public investment. For the former, under the just transition scheme under InvestEU, it will be possible to support investment in transition regions through any of the InvestEU policy strands. The system is expected to trigger at least EUR 45 milliard of private investment.
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The European Green Deal is more than just a series of measures to reduce emissions. It is a new growth strategy that moves away from the „old” model of increasing the use of fossil fuels, and hence pollutant emissions, towards an economy where the modes of production and consumption work for the benefit of citizens while respecting our planet’s resources.
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Just Transition Mechanism
In terms of public investment, on 28 May 2020, the European Commission, together with the European Investment Bank, launched a loan facility for the public sector. It will consist of a grant component of EUR 1.5 milliard from the EU budget and a loan component of up to EUR 10 milliard from the EIB’s own resources. This facility is expected to trigger up to EUR 25-30 milliard in public investment in areas such as energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, public transport, energy efficiency measures, social infrastructure and other projects that can directly benefit communities in the regions and reduce the socio-economic costs of the transition. However, it should be noted that this support will not take the form of a blank check. To receive it, EU countries will have to prepare territorial just transition plans. They need to demonstrate how the proposed investments and measures will contribute to the overall goal of achieving EU climate neutrality by 2050, taking into account the Commission’s analysis under the 2020 European Semester and outlining the 2030 transition process. The plans must be consistent with the national plans for energy, climate and the transition to a climate neutral economy. Territorial Just Transition Plans will identify in each Member State the areas to be supported and priority policy areas for each region. The European Green Deal is the only way to achieve sustainable growth, especially during the recovery from the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, we should be aware that change will not happen overnight and that some regions, businesses and employees need more support than others. As part of the Just Transition Mechanism, the Union reiterates its core values: we are committed to protecting our planet, but we will do so in a spirit of solidarity, united. The world’s first climate-neutral political bloc will become a reality and all regions will benefit from it - we will not leave any person or region to its own devices.
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As part of the Just Transition Mechanism, the Union reiterates its core values: we are committed to protecting our planet, but we will do so in a spirit of solidarity, united.
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The European Green Deal – a unique opportunity?
The European Green Deal – a unique opportunity? In the aftermath of the lock-down caused by the spread of the Corona virus, politician mainly from Central and Eastern Europe have called for climate measures to be scrapped. However, soon thereafter, a consensus among the European institutions and the large majority of member states has emerged that EU emergency and recovery funds should reflect decarbonisation of the economy pursued through the European Green Deal. The European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans summed up what most thought: “Every euro we invest must flow into a new economy rather than old structures. We must avoid that at all costs”. Indeed, it makes little sense to keep investing in polluting industries when the whole world goes low-carbon. If governments want to prop up their ‘old’ industry, they will have to pay from their own budgets; the EU money is only for climate friendly activities.
Christian Egenhofer He is Director of CEPS Energy Climate House of the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). He is also Visiting Professor at the College of Europe, Natolin, Poland and the Paris School of International Affairs at SciencesPo, Paris
The European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans summed up what most thought: “Every euro we invest must flow into a new economy rather than old structures. We must avoid that at all costs”.
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Closer to Brussels #27
The European Green Deal – a unique opportunity?
Low-carbon Made in Europe Not surprisingly, many EU member states were quick to embrace the opportunities that for example renewable energy offers for both climate change and industrial development. Ministers from 8 member states – Austria, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Poland, Spain – some of which include a very carbon-intensive electricity sectors – have explicitly asked the European Commission to focus on renewable energy value chains to unlock new investment potential. The governments of Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania and Spain have called for “speeding up the decarbonisation of the European industry through the European Green Deal” by, among other means, focusing on green technologies and solutions. The European Green Deal has firmly linked industrial development and green technologies. Renewable energy, hydrogen, batteries or electrical vehicles offer Europe the prospect to develop industrial value chains and promise to retain industries that are linked to the carbon- neutral transformation. Globally operating companies are now rethinking their supply chains. Europe and mainly Central and Eastern Europe may be able to ‘repatriate’ some of the manufacturing that had gone to Asia. Availability of costeffective renewable energy will become a critical factor for investment decisions; it is hard to imagine that any car manufacturer, be it Volkswagen, Toyota or Tesla will be producing electrical vehicles by using electricity produced by coal. It is also time to dismiss the myth that the entire solar PV industry is Chinese. Some member states, notably Germany have been remarkably able to retain significant parts of the renewable energy value chains within Europe. There is great potential to manufacture components in other parts of Europe, including in Poland but also Bulgaria and Romania.
