The government gives priority to the fight for clean air

As many as 36 towns and cities out of 50 most polluted in Europe are located in Poland, according to the latest World Health Organization ranking. This is a worse result than in 2016, but mainly due to the greater number of locations monitored in terms of air quality. Recently you have expressed your hope that in 10 years’ time the infamous list will only include 10 such locations thanks to the „Clean Air” programme. Will there be more controlled sites?

Jadwiga Emilewicz: Solving the problem of smog requires awareness of its scale and effects on our health and life and system activities.

That is why we are working on making sure that there are as many measuring stations as possible. It is not only the full-size ones, i.e. the most expensive and requiring many permits. Together with social partners we are also looking for cheaper and more affordable solutions, so that as many Polish municipalities can use air quality meters as possible.

For the time being, in many places waste lands in furnaces and poisons everyone.

Unfortunately, this circuit is now closed in our lungs and hearts.

Therefore, regardless of legislative solutions such as the introduction of quality standards for solid fuels and boilers or the government programme „Clean Air”, educational measures are also needed.

The awareness of the fact that burning PET bottles or clothes in ovens shortens the life of all of us must increase.

For years, social organizations have been alarming about the effects of smog – about 45 thousand premature deaths per year in Poland. On the other hand, the EY analysis on the costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease shows that we spend directly about 450 million PLN per year on its treatment, and indirectly even 850 million PLN.

Our August report, which is the result of several months of work, confirms what social organizations have been talking about for years.

We do not want to frighten anyone, but we are showing the real problem and the consequences of fatal air quality. These are not only economic costs resulting from a greater number of days of absence from work, but above all social costs associated with miscarriages.

That is why the government gives priority to the fight for clean air. Local politicians should actively work to improve air quality in their municipalities and perhaps consider introducing zero- and low-emission zones. Although it may be a burdensome ban on drivers to take their children to the city centre, it is a decision on the importance of the health of these children.

The introduction of quality standards for solid fuels and boilers for combustion of these fuels was accompanied by protests of entrepreneurs. Among the arguments they mentioned higher costs for people.

Implementation of the thermal upgrading programme in households qualified as energy-poor will consume PLN 1.2 billion by 2024. However, in the longer time perspective this expenditure will pay off.

If we replace old boilers, connect houses to system heat and insulate them, we will reduce the demand for energy, which will translate into lower bills. A measurable outcome of this will be the avoidance of the cost of construction of two heat and power plants and a significant decrease in carbon dioxide emissions.

Countries are to strive for a closed-loop economy model. What is the profit and loss account for Poland? General estimates suggest an increase in the value of the world economy by 4.5 trillion dollars by 2030, and without the implementation of the HICP, Europe may lose 1.8 trillion euro in this perspective.

Such estimates are not simple. A closed-loop economy (hereinafter referred to circular economy) is a return to common sense. And this tells us that creating a mountain of rubbish floating in the oceans will not be without impact on our health and economy. As world consumption continues to grow, we need to reduce the amount of plastic and disposable packaging.

The transition to a circular economy – like any other change – will generate costs in the first period. In the long term, however, it will be beneficial for all.

Such a model is about extending the life cycle of a product. Waste must become the raw material for making the next product. Among other things, it is necessary to implement eco-design and raise standards so that products are not artificially aged. Today, cars or household appliances, i.e. goods that are very demanding when it comes to recycling, start to break down as soon as the warranty period expires.

If manufacturers motivate customers to share or repair the equipment instead of buying another one, it will be a more responsible approach to the environment.

But how to motivate manufacturers? For them, this will undoubtedly damage their core business. Because customers will buy less.

It will be detrimental to one business, but it will result in the growth of another. After the implementation of circular economy, I expect the development of other branches of industry and the renaissance of small and medium-sized enterprises. Craft and service professions such as tailor, shoemaker or watchmaker can also be revived.

Certainly, these will be more advanced products and services. On the other hand, production automation will continue.

What new businesses can be created? The first thing that comes to mind is car sharing.

I imagine that in the long run, we will also use autonomous vehicles in this way. We will not own them, but will order a transport service. But it is not only these shared businesses that are becoming more and more common. Companies involved in renting office or service space are also successful.

What can be a Polish specialty?

Our specialty may be the processing of waste for re-use in industry and power industry. Where we do not have extensive power grids, bio-refineries could be created. This could be a driving force for the development of the local economy in less urbanised areas. Such a raw materials and energy cluster could even become our export commodity.

Today, there are very few municipalities operating in the spirit of circular economy. We are far behind the Scandinavian markets. Do we have anything to boast about at all?

In Poland this movement has already started. An example is Wieluń, which in May of this year implemented a system motivating its inhabitants to segregate rubbish. In return for sorting waste into different fractions, residents gain points which can be exchanged for free access to public services such as transport or swimming pool.

This works better than the remuneration received in the shop for returning the bottle. Such a system could also become our specialty. There is no similar system in the whole of Europe.

I hope that many Polish municipalities will decide to implement such a system. This could happen in the coming years. There are funds to support such projects in the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

The system related to the collection and management of waste doesn’t have enough money, because our producers pay the lowest rates for putting packaging into circulation in the European Union. This does not motivate them to reduce their weight or quantity either.

Indeed, this system is not very motivating for entrepreneurs today. That is why we want to modify it. Just as in the emissions trading system, the one who poisons should pay.