Environmental Protection In Poland Research Articles

Cultural Aspects of Waste Management in Poland and China

The main aim of this article was to present differences in the social determinants of waste management and environmental protection in Poland and People's Republic of China. A research gap was identified related to the small number of studies comparing China and Poland in the field of waste management. A systematic review of the literature on waste management and society's approach to environmental protection was conducted, with particular emphasis on municipal waste. The article uses data from local databases, i.e. the Central Statistical Office (GUS) in Poland and The Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, as well as data from the World Bank and OECD. The method of comparative analysis and Hofstede's tool were used for selected aspects of the social approach to waste management in Poland and the People's Republic of China. Empirical research was conducted in August 2023. Literature review based on key groups of social factors that differ in the analysed countries. These include those related to purity, religious beliefs, respect for nature, responsibility and ecology. Chinese citizens approach the power supply in their environment in a more collective way than in Poland. The European Union's recommendations has positively affected management of municipal waste in Poland, while in People's Republic of China legislation is constantly updated. In the authors' opinion, in subsequent studies it is worth focusing on comparing other countries in terms of their social approach to environmental protection, as well as conducting surveys.

State aid policy for environmental protection in Poland after accession to the European Union: did it meet expectations in the face of challenges?

In the face of years of negligence in the environmental protection in Poland, the membership in the European Union has caused the adoption not only of a restrictive legal framework and now ambitious environmental goals, but also restrictions on permissible support for entrepreneurs. To date there is a lack of research combining both legal and financial aspects in this field. The aim of this study is to identify the extent, to which Poland’s policy of financial assistance to entrepreneurs has exercised the legal framework for granting state aid for environmental protection. To this end, we conducted a comparative analysis of EU legislation on state aid and Polish aid schemes for environmental protection, as well as statistical analysis of changes in granting aforementioned state aid in terms of its intended uses and areas of support in Poland. We found the high degree of cumulation to certain sectors and incidentality of environmental aid in Poland, both in terms of its objectives envisaged by the Commission and of support areas. That support did not follow a well-thought-out, coherent and systematic policy of supporting entrepreneurs, but was merely a collection of isolated interventions, depending on the availability of fund resources in the EU financial perspectives.

Ecological and Health Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals Contained in Sediments of Polish Dam Reservoirs.

This study aimed at investigating the distribution of heavy metals (HMs: Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, and Cu) in the bottom sediments of 28 reservoirs covered area of Poland. The paper evaluates the pollution of sediments with HMs and their potential toxic effects on aquatic organisms and human health on the basis of results provided by the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Poland. The average concentrations of HMs in the bottom sediments of the reservoirs were as follows: Cd < Ni < Cr < Cu < Pb < Zn. (0.187, 7.30, 7.74, 10.62, 12.47, and 52.67 mg∙dm-3). The pollution load index values were from 0.05 to 2.45. They indicate contamination of the bottom sediments in seven reservoirs. The contamination-factor values suggest pollution with individual HMs in 19 reservoirs, primarily Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb. The analysis showed that only two reservoirs had the potential for toxic effects on aquatic organisms due to high concentrations of Cd and Pb. The hazard index values for all the analyzed HMs were less than one. Therefore, there was no non-carcinogenic risk for dredging workers. The reservoirs were divided into two groups in terms of composition and concentration values. Reservoirs with higher concentrations of HMs in bottom sediments are dispersed, suggesting local pollution sources. For the second group of reservoirs, HMs' concentrations may be determined by regional pollution sources. The analysis showed that Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations are higher in older reservoirs and those with higher proportions of artificial areas in their catchments. Concentrations of Ni, Cu, and Cr are higher in reservoirs in south Poland and those with higher Schindler's ratios.

Constitutionalisation of Environmental Protection in Poland

This article aims, on the one hand, to analyse how the constitutionalisation of environmental protection in Poland has developed and, on the other hand, to review the currently adopted constitutional solutions regarding environmental protection. After briefly describing the term ‘constitutionalisation’, the author presents the constitutional development of Poland, with a special emphasis put on provisions regarding environmental protection. The detailed analysis of provisions is followed by the conclusions.

Landscape as a Potential Key Concept in Urban Environmental Planning: The Case of Poland

Rapid urban development increases the consumption of materials, energy, and water, resulting in an overproduction of waste and emissions. These cause many environmental threats, such as ozone layer depletion and rain acidification, leading to climate change. Therefore, the question arises on how to improve the effectiveness of tools that strengthen environmental protection. This discursive article presents an approach stressing the role of landscape in environmental protection in Poland. It indicates that landscape protection is an ecological, not just an aesthetic activity, as it is often considered in Poland. The landscape reflects all changes occurring in individual elements of the environment resulting from urban development. Through landscape transformations, one can track the growth and accumulation of adverse effects in the chain of environmental changes. Knowledge regarding the dynamics and scope of these transformations can improve ecological design and technologies. Therefore, the landscape condition should be treated as an indicator of sustainable development. If so, one could hypothesise that effective landscape protection contributes to minimising environmental and climate changes. The relationships between the landscape and environmental/climate threats discussed in this article prompt combining some tools related to these threats, which may ensure both effective landscape protection and sustainable development, leading to reduced climate change. The possibilities and benefits of integrating these tools are presented here as well. General considerations are supplemented with references to the situation in Poland to support the need for implementing a more policy-oriented and interdisciplinary approach to landscape protection.

