Poland plans to spend over €7bn on fighting smog

Poland plans to spend over €7bn on fighting smog
By bne IntelliNews April 13, 2018

Poland intends to spend PLN25bn-PLN30bn (€6bn-€7.2bn) in the next ten years to improve thermal insulation of houses in order to reduce the smog that cripples the country in winter months, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on April 12.

Poland’s air is among the most polluted in the European Union because millions of poorly insulated houses use coal and low quality coal-based fuels for heating. The government wants to invest in better energy efficiency of housing in Poland in order to reduce the use of polluting fuels. 

The government also plans to help finance the replacement of old inefficient heating systems in houses, push for a more comprehensive coverage of district heating networks and introduce quality norms for solid fuels used for heating.

Some of these plans have been met with opposition from Poland’s powerful coal lobby, which claims a crackdown on the fuel will hit sales and also push less well-off households into poverty if heating becomes more expensive due to tightened environmental norms.

Smog has been a political problem for the Law and Justice (PiS) government since 2016 when a cold spell led to soaring of smog levels countrywide. That raised awareness and a number of activist organisations began campaigning against the problem, creating pressure on politicians.

 

Read in IntelliNews Pro
Get IntelliNews Pro

Related Articles

France's spending on Russian LNG surges to over €600mn this year

France's spending on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) surged to over €600mn this year, EU data reveals, Politico reports. The increase comes as French President Emmanuel Macron becomes ... more

What next for oil markets after Iranian strike on Israel?

WHAT: Oil prices have fallen following Iran's strike against military facilities in Israel. WHY: The risk of escalation was largely priced in last week in anticipation of the strike, and Israel ... more

LNG imports improving EU energy security as Russian gas supplies fall to 8% of gas imports

Liquefied natural gas helps make Europe’s gas supply more secure as it doesn’t rely on existing pipeline infrastructure, allowing EU countries to diversify the sources of their imports, the ... more

Follow Us On

Most Read

  1. Iran vs Israel: Who is better equipped for war?
    5 days ago
  2. Saudi Arabia to scale back plans for Neom city
    9 days ago
  3. BREAKING: Iraq, Syria and Jordan close airspace amid Iranian strike on Israel
    5 days ago
  4. PANNIER: Caspian military drills that exclude Russia and Iran have some people in Moscow asking questions
    6 days ago
  5. Oil continues to flow to Israel via Turkey despite Erdogan’s vehement speeches on plight of Gaza
    5 months ago
  1. Russia could pay off its entire external debt tomorrow, in cash
    19 days ago
  2. Speculation swirls of “Men in Blue” in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack linked to FSB
    23 days ago
  3. Albanians campaign on social media to keep bus bridge created in freak accident
    1 year ago
  4. UBN: Russia could take the Baltic states in 48 hours
    28 days ago
  5. BRICS announce a blockchain-based payment system to create a common currency
    22 days ago

Reports

Dismiss