Plenary session on fair and inclusive transition at Clean Energy Ministerial

During a speech in the plenary session on “Fair and inclusive transition”, Vice-Minister Kurtyka stated that the issue of fair transformation is particularly important for Poland.

This is why during the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change – the COP24, which took place in Poland between the 2nd and the 16th of December 2018, we initiated the adoption of a Declaration of Just Transition by 56 countries around the world, he explained.

Discussions on this issue are also continuing in 2019. This is due to the fact that Poland wants to take advantage of its Presidency to present climate policy as a key tool for sustainable development. We believe that the path of sustainable development is necessary for building a strong international community and is the only guarantee of effective action against climate change, he pointed out.

The President of COP24 also referred to the example of Katowice as a city which has undergone a major transformation in recent years.

The landscape of Poland is changing rapidly. This is why the title of COP24 was “Changing together.” The conference took place in Katowice, and this was a conscious choice, he explained.

Thirty years ago, factory smokestacks were a characteristic feature of the city. Today, Katowice is one of the symbols of the effectiveness of the Polish strategy of economic and social transition, as well as its positive impact on the environment. What is more, the capital of Silesia is one of the greenest cities in Poland, with forests covering more than 40% of the total area,he pointed out.

Advanced CCUS – discussion panel

The Vice-Minister of Environment also spoke in a panel discussion on CCUS (Carbon Capture and Utilisation). As Minister Kurtyka explained, modern technologies are the secret behind the efficient fight against climate change. He also informed that Poland has some experience with implementing research programmes on carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS).

Two pilot CO₂ capture installations were set up, alongside research projects concerning power units adapted for CCS, we also carried out geological studies to check the possibility of storing the captured CO2 in brine layers. Our country not only has highly qualified scientific staff, but also modern research infrastructure in the Clean Coal Technology Centre in Zabrze, as well as in other scientific centres, such as AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Silesian University of Technology and Częstochowa University of Technology, he added.

Bilateral meetings and a study visit

During his visit to Canada, Michał Kurtyka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment, held a series of bilateral meetings on climate change activities and priorities of the Polish Presidency of COP24. The Vice-Minister attended meetings with Yoshihiko Isozaki, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, as well as Dustin Duncan, Minister of the Environment of Saskatchewan. During his study visit, he visited CO2 capture and storage projects and held talks with engineers from the International CCS Knowledge Centre.

COP24 Climate Summit

COP24 or the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change took place on the 2nd – 16th of December 2018 in Katowice. The event was attended by more than 23,000 participants from all over the world.

During the COP24 Summit, the Parties adopted the Katowice Rulebook – a full package implementing the Paris Agreement. The Agreement is the first international agreement in history setting the world’s climate policy for the years to come, which compels all countries in the world to take action on climate protection.