During the meeting the EU Ministers discussed, among others, the key challenges related to adaptation to climate change. As Deputy Minister Urszula Zielińska stressed, the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events grew in Poland, especially the number of hot days increased.

Moreover, the Deputy Minister pointed out that in order to strengthen the social and economic resilience it was necessary to involve the representatives of all the sectors which affect the state of the environment or they should adapt to climate change.

Poland will take steps to prepare a new national adaptation strategy and an action plan for adaptation to climate change. The objectives of the national adaptation strategy will be prepared and implemented with the participation of key stakeholders, including nongovernmental organisations, at the national, regional and local levels

- Deputy Minister Urszula Zielińska said.

The circular economy (CE)

Moreover, the EU Ministers discussed the circular economy. As Deputy Minister Anita Sowińska emphasised, waste should not be regarded as something redundant, but as valuable resources which should be used.

In addition, these are resources which we can shape; hence, the element of the design of products is so important, as it determines to the greatest extent what waste arises in the production, distribution, use and after use of products, i.e. whether they will be suitable for preparing for reuse, recycling or possibly incineration

- Deputy Minister Anita Sowińska said.

Moreover, the CE also provides enterprises with  an opportunity for developing the technological infrastructure, seeking the optimum solutions and building competences and competitive advantages which can also be transferred to non-EU countries

- she added.

Bilateral meetings

On the sidelines of the Informal Meeting, the Deputy Ministers also participated in bilateral meetings. Deputy Minister Urszula Zielińska met with Mr. Wopke Hoekstra, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, and Ms. Christiane Rohleder, State Secretary at the German Ministry for the Environment. Deputy Minister Anita Sowińska met with Ms. Christiane Rohleder, State Secretary at the German Ministry for the Environment, David Sury, Director General for Environmental Protection at the Czech Ministry of the Environment and Mr. Cedric Bourillet, Director General for Prevention at the French Ministry of Ecological Transition.