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The European Green Deal has firmly linked industrial development and green technologies.
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The European Green Deal – a unique opportunity?
Coals is dying Coal is increasingly outcompeted by wind and solar, which by now have become the by far cheapest technologies to produce electricity. Only 5 years ago, coal-fired power generation was twice the volume of wind and solar combined. Now the situation has reversed; wind and solar stood at 18% in the share of EU electricity generation, leaving coal behind at 15%. This is just the beginning. The trend of rapidly falling technology costs for battery-based solutions will solve the problem that the sun does not shine every day and that the wind is not always blowing. Incidentally, all this will also undermine natural gas demand for producing power. The situation of the Maritsa East 2 coal power plant, the Balkans’ biggest, is telling. In 2019 alone it reported a loss of over €100 million, bringing the accumulated loss to over €410 million. Maritsa East 2 is not unusual. As much as 62% (149 GW) of the EU’s coal fleet capacity is already cash-flow negative. 70% of Europe’s coal-fired electricity plants are likely to be closed in the next 5 years. Regional opportunities Regions will have the possibility to give the ‘just transition’ concept a practical meaning with tangible progress, able to make a lasting difference to people as well as to the environment. Over time, further technology revolutions such as those we have witnessed in renewables will occur in many other industries. The car industry, steel industry sites and, more generally, all fossil fuel-based clusters along the Central and Eastern coal regions will face radical transformation. Fortunately, governments of regions in the EU have been embracing change for a long time. Central and East European member states are no different. Europe can show many successful cases in this regard, not all directly linked to or dependent on coal sector closure. Among them are Katowice (Poland), the Ruhr region (Germany), South Limburg (the Netherlands), Limburg (Belgium), the Nord-Pas de Calais region (France), Ida-Viru county (Estonia), Prievidza (Slovakia), Matra (Hungary), Plovdiv (Bulgaria) and the Manchester/Liverpool (UK) region. All are advancing with or have already successfully addressed their economic transformation.
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Regions will have the possibility to give the ‘just transition’ concept a practical meaning with tangible progress, able to make a lasting difference to people as well as to the environment.
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The European Green Deal – a unique opportunity?
Money is not the problem Out of the 1.85 trillion Euro of the EU budget and the recovery fund (Next Generation EU), 30% will be for climate actions with the European Commission regularly monitoring it. A so-called Just Transition Mechanism will bring together all EU funding streams that can be used for managing the transition; a dedicated Just Transition Fund holds 10 billion Euro to provide assistance for regions in stress. For once money will not be the problem. The real bottleneck will be to formulate regional plans for gradual replacing carbonintensive with greener industries. Regions can take advantage of existing expertise and infrastructures. The key will be attracting private investment to develop new industrial sites that would absorb the labour force and maintain and boost the economic development of the regions. EU money can help dealing with negative social implications; it is however no substitute for private investment to build self-sustaining economic activity.
A so-called Just Transition Mechanism will bring together all EU funding streams that can be used for managing the transition; a dedicated Just Transition Fund holds 10 billion Euro to provide assistance for regions in stress.
The European Commission has already approved the Just Transition plans by 18 member states. The race is on and it is time to move. Will the transition be just or not? The transition will happen. Whether it is just, will depend on policy. The European Green Deal recognises that many regions will experience a profound transformation. It has developed the concept of ‘just transition’ with the purpose to leave no person or place behind. The European Green Deal is far more than a policy to respond to the challenges of climate change; first and foremost, it is designed as an economic modernisation and growth strategy. The new EU budget together with the so-called Next Generation EU economic recovery fund – both agreed on 21st July 2020 – offers a unprecedented opportunity to kick-start and accelerate the process of regional transformation.
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EU money can help dealing with negative social implications; it is however no substitute for private investment to build self-sustaining economic activity.
