Poland

Poland ranks 47th in this year’s CCPI, up eight places from last year and with a low overall rating. The country receives a low rating in all CCPI categories: GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use, and Climate Policy.

Poland’s new government, in place since late 2023, has shifted toward a more pro-climate stance, opening up dialogue with civil society and other stakeholders on energy transition, including the contentious topic of moving away from coal. However, the CCPI country experts note the lack of coordination between the ministries and of political courage for more ambitious climate action. The far-right wing’s increasing anti-EU and anti-climate rhetoric further complicates the landscape.

Updated Energy and Climate Plan Could Be an Opportunity

The experts criticise Poland for lacking a long-term strategy for reducing GHG emissions by 2050 and highlight inconsistencies in existing climate policies. The finalised update of the National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030, submitted in October 2024 for public consultation, is a pivotal moment, as it will serve as a key strategic document guiding the decarbonisation process. The experts view this as an opportunity to break the political deadlock on coal phase-out and shift focus to essential sectoral decarbonisation strategies beyond the power sector. The transformation policy lacks coherence. Nearly 10 ministries are involved and no institutions coordinate the entire transformation process.

Renewable energy development in Poland is progressing and rates as high, but grid bottlenecks remain and need addressing to allow for further renewables integration. Coal power still dominates Poland’s energy mix, though the share is falling. The government has an agreement with miners to phase out coal mining by 2049, which the experts criticise as too late. Poland also relies on natural gas for power generation, and infrastructure for this continues to be expanded.

Wood accounts for about 8.5% of Poland’s primary energy, mainly for heating, and represents nearly two-thirds of its renewable energy in national statistics. The experts note biomass combustion’s negative impact in households on air quality and smog. Additionally, the excessive felling of trees for export has been a major problem in Poland in recent years, reducing the capacity to absorb CO2 and threatening forest conservation. The new government is trying to address this by restricting timber harvesting and designating protected areas. However, Poland lacks a cohesive forestry or agricultural policy that incorporates climate goals, and this leads to conflicts between foresters and environmental organizations.

Not Progressive on the International Stage

Internationally, Poland demonstrates little ambition and engagement, with both the government and opposition resisting ambitious EU climate policies. For instance, this past year, Poland voted against the EU’s Nature Restoration Law.

The experts recommend that Poland establish a long-term GHG reduction policy and a more ambitious pathway for coal phase-out. Poland needs a clear, coherent, and coordinated decarbonisation strategy. Integrating climate goals into forestry and agricultural policies is also essential. And industry should be included in the transformation process as an active agent of change and not only as a GHG emissions reducer.

Key Outcomes

Poland ranks 47th in this year’s CCPI, up eight places from last year and with a low overall rating
Poland’s new government, in place since late 2023, has shifted toward a more pro-climate stance
Key demands: establish a long-term GHG reduction policy and a more ambitious pathway for coal phase-out. Poland needs a clear, coherent, and coordinated decarbonisation strategy