Polish opposition prepares to slam EU climate package

Owing to provisions in the Lisbon Treaty, Polish opposition parties will be able to join forces with counterparts in other European countries and back the first mass petition in EU history. The petition opposes the planned introduction of the so-called climate package, which aims for a swift departure from traditional methods of power generation.

As of 1 April, all Union citizens will have the right to officially file proposals on the matter. Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Spain have already stated outright they will not be able to afford the costs of the planned solution.

Polish government stands in favour of the clean technology project, looking to move away from a coal-based economy. But the right-wing parliamentary club Solidarity Poland (Solidarna Polska) has quoted results of research conducted by relevant experts, whereby Poland would carry the greatest burden of this EU project.

Poland’s Chamber of Commerce has itself estimated that in 2030, expenses incurred by Polish enterprises connected with CO2 reduction could reach 22 billion zloty, roughly 5.1 billion euro. In view of this, domestic experts forecast a 100 percent price increase for electricity in Poland over the next 10 year period.

Nevertheless, Professor Jeremy Rifkin, an American expert and author of internationally recognized technological solutions in the field, told Polish Radio that he strongly believes Poland can successfully cope with the challenge. “You can afford this. The European Regional Development Funds provided 67 billion euro for Poland for infrastructure in the last five years. You are going to have more money for the next budget. The question is, where do you put your money. So, you have to balance it.”

EU environment ministers are meeting on 9 March for further discussion on the climate package. (ss/nh)

Cover: The Klimapiraten's "Berlin's Big Switch" action at Brandenburg Gate encouraging germans to choose renewable energy over coal and nuclear. Photo: 350.org/Marcel Mettelsiefen (CC atb, nc, sa)