Education, academic and professional career

Michał Kurtyka is a graduate of the prestigious Parisian École Polytechnique and a scholarship holder in the field of quantum optics of the National Institute of Standards and Technologies, located near Washington, D.C., where he worked under the leadership of Nobel laureate in physics William D. Phillips. During the course of his studies, he also specialised in economics, with particular focus on market organisation, studying under Professor Jean Tirole, the 2014 Nobel laureate in economics. In the field of international economics, he studied at the University in Louvain-la-Neuve and he acquired his master’s degree at the Warsaw School of Economics. He defended his doctoral dissertation at the University of Warsaw. Later, for over 10 years he advised Polish and international enterprises in the process of modernisation and adaptation to European and global markets.

 

Public service

In the Polish government, initially as the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of the Environment, later as the Minister of Climate, Michał Kurtyka has proven to be primarily an expert - engineer and economist. Among other issues, he was responsible for the technological development and implementation of innovations in the oil and gas sector, as well as supervision of the state’s participation in Polish energy companies. He authored the “Electromobility Development Plan”, and guided the creation of the Act on Electromobility and Alternative Fuels. As the Minister of Climate, he was responsible for the introduction of the Polish Energy Policy 2040. He initiated programs such as "My Water", "Green Car" and "Miasto z klimatem".

International career

Internationally, Michał Kurtyka is best known for his unique ability to build consensus. He chaired the International Energy Agency’s works in 2016-2017 when it delivered the “Long Term Financial Health” reform which assured sustainable financial security of the Agency. As the Chairman of IEA 2019 Ministerial he contributed to the adoption of, first in ten years, IEA Ministerial Commmuniqué, which remains the last common reference by 30 IEA member states to climate issues. As COP24 President in 2018, he led all 196 members of the summit to successful adoption of the Katowice Rulebook, enabling the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Vision for the OECD

Michał Kurtyka proposes to introduce the “New Growth” agenda which strives to enable a swift rebound after Covid-19 imposed economic contraction as well as to enhance well-being. New Growth advocates for strengthening the role of the OECD based on dialogue with its Member States, with the Secretary-General being a facilitator of the decision-making process. In his program, Kurtyka urges to think beyond the immediate to emerge from the crisis with more resilient, sustainable economies built in a spirit of trust and cooperation. This includes aligning new technologies with climate goals to spur investments and create quality jobs or settling the issues related to the rapid growth of digital economy. According to Kurtyka, rebuilding trust in international cooperation will be key to putting these ideas into practice.