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Interview with Juan Espadas Cejas
Interview with Juan Espadas Cejas the Chair of Working Group “Green Deal Going Local” of the European Committee of the Regions
Magdalena Ujejska: On 15 June 2020 the European Committee of the Regions launched a new working group called ‘Green Deal Going Local’. Could you tell us where the idea of creating this group came from, what its goals and assumptions are, and who belongs to it? Juan Espadas Cejas: When the President Von der Leyen gave her first framework speech on the European Agenda, the priority was the European Green Deal, as a new way of understanding a greener and more sustainable Europe. The Green Deal is not only about the environment, it is also about changing the reality of citizenship. In the face of this speech, the CoR ENVE Committee could not stay behind. We had to stress the value that regions and cities have and will have in this green transformation. After all, it is the administrations closest to the citizens that implement the decisions taken in Brussels.
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Juan Espadas Cejas Alcalde de Sevilla (Major of Sevilla), the Chair of ENVE Commission, the Chair of Working Group “Green Deal Going Local” of the European Committee of the Regions
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M.U: These assumptions are ambitious and specific. How are you going to achieve them? J. E. C. In the Green Deal WG we aim to be transversal. We want to imbue all opinions with the green philosophy. So, even if the working group has 12 members all the members of the CoR will work together to achieve that result. In addition, we have implemented a website to make the work that is done visible for all members M.U: The Green Deal is a comprehensive programme and covers many areas, including economy, environment or social policy. The COVID-19 pandemic considerably reduced the pace of everyday life and forced us to look carefully at the reality around us and to revise our attitude to the world in which we live. It is also the time when we face the sanitary and economic crisis. In your opinion, should the assumptions of the European Green Deal be adapted to this unique situation? J. E. C: The COVID-19 crisis is proving to be very hard for everyone. But for the Green Deal it must be an opportunity. The Reactivation Plan announced by the Commission and the commitment reached in the Council are based on the Green Deal. The health crisis will mobilise millions of euros and these investments must become the engine of change for a green, fair and sustainable European society. Our WG must help us so that regions and cities work together and find common projects that can be adapted to each of the needs of each territory. M.U: Finally, I would like to ask you what the first actions taken by the Group will be. Have you already identified the issues that you would like to address first? J. E. C: So far, we have only had one meeting and are discussing where to focus our efforts. Members are drawing up a list of priorities to be agreed and worked on by all. This WG should help us, as cities and regions, to capture the most interesting sustainability policies for the citizens M.U: Thank you very much for the interview.
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Interview with Juan Espadas Cejas
Malopolska conquers Brussels
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Malopolska conquers Brussels Malopolska Region - together for the environment In view of the advancing challenges - such as global warming, air, water and soil pollution, and the prospect of depletion of natural resources sustainable economy is becoming not only a goal but an obligation for countries, regions and local governments. Activities dedicated to air protection (including LIFE MALOPOLSKA, anti-smog resolutions) and preventing climate change (LIFE EKOMALOPOLSKA, Regional Action Plan for Climate and Energy). Joining the EU initiative of coal regions in transformation (Coal Regions in Transition Platform CRinT) and receiving support under the START initiative of the CRinT Platform. Sustainable waste management and the declaration „Malopolska without plastic”. These are just examples of the efforts of the Self-government of the Malopolska Region, thanks to which Malopolska is becoming more and more part of the European Green Deal strategy. Air - common good, common duty The implementation of comprehensive activities to prevent environmental devastation on many levels in the Malopolska Region began with air protection. The Air Protection Programme (POP), which is innovative on a national scale, was adopted on 23 January 2017. The next initiatives are the adoption of the so-called anti-smog resolutions, the first one for Kraków (2016) and another for the entire region (2017). The pioneering anti-smog resolution for Krakow from 1 September 2019 introduced a complete ban on the use of solid fuels (coal and wood) in its area. Work is currently underway on updating the POP, also taking into account the conditions after the COVID19 pandemic. 17
Marta Bosak A communication and promotion specialist. She graduated from the Jagiellonian University, philology faculty, and also completed a journalism course at the Pedagogical University. She developed her professional communication skills for instance in Gazeta Krakowska and the National Museum in Krakow. She got to know Brussels while participating in the Erasmus Plus Programme. In the Environment Department of the Marshal Office of the Małopolska Region, she works in the eco-Malopolska team. Her responsibilities include cooperation with partners and the media, website and electronic media, including eco-Malopolska Television, as well as educational campaigns and promoting an ecological lifestyle.
