Future Perfect

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Is going green a threat to growth?

Poland proves the contrary

Marcin Korolec, Minister of the Environment, Poland

he policy of efficient use of natural resources aims

mainly at separating Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

growth from the degrading of environmental resources.

In Poland, the consumption of natural resources amounts to

16 tons per capita each year. Our economy is still twice as

energy- and resource-intensive and produces three times as

much greenhouse gas emissions as other OECD countries.

However, provided that we continue our growth, we can join

these countries in enjoying the continuous decrease of the

economy’s impact on the environment. Over the past 20 years,

Poland recorded 200 per cent growth in GDP and managed

to cut GHG by 30 per cent. The resource efficiency factor in

the last decade has increased by 15 per cent. Our economy

continues its fast growth, increasing the standard of living and

reducing poverty for many, while proving that sustainable and

green growth is possible, if the proper policy framework and

tools are put in place.

Policy path

Poland began on its path to sustainable development about 20 years

ago, following the switch to a market economy, accompanied by

deep social and economic reforms. The first strategic document

designed to include sustainable and green development was the

Environmental Policy of Poland, which was adopted in 1991. It

laid the foundation for the current system of market-based envi-

ronmental protection. The strategy, which was aimed at sustainable

economic growth, was the first comprehensive document of its kind

in Poland – also in Eastern and Central Europe – and one of the

first in the world.

Another strategy, for energy security and the environment, is now

included in policy targeted at sustainable and low-emission growth.

Building on the 1991 Environmental Policy, the strategy shows how

these two fields often overlap and their smart combination should

bring important synergies.

One of nine papers covering the Polish economy, Poland 2030,

builds an integrated vision for future development, using extensive

strategies that replace the previous 420 produced over the past

20 years. Each paper has similar overarching objectives, such as

creating effective management systems to improve the efficiency

of budget spending and increasing the transparency of strategic

programming.

Another important policy document promoting the concept of

sustainability in Poland is the National Reform Programme (NRP),

which documents the country’s response to challenges due to be

faced in upcoming years. The NRP has been structured to promote

three main growth priorities:

• Smart – developing an economy based on knowl-

edge and innovation

• Sustainable – promoting a more resource-efficient,

greener and more competitive economy

• Inclusive – fostering a high-employment economy

to ensure economic, social and territorial cohesion.

Achieving these objectives will be key to implementing

the social vision of a market economy for the twenty-

first century.

Preparation of the National Programme for the

Development of a Low-Emission Economy is underway

to address long-term objectives. These include realiz-

ing economic, social and environmental benefits from

a green, low-emission economy, developing and apply-

ing new technologies, improving energy efficiency and

creating new, sustainable jobs.

The Programme’s main objective is to develop a

low-emission economy and it is underpinned by six

specific goals:

• Development of low-emission energy sources,

• Energy efficiency improvement,

• Resource and material efficiency improvement,

• Development and use of low-emission technologies,

• Waste management improvement, including waste

generation prevention

• Promotion of sustainable consumption and

production patterns.

Financing and project implementation

External sources of financing are usually scarce and will

therefore remain additional to the resources that must

be mobilized domestically to foster foreign investments

and the technological shift needed for building a green

economy.

Poland has wide-ranging experience in creating inno-

vative funding mechanisms and implementing green

projects; there are a number of tools that we have found

useful over time and would like to share our knowledge in

relation to their design, fine-tuning and implementation.

Generating domestic revenues – ‘polluter pays’ principle

Full implementation of the ‘polluter pays’ principle is key to

mobilizing financial resources and stimulating investment.

This principle was successfully introduced in Poland by

implementing a system of environmental fees, charges and

ustainability

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