Case Study of Pollution with Particulate Matter in Selected Locations of Polish Cities

Despite the introduction of increasingly restrictive regulations, the air quality in Poland is still considered one of the worst in Europe. Two cities (Wroclaw and Cracow) were selected for this study, so they represent a pair of Polish cities with poor air quality, and at the same time are academic cities, popular with tourists. The article focuses on the emission of particulate matter, which is one of the most dangerous components of air pollution. The focus was on particles less than 10 µm in diameter which are most often neglected at measuring stations. We have identified the sources of particulate emissions in selected locations in Wroclaw and Cracow, and then measured particles in terms of their mass and number distribution. It was noted that the PM10 emission values obtained as a result of the measurements were different from the value specified by the Inspectorate of the Environmental Protection in Poland.

Study of Trends in Concentrations of Basic Air Pollutants in the Malopolska Province

Abstract The purpose of the paper was to analyse the trends observed at air monitoring stations in the Malopolska Province - one of the most polluted regions in Poland. The study was carried out on the basis of long-term measurement data registered at five selected stations of automatic monitoring of air quality in the Malopolska Province. Trends evaluation was made on the basis of mean annual concentrations, taken from the database of the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Poland. Separately for each basic air pollutant, such as SO2, NO2, NOx, CO, PM10 and O3, trend lines and their linear equations were determined to illustrate the direction of changes in concentrations. The obtained equations of the trend lines indicate the threat to the environment in the Malopolska Province. Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that for recent years there has been observed the concentration decrease of main air pollutants, except of tropospheric ozone.

Investments in Polish Agriculture: How Production Factors Shape Conditions for Environmental Protection?

In recent years, social and economic goals have been preferable compared to environmental issues. However, global problems with the environment, increasing pollution, and gas heating emissions have made environmental issues a major priority. Suddenly, human beings have realized that environmental investments are needed to maintain better world conditions for future generations. This article investigates the development of agricultural investment in the context of production factors in Polish voivodeships in the years 2000–2018. Farmers have to choose between investing and developing production or being more environmentally friendly and invest on a smaller scale or transform their farms into organic production. Moreover, the investment in environmental protection in Poland was analyzed. Investment outlays on fixed assets for environmental protection and outlays on fixed assets for water management were investigated. The level of investment has changed since Poland joined the EU. With membership, Poland gained access to new markets and technology. Particular attention has been focused on production factors (land, capital, and the work force). We have conducted as a proxy regular regression analysis and after panel regression to measure the impact of the chosen factors on explained variables: investment outlays in agriculture, and investment outlays per 1 ha of agricultural land. We have used correlation analysis to examine the relations between explanatory variables and total gross investment in agriculture and total investment outlays in agriculture per 1 ha of agricultural land, outlays on fixed assets for environmental protection, and outlays on fixed assets for water management. Our analysis confirms that explanatory variables are important in shaping total investment outlays in agriculture and total investment outlays per 1 ha of agricultural land.

Temporal Variability of Tropospheric Ozone Pollution in the Agricultural Region of Central-Eastern Poland

The aim of the study was to assess the temporal variability of tropospheric ozone pollution. The research was carried out for the agricultural region of central-eastern Poland, an area covering the Lublin Voivodeship. One-hour averages of automatic measurements of tropospheric ozone concentration in 2015–2017 were used for the study. The data were obtained from three measuring stations belonging to the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Poland. The stations were located as part of the Air Quality Monitoring System in rural communes in the north-western, central and southern parts of the Lublin Voivodeship. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the tropospheric ozone concentrations were significantly dependent on weather conditions during the years of the study. At each monitoring station, the one-hour average O3 concentrations showed a clear structure over the course of the day: they were higher in the late morning and early afternoon than in the early morning and at night. The highest O3 concentrations were observed at the Florianka measurement station, located in Roztocze National Park. This area had high forest cover and was located at the highest elevation above sea level of the three measuring stations. In the light of climate change and increasing O3 concentrations, further scientific research on atmospheric air pollution is crucial, especially in agricultural areas associated with food production.

Prenatal Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Exposure and Pregnancy Outcomes-Analysis of Term Pregnancies in Poland.