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Most of the activities to improve air quality are carried out as part of the integrated project LIFE IP MALOPOLSKA „Implementation of Air Quality Plan for Malopolska Region – Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere”, put in to practice since 2015. Currently, 69 partners are involved in the project: 62 municipalities, Silesia Region, Krakow Smog Alarm, the National Energy Conservation Agency, the VITO Institute from Belgium, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute from Bratislava and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic. Thanks to LIFE IP MALOPOLSKA, the inhabitants of 62 municipalities can count on professional support of Eco-managers employed as part of the project. They help e.g. in the preparation of applications for co-financing of the replacement of coal-fired boilers or the installation of renewable energy sources, conduct educational activities, carry out inspections and professional research with thermal imaging cameras, and organize meetings and workshops for children and adults. Since the beginning of the project, Eco-managers have provided nearly 600,000 advice to the inhabitants of Malopolska. They have organized 5,500 meetings and workshops attended by over 330,000 inhabitants and 1,800 workshops for nearly 100,000 children. They have distributed over a million information and educational materials and carried out over 10,000 checks of compliance with the anti-smog resolution. Energy-saving device kits have been installed in nearly 1,600 homes of families suffering from energy poverty. One of the main activities of the project is to increase the awareness of residents about air pollution and its impact on the health and life of residents. For this purpose, regional media and outdoor campaigns were carried out: „You kill with the smoke from the stove” and „A thief lives in your house”, the message of which reached tens of thousands of recipients. During the social campaign, 1,800 air purifiers were donated to nurseries, kindergartens and children’s hospitals.
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Malopolska conquers Brussels
Justyna Mazurkiewicz Inspector for the LIFE Project in the Air Protection Team of the Environment Department of the Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region. She is involved in the execution of the LIFE integrated project called “Implementation of Air Quality Plan for Malopolska Region – Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere” and the Coal Regions in Transition Platform. She graduated from the Faculty of Environmental Engineering at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow. She holds a doctoral degree in Earth Sciences - doctoral studies completed at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow. Doctoral dissertation title: “Assessment of prospective areas for geothermal use of low-temperature waters in the Malopolska Region”. Member of the regional Working Group for the Just Transition Fund.
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Malopolska conquers Brussels
Time for action for the climate and clean energy In 2019, the European Commission accepted the concept of a new integrated project LIFE EKOMALOPOLSKA „Implementation of the Regional Action Plan for Climate and Energy”. The final decision on co-financing the project was made in June 2020. The tasks of the new LIFE project, in addition to the preparation of a comprehensive Action Plan for Climate and Energy, will include the promotion of the use of renewable energy sources, awareness of the importance of energy efficiency and the implementation of EU goals in the field of counteracting and adapting to climate change. The agreement on joint application for the project implementation was signed by 24 partners (including: Ministry of Development, Silesia Region, AGH University of Science and Technology, European Clean Air Center and three cities which are also poviats (districts), and 17 poviats (districts)). Foreign partners of LIFE EKOMALOPOLSKA will be the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg. The project is also supported by the Polish Minister of Climate, the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education and the Polish Prime Minister’s Plenipotentiary for the Clean Air Programme. The Project will be implemented from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2030. Just transition for coal regions Malopolska is also among the seven regions in Europe selected for support under the technical assistance for coal regions in transition (START of the Coal Regions in Transition Platform). This support will allow the development of a low-emission strategy and pilot projects in the field of renewable energy sources, restructuring of mining regions and development of disused mines in western Malopolska. The cooperation under the START aims to prepare projects that will be able to obtain financing from the planned Just Transition Fund. In January 2020. Malopolska Region has officially joined the Coal Regions in Transition Platform. Participation in the Platform will help Malopolska to better coordinate efforts and face the challenge of the region’s low-emission transformation. 19
Malopolska is also among the seven regions in Europe selected for support under the technical assistance for coal regions in transition (START of the Coal Regions in Transition Platform).
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Malopolska conquers Brussels
Zero waste? We will do our best! The Self-government of the Malopolska Region also recognizes the importance of sustainable waste management and better use of secondary raw materials. As a result of the pursuit of the circular economy model, we joined the SYMBI project „Industrial Symbiosis for Regional Sustainable Growth and a Resource Efficient Circular Economy�. The goal of SYMBI is to support public policies in regions aiming at the circular economy model through increased resource efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The project is carried out under the Interreg Europe Programme. Everyday ecology Building the ecological awareness of the inhabitants and promoting environment-friendly and climate-friendly habits are challenges faced by the Self-government of the Malopolska Region on a daily basis. To meet them, in July 2019 the Management Board of the Malopolska Region adopted the eco-Malopolska project. Thanks to partners such as the International Green Film Festival, the Clean Poland Association, the Polish Smog Alert, or REFA - the largest Catholic ecological movement in Poland, the issues of environmental protection, value economy and the European Green Deal is constantly present at the most important mass events in the region, in local media and in own, regional communication channels.
