In order to ensure the highest quality of our services, we use small files called cookies. When using our website, the cookie files are downloaded onto your device. You can change the settings of your browser at any time. In addition, your use of our website is tantamount to your consent to the processing of your personal data provided by electronic means.
Back

Towards a green economy. Visit of Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak to Katowice

27.01.2020

The meeting inaugurating the creation of the Just Transformation Fund is the most important point of the conference “Towards a Green Economy” which began today in Katowice. The event was attended by Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, and Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak.

zielona_gosp

Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak began her visit to Katowice with a bilateral meeting with EU Commissioner Elisa Ferreira. The issues raised during the conversation included negotiations of the cohesion policy, preparation of the partnership agreement and the implementation of climate goals in the European Union.

The Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy is conducting intensive work on the preparation of documents for the new financial perspective. Partnership Agreement is a key strategic document at the national level for the use of European Funds. Preparation of the assumptions of the Partnership Agreement was preceded by extensive public consultations and intensive informal dialogue with the European Commission,Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak noted.

Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak thanked Commissioner Ferreira for noticing more difficult starting position of poorer countries and those with a high percentage of people employed in the industry related to CO2 emissions.

We appreciate the proposal of the European Commission to support regions which have to bear huge socio-economic costs to achieve climate neutrality,Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak added.

Commissioner Ferreira and Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak also took part in the meeting inaugurating the Just Transformation Fund. Participants of the conference included marshals, members of local governments and potential beneficiaries of this mechanism. In Poland, this event is the first one in the European Union promoting the opportunities offered to regions and countries by the EU Just Transformation Fund.

The European Commission's proposal are new opportunities for coal regions. Poland will probably be the largest beneficiary of the fund. We will receive about EUR 2 billion, i.e. about 27 per cent of the entire budget of the Just Transformation Fund,Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak noted and added that this amount is obviously a drop in the ocean of needs of both Polish coal regions which are just beginning their transformation, and post-coal ones which have already started it and are still struggling with its negative effects.

Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak emphasised that the Polish government is pursuing and taking actions that are aimed at achieving climate neutrality.

We want to achieve climate neutrality in a safe and responsible manner, taking into account national social and economic conditions,Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak emphasised.

The Minister added that as a party to the Paris Agreement we have committed ourselves to achieving climate neutrality in the second half of the 21st century.

Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak also took part in the panel Transformation of Mining Regions – how to follow the ‘green change’ in a fair way.

Plans to change the economic profile of mining regions are already supported by a specially dedicated Programme for Silesia. Currently, the programme includes 116 projects whose total value is estimated at PLN 62 billion. The objective of the programme is to transform the economic profile towards innovative and highly productive industries. Measures of the Programme for Silesiafocus, among others, on fighting smog, supporting research and development, and the development of electromobility,Minister Jarosińska-Jedynak said.

On the second day of the conference, Deputy Minister Grzegorz Puda took part in the panel Just transformation – ‘green change’ fair to EU citizens.

Poland is the second largest coal producer in Europe. Mining and coal-fired power generation are also of major socio-economic importance as they provide numerous jobs and are often the main source of income in the region. In Silesia, where the majority of Polish active coal mines are still located, the main risk of transformation is unemployment associated with the closure of mines which, according to estimates, may affect over 40 thousand people,Deputy Minister Grzegorz Puda said.

The Minister added that the solution might be investment in low-carbon technologies in currently operating plants so that they can conduct their activity with respect for the natural environment. In addition, running and developing energy technologies of the future, such as hydrogen technologies, can contribute to job retention and a systematic increase in the number of jobs along with the development of technology and production.

Towards a Green Economyconference was held on 27-28 January at the International Congress Centre. The event brought together international experts from 41 European Union coal regions who talked about the transformation towards a green economy. The conference was an opportunity to exchange views and seek solutions to the most important challenges related to the transformation of regions which will allow working out a transformation model guaranteeing a smooth transition towards zero-emission forms of energy generation.

Photos (4)

{"register":{"columns":[]}}