During the High-Level Segment of the UNEA-4 (UNEA-4, United Nations Environmental Assembly), Vice-Minister Sławomir Mazurek stressed that Poland perceives sustainable development and environmental protection as a key priority, and therefore actively engages in international activities aimed at protecting climate and biodiversity, preventing desertification and pollution, as well as solving the issue of water shortage.

In his speech, Vice-Minister Mazurek pointed out that the task of the government is to diagnose the most important barriers to sustainable development and – based on this knowledge – to develop and implement appropriate regulations aimed at achieving sustainable development objectives.

We have started the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy.  One of the objectives is to direct the Polish economy towards lower dependence on non-renewable resources. We are working on increasing the share of renewable resources and stimulating sustainable consumption and production, he said. As he added, benchmarks in this area can be promoted through education and raising awareness, focusing on building social responsibility for the environment.

In addition, in the framework of the High-Level Segment, a ministerial round table meeting was held, devoted to the results of the UN Conference of the Parties on Biodiversity and the Development of a Global Framework beyond 2020. In his speech, Vice-Minister Mazurek stressed that the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration adopted by the High-Level Segment, along with the decisions of the Conference of the Parties point the direction of action the next two years before the meeting in Beijing.

Environmental challenges related to poverty and management of natural resources were also one of the topics of ministerial debates. Vice-Minister Mazurek pointed out that: “We cannot talk about food security today without thinking about climate, biodiversity and the sustainable use of land and water. That is why we attach great importance to sustainable agriculture and sustainable management of our land.”

During the Assembly in Nairobi, Vice-Minister Mazurek also took part in a ministerial debate on innovative policies and solutions for circular economy, during which he focused on the need to differentiate solutions in this area for urban and rural areas. “This concept is a development opportunity, particularly for rural and non-urbanised areas. With them in mind, we started a pilot program in which selected local governments develop concepts for the implementation of a circular economy in their areas,” the Vice-Minister of Environment emphasised. As he added, the programme will help to develop solutions in the field of circular economy, which can be subsequently implemented in other municipalities with similar conditions and circumstances.

The Vice-Minister also presented a project related to the development of wooden construction in Poland, the main objective of which is to build environmentally friendly wooden houses, intended primarily for people who cannot afford to buy their own flats.

Parallel to the UNEA-4 event, on the 14th of March the 3rd edition of “One Planet Summit” was held, attended by the Presidents of Kenya and France, among others.

During the closing session of the UNEA-4 High Level Segment, the ministerial declaration entitled “Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production” was adopted.

The 4th UNEA session took place from the 11th to the 15th of March 2019, the High-Level Segment was held from the 14th to the 15th of March.