The Warsaw Institute of Economic Studies and the Polish Confederation Lewiatan have organised a conference entitled The energy sector transformation in OECD Member States: How to build a nationwide consensus around the climate policy – the European and American experience and conclusions for Poland.
The conference took place on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at the Intercontinental Hotel. During the meeting we have sought answers to the question on the possibilities of reaching a nationwide consensus on climate policy. Leading domestic and international experts have described the current path of the Republic of Poland as well as the experience of other OECD states in this regard and the benefits and challenges of building a consensus on climate issues.
Mr Maciej Bukowski, the chairman of the Warsaw Institute for Economic Studies, was the first to take the floor.
He pointed out that Poland has two approaches to choose from in terms of the transition to low-emission economy. The first approach involves the implementation of the EU low-emission targets and the decarbonisation of the economy. Such changes would entail a profound restructuring, a new emphasis on innovation and an agreement for a global consensus on climate issues. The second approach involves a very slow decrease of emission levels and the implementation of EU targets to the smallest extent possible, due to the fact that the targets set in the model prepared in Brussels are to ambitious. This approach would entail the diversification of the energy mix coupled with a reduction in the use of brown coal. The approach to be chosen by Poland depends, to a considerable extent, on the prevailing political conditions as well as on the response of society (miners’ strikes). For the Polish government, both the mining dilemma and the question of industrial policy remain a considerable challenge. There has been uncertainty as to whether the efforts at restructuring should be made at all where, in many cases, it is the foreign capital that would reap the rewards. Dilemmas pertaining to financial issues are no less complex and there is still uncertainty as to who would provide financing for the modernisation efforts. As the chairman of the Warsaw Institute for Economic Studies has concluded, Poland is currently midway through the transformation process and faces a choice as to which path of development to choose for itself. It should be noted that despite many positive changes, Poland still faces the risk of being caught in the middle-income trap.
Another expert who participated in the discussion was Mr Claude Mandil, an eminent specialist and the former Managing Director at the International Energy Agency. He outlined the problems in France pertaining to nuclear energy, issues which arise in connection with such choices as well as the possible solutions. He pointed out the importance of striving towards lower CO2 emissions in order to gradually eliminate emissions and to ensure the appropriate management thereof. He also warned that regulations are necessary in order to implement a system for emission reductions. Europe needs an energy mix to be used as a tool which will make it possible to attain the necessary consensus. A complete agreement is not necessary; European countries should bear in mind their national capabilities and the features of their respective economies. We do not need a common energy mix that would be identical for Europe as a whole. It is worth emphasizing that the most significant issue is that we accept the diversity and solidarity in the struggle for emissions reduction. We should approach the needs and objectives of our neighbours in a manner which puts an emphasis on solidarity. Raising social awareness, engaging in dialogue with the public, breaking stereotypes and challenging any unrealistic expectations or fears are also of great importance. We have one common interest; splitting it into national interests on one hand and the European interest on the other will get us nowhere. As the expert pointed out, the constant verification whether the decisions adopted on a national level remain consistent with the decisions of other European Union members is of crucial importance.
The expert part of the panel was concluded by the speech of Ms Kamila Pronińska, PhD, from the Institute of International Relations of the University of Warsaw.
Ms Pronińska has stated clearly that the situation in the Polish energy sector differs from that in the energy sectors of the countries which have attained the highest level of development. This fact is clearly expressed in both our choices as to energy and in our current energy mix. Our economy is still carbon-based and in terms of energy efficiency our country attained the sixth-worst result. These indicator clearly demonstrate the pace of change in Poland and our results compared to other OECD countries.
Ms Pronińska concluded that obviously, one cannot deny that Poland has achieved a certain degree of success in terms of striving towards a low-emission economy and there are indicators which show that this tendency is very promising indeed, with emission levels going down and the economy becoming more and more innovative. However, when viewed from a global perspective, we can see how far away we are from a serious discussion on low-emission issues. The changes are so slow that it is difficult to actually notice them, let alone enjoy them. Although the idea of low-emission economy is no longer being challenged, it is still considered as a need of a somewhat exclusive nature which can be postponed until a later stage. Society is still unaware of the issues in question and does not understand that climate policy also forms part of a nation’s security policy.
The meeting was chaired by Ms Daria Kulczycka, Director at the Department for Energy and Climate Change of the Polish Confederation Lewiatan.