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Building the ecological awareness of the inhabitants and promoting environmentfriendly and climatefriendly habits are challenges faced by the Self-government of the Malopolska Region on a daily basis.
Questo luris
Closer to Brussels #27
Questo luris Brussels, 11.12.2019 COM(2019) 640 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
The European Green Deal 1. INTRODUCTION - TURNING AN URGENT CHALLENGE INTO A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY This Communication sets out a European Green Deal for the European Union (EU) and its citizens. It resets the Commission’s commitment to tackling climate and environmental-related challenges that is this generation’s defining task. The atmosphere is warming and the climate is changing with each passing year. One million of the eight million species on the planet are at risk of being lost. Forests and oceans are being polluted and destroyed . The European Green Deal is a response to these challenges. It is a new growth strategy that aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. It also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the EU’s natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. At the same time, this transition must be just and inclusive. It must put people first, and pay attention to the regions, industries and workers who will face the greatest challenges. Since it will bring substantial change, active public participation and confidence in the transition is paramount if policies are to work and be accepted. A new pact is needed to bring together citizens in all their diversity, with national, regional, local authorities, civil society and industry working closely with the EU’s institutions and consultative bodies. The EU has the collective ability to transform its economy and society to put it on a more sustainable path. It can build on its strengths as a global leader on climate and environmental measures, consumer protection, and workers’ rights. Delivering additional reductions in emissions is a challenge. It will require massive public investment and increased efforts to direct private capital towards climate and environmental action, while avoiding lock-in into unsustainable practices. Sources: (i) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C; (ii) Intergovernmental SciencePolicy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: 2019 Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services; (iii) The International Resource Panel: Global Resources Outlook 2019: Natural Resources for the Future We Want; (iv) European Environment Agency: the European environment — state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe 1
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Questo luris
Closer to Brussels #27
The EU must be at the forefront of coordinating international efforts towards building a coherent financial system that supports sustainable solutions. This upfront investment is also an opportunity to put Europe firmly on a new path of sustainable and inclusive growth. The European Green Deal will accelerate and underpin the transition needed in all sectors. The environmental ambition of the Green Deal will not be achieved by Europe acting alone. The drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss are global and are not limited by national borders. The EU can use its influence, expertise and financial resources to mobilise its neighbours and partners to join it on a sustainable path. The EU will continue to lead international efforts and wants to build alliances with the like-minded. It also recognises the need to maintain its security of supply and competitiveness even when others are unwilling to act. This Communication presents an initial roadmap of the key policies and measures needed to achieve the European Green Deal. It will be updated as needs evolve and the policy responses are formulated. All EU actions and policies will have to contribute to the European Green Deal objectives. The challenges are complex and interlinked. The policy response must be bold and comprehensive and seek to maximise benefits for health, quality of life, resilience and competitiveness. It will require intense coordination to exploit the available synergies across all policy areas . The Green Deal is an integral part of this Commission’s strategy to implement the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals , and the other priorities announced in President von der Leyen’s political guidelines . As part of the Green Deal, the Commission will refocus the European Semester process of macroeconomic coordination to integrate the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, to put sustainability and the well-being of citizens at the centre of economic policy, and the sustainable development goals at the heart of the EU’s policymaking and action.
Chart 1: European Green Deal
The figure below illustrates the various elements of the Green Deal.
Supplying clean, affordable and secure energy
A zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment Preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity
The European Green Deal
Mobilising industry for clean and circular economy Building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way
Financing the transition
Mobilising research and fostering innovation
Transforming the EU’s economy for a sustainable future
Increasing the EU’s Climate ambition for 2030 and 2050
From ‘Farm to Fork’: a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system Accelerating the shift to sustainable and smart mobility
The EU as a global leader
A European Climate Pact
Leave no one behind (Just Transition)
In line with the findings of the 2020 European environment — state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe (European Environment Agency) 3 https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld 4 See Political Guidelines of President elect Ursula von der Leyen: Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) – ‘A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe’: 2
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