Coal use in Poland raises concern in EU

Poland's dependence on coal as its main source of fuel has resulted in high levels of air pollution that are considered to be among the worst in Europe. In addition, there has been a decrease in the life expectancy of the average resident due to health problems associated with excessive use of coal, as evidenced by research by international organizations.

However, Poland does not intend to end its dependence on coal, which is its main source of energy, despite the highest rate of premature mortality in Europe, which can be attributed to exposure to air pollution. Poland is the second largest coal producer in Europe after Germany and receives about 85 percent of its electricity and 43 percent of its heat from coal-fired power plants.

Over the past week, representatives of the Polish opposition party, whose candidate won the presidential elections last month, confirmed that "Our goal is to support and preserve the role of coal in the Polish economy in negotiations with the European Commission on carbon emissions." The Law and Justice Party is ahead in opinion polls conducted ahead of the parliamentary elections in the fall.

In February, the European Commission warned Poland about its non-compliance with European Union legislation on air pollution, in particular exposure to fine dust particles. Tiny PM10 particles can cause asthma, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer, and even premature death. In Poland, these particles are generated mainly in emissions from the use of coal for heating homes, transport and industry. The Commission notes that the latest figures from Poland show that the maximum daily limits for these particles have been exceeded in 36 zones, and the annual limits have been exceeded in 12 zones.

According to the findings of the European Commission, Poland is the country with the highest level of pollutant emissions and causes the greatest damage to the climate in Europe due to “harmful” power plants. In Poland, the Belchatow power plant in the Lodz region supplies almost 20 percent of the country's electricity. It is the largest lignite-fired power plant in Europe and contributes to 37.2 million tonnes of CO2 per year.