Poland will not support the European Union’s proposed 90% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target for 2040, calling it “unrealistic” and harmful to the country’s economic and energy security, Notes from Poland reported on July 3.

Speaking after a meeting of EU environment ministers in Brussels, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Poland’s Minister for Climate and Environment, said Warsaw could not endorse the 2040 climate target outlined by the European Commission in February.

“Poland will not support the unrealistic EU target of a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040,” said Hennig-Kloska. “It has no detailed impact assessment, and we still don’t know how much it will cost. Poland cannot afford to support such a policy.”

The minister added that while Poland is committed to climate action, any transition must be based on sound analysis, economic feasibility and energy security. “The transition must be fair, take account of the different starting points of member states and leave no one behind,” she said.

In February, the European Commission proposed a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, as a milestone toward achieving full climate neutrality by 2050. The draft was based on modelling from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change and was intended to guide investment decisions in the energy, transport and agriculture sectors.

However, the target remains non-binding and must be endorsed by EU member states before it becomes part of formal legislation. Several other countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, have also expressed reservations.

Poland’s stance underscores broader tensions within the bloc over the pace and cost of the green transition, especially among eastern member states that remain heavily dependent on coal and are concerned about the social and industrial impact of rapid decarbonisation.

Hennig-Kloska also pointed to recent financial pressures, noting that “EU member states are facing serious challenges in public finances and social inequality” and that the cost of implementing the target must be fully understood.

While the Commission has argued that the long-term costs of inaction on climate change far exceed the investment needed to meet its targets, Poland continues to seek greater flexibility and funding guarantees under the EU’s Just Transition Mechanism.

“We need a pragmatic and fair approach to climate policy,” Hennig-Kloska said. “Not one based on ideology or unrealistic timelines.”