Air pollution is currently one of the greatest threats to global health. Polish cities are among the most heavily polluted in Europe. Due to air pollution 43,100 people die prematurely in Poland every year. However, these data do not take into account the health consequences of air pollution for unborn children. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the fine particulate matter air pollution (less than 2.5 μm in diameter) on pregnancy outcomes. An analysis of pregnant women and their children was made using a questionnaire survey from a nationwide study conducted in 2017. Questionnaires from 1095 pregnant women and data from their medical records were collected. An analysis of air pollution in Poland was conducted using the air quality database maintained by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Poland. A higher concentration of PM2.5 was associated with a decrease in birth weight and a higher risk of low birthweight (i.e., <2500 g). We also observed lower APGAR scores. Thus, all possible efforts to reduce air pollution are critically needed.

DIRECTIONS OF INVESTMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN POLAND

The main objective is the analysis of changes in the level of investment outlays incurred for fixed assets serving environmental protection in Poland by investment directions. The adopted time horizon is the period 2002-2018. The investment directions of implemented investment outlays directed to fixed assets in environmental protection were analyzed from a regional perspective, showing the average share of investment outlays by investment directions in voivodships and the average dynamics of changes. A positive effect was the increase in the value of total outlays directed to fixed assets serving environmental protection and within individual investment directions in the field of environmental protection. It has been shown that in the structure of environmental guidelines in Poland and its voivodships, the most financial resources were directed to wastewater management and water protection, atmospheric air and climate protection, as well as waste management. In Poland, after 2004, there was a clearly outlined upward trend taking into account the dynamics of the level of total investment in fixed assets for environmental protection. There was also a growing dynamic of changes in the structure of directions of investment outlays implemented for fixed assets in environmental protection in Poland and individual voivodships. The effect of this was an increase in the share of total investment expenditure incurred for environmental protection in relation to GDP and total expenditure in the national economy, as well as an increase in expenditure per capita.

The impact of smog on the concentration of particulate matter in the antelope house in the Silesian zoological garden.

Persistent negligence in the field of environmental protection in Poland as well as strong dependance of the energy sector on the fossil fuels have led to serious pollution of the air with particulate matter, which at high concentrations is capable of penetrating into the buildings. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of particulate airborne pollution on the concentration of particulate matter inside the antelope house in the Silesian Zoological Garden located within the Upper Silesia in Poland. The research was conducted from February to May in 2018. The records taken in the research period show that the concentration of PM10 exceeded the level of 50 µg/m3 outside the building during 26 days and 11 days when it comes to the concentration of particulate matter inside the antelope house. The quantity of particulate matter in the antelope house is strongly correlated with the concentration of the particles in the air. Despite fitting existing ventilation system with a filter that reduces the dust level by 60% during the highest level of smog, particulate matter concentration in the antelope house exceeded acceptable limit for PM10 more than twofold. Particle size-fraction analysis revealed that as much as 85% of the particles detected in the studied compartment constitute PM2.5.

THE STRUCTURE OF SOURCES OF FINANCING FIXED ASSETS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN POLAND

The aim of the research was to determine the structure and dynamics of changes in the sources of financing fixed assets serving environmental protection in Poland. The article covers the years 2012-2013. The analysis concerned sources of financing perceived from a regional perspective, taking average dynamics of changes into account and showcasing the average share of individual sources of financing in voivodships. The support of such financing with EU funds was particularly emphasized. It was proven that, apart from own resources, public funds from the European Union budget and co-financing from environmental funds take up a significant share in the structure of sources of financing of environmental protection. Favorable changes were observed in the financing source structure of fixed assets serving environmental protection in various regions of Poland in the analyzed period. The highest dynamics of changes in Poland and in voivodships applied to foreign funds, a consequence of using financial resources from the EU budget to improve and maintain the quality of the natural environment. A positive effect of these activities was an increase in the value of expenditures on fixed assets in environmental protection after 2004, in other words after joining the EU. This was confirmed by the growing dynamics of changes in investment outlays for fixed assets in environmental protection in Poland and individual voivodships. After 2004, the share of funds from ecological funds as well as domestic credits and loans decreased, while the share of funds from abroad increased significantly.

Jan Gwalbert Pawlikowski jako przykład wzorcowego charakteru środowiskowego

Etyka cnót środowiskowych uchodzi za tradycję nienormatywną, w której w miejsce tradycyjnych norm oferuje się wzorzec do naśladowania, tzw. wzorcowy charakter środowiskowy (zwany też bohaterem ekologicznym). Ponieważ większość dyskusji na temat bohatera ekologicznego toczy się w kręgu kultury amerykańskiej, w niniejszej pracy przedstawiono osobę zasłużoną dla początków ochrony środowiska w Polsce, jako przykład potencjalnego bohatera ekologicznego. Artykuł przedstawia postać Jana Gwalberta Pawlikowskiego jako wzorcowy charakter środowiskowy. W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono: (1) koncepcję bohatera ekologicznego i zarys dotychczasowej dyskusji na ten temat w ramach etyki cnót środowiskowych; (2) istotne znaczenie kontekstu historycznego i kulturowego w odniesieniu do kwestii ekologicznych; (3) myśl Jana Gwalberta Pawlikowskiego, jako przykład wzorcowego charakteru środowiskowego.

