Polityka klimatyczno-energetyczna kluczową barierą rozwoju zrównoważonego w Polsce

Abstract

The paper explains the meaning of climate sustainability and the way in which the category of sustainable development as a concept of total decarbonization is understood in the UE. The author shows that the strategy Europe 2020 and the latest winter package for the period until 2030 – the most recent regulations of BAT – pose a serious challenge to the Polish economy and society because of its structure of energy balance and high costs for the economy and society. The paper discusses the possibilities and barriers of technological change in the broadly understood energy sector that can lead to the decarbonization and low emission economy, but at the same time be feasible and economically acceptable. Apart from replacing coal with gas, renewables, energy efficiency, and cogeneration, there exist several efficient technologies that would protect the climate and be consistent with the low emission economy, ensuring at the same time minimum prospects for coal. Especially the possibilities of CO2 reductions in the process of coal combustion are very limited, but moderate success can be expected from conversion of coal to gaseous and solid forms. The medium-term balance of costs and benefits of modernising the energy sector seems unfavourable, but an effective transformation and innovations can spare the Polish economy and society higher costs in the future