Concerned But Not Fully Dedicated: The Polish Perspective on Climate Change

Abstract

Over the past few years, public debate in Poland has been centred on domestic political matters and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, of late not unsurprisingly the dominant topic has become the war in Ukraine and the resultant economic turmoil. Notwithstanding such major events, environmental issues continue to be of significant importance for Polish society, albeit always a source of disagreement between Poland’s government and the EU. According to an opinion poll conducted in 2020, 76% of Poles declare that climate change brings more harm than good, although it seems that people are generally not yet aware of the influence these changes can have on their personal situations. For instance, only 8% worry about water deficits and 4% about problems caused for agriculture. Eurobarometer 2021 demonstrates that only 30% of Poles feel personally responsible for climate change, in contrast to the EU average of 41%. This stance might result from a lack of knowledge about the process of climate change, but also a shallow interest linked to poor education in this matter. Some 75% of Poles want to increase the 2030 national climate target, preferring pro-climate regulations for transport and construction rather than emissions taxes that would be costly for consumers.