Inwestycje w ochronę środowiska w 2013 r.

The article presents the subject of investments incurred for environmental protection in Poland in 2013. It provides information on outlays on fixed assets on environmental protection and water management, which are presented in accordance with the Polish Statistical Classification of Environmental Protection Activities and Facilities. The article also includes information on receipts due to payments and fines for the use of the natural environment. The data for the year 2013 were presented compared to previous years.

Organizacja administracji ochrony środowiska w Polsce i Unii Europejskiej

The organization of environmental protection in Poland and the European Union is a mutual connection of competencies and a correlation of systems and rights according to national and EU laws. The legal system of the EU is the result of decades of cooperation undertaken by the will of the Member States known as the acquis communautaire. EU law has primacy over national law, which in practice means that in the event of a conflict between the provisions of national law and EU law, the national law is deemed inapplicable and needs to be adjusted by the Member State.

Organizacja ochrony środowiska w Polsce

The organization of environmental protection in Poland is a result of both the country’s environmental policy, as well as programs connected with its function as part of the European Union. New challenges in the field of environmental protection are determining the way it is handled in Poland and in global policy.

New localities of Elmidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea), with a revised checklist of species occurring in Poland

New localities of Elmidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea), with a revised checklist of species occurring in Poland Seventeen species of elmid beetles have been unequivocally recorded from Poland. The paper presents new data on the distribution of 13 species of this family, among which Esolus parallelepipedus and Riolus cupreus have been proved to occur in the country. Altogether 227 localities are given, either from the authors' own observations or from materials gathered during the implementation of the programme "Monitoring of the ecological state of surface waters, studies and an assessment of the ecological state of rivers" coordinated by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Poland. The paper also includes a revised checklist of Elmidae occurring in Poland.

THE ROLE OF ECOLOGICAL FUNDS FOR THE SAFETY OF INVESTMENT IN ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

The aim of this article is to estimate sources of financing the protection of natural environment in Poland. The process of globalization of the economy results in increased interest in global responsibility. The institutions which implement the idea of sustainable development, require an effective collaboration of financing ecological investments. In Poland coexist for example ISPA (Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-accession), SAPARD (Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rual Development), PHARE (Poland Hungary: Assistance to Restructuring their Economics), Global Environmental Facility, Danish Cooperation for Eastern Europe and The new EEA Financial Mechanisms – environment. However the polish system of environmental protection is based on the National, provincial, district and communal funds of environmental protection and water management. Ecological Funds play important role in the financing of environmental protection in Poland. They cover up to 20-25% of all investments in the field.

Democratizing Bureaucracy: The Political Economy of Environmental Impact Assessment and Air Pollution Prevention Fees in Taiwan

In recent years, as many newly democratized countries have entered the phase of democratic consolidation, scholars' attention has gradually moved from studying the functional and socioeconomic prerequisites of democracy to studying the social and economic consequences of democratization.1 Research, for example, has examined democratization's impact on world peace,2 economic growth,3 and social equality.4 An equally important issue is the impact of democratization on environmental governance.5 A limited number of empirical studies documents the impact of democratization on environmental governance. In a cross-national survey Congleton showed that leaders in democratic regimes were more likely to adopt environmentally friendly policies than their counterparts in authoritarian ones.6 Silva compared environmental policies in Chile before and after its democratic transition and concluded that democratization helped improve the country's environmental protection.7 Similarly, Cole showed how environmental protection in Poland has improved since it began the transition to market democracy.8 If these few empirical studies are indicative of the general trend, the third wave of democratization is indeed most welcoming to those who care about global environmental protection. Yet one needs to put this good news in perspective, since much of the comparison was made between the new democracies and their authoritarian past. As documented in many previous studies, authoritarian regimes suffer from many institutional weaknesses, such as regulatory conflicts of interest and lack of public scrutiny of policy processes that make environmental protection difficult.9 It is not surprising that movement away from authoritarianism potentially has a positive impact on environmental protection. Nevertheless, the extent to which this potential can be fully realized remains an open question. Much depends not just on competitive elections and political rights, but also on institutional factors that affect the ways environmental problems are tackled. By definition, democratization is a series of partial institutional adjustments of the political system.'0 Institutional reform intended to create a governing system responsive to environmental interests may not necessarily evolve as expected. Several major obstacles may hinder the representation of environmental interests in newly democratized countries. First, democratic transitions, by definition, involve