Posted on October, 03 2019

Poland can reach net zero carbon emissions in a socially fair way without massive increases in EU financial support, this new analysis from WWF shows. 

Poland will need to make additional investments of €7.5-18 billion in its power system up to 2050 to reach a near decarbonised power system, compared to business as usual. However, if it shifts its spending from coal to renewables, Poland already has significant resources to make these investments. What’s more, reaching net zero emissions by 2050 will bring Poland direct savings of €55 billion on total energy costs, as well as €200 billion of avoided health and environmental costs. 

WWF’s analysis comes as  the EU discusses a possible net zero emissions target. Agreement on the target was blocked in June 2019 by Poland, Hungary, Estonia and the Czech Republic. The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki argued then that Poland would need financial support guarantees before agreeing to a net zero goal. Recently the country’s energy minister said the transformation of Poland’s economy required €700-900 billion. 

Yet our analysis shows that Poland's transition to climate-neutrality is, in fact, affordable and feasible.

Read the analysis