Challenges of Cutting Carbon Emission in Poland

Miners in Poland fear for their jobs as experts from some 190 countries meet in Poznan until December 12th to work towards a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol.

Like the rest of the Eastern European countries, Poland is dependent on coal for its energy needs and fears the climate change plan will curb its economic growth and lead to an increase in energy prices.

A Polish coal mine spokesman said earlier this week that Poland produced 95 precent of its energy from coal and added that without coal the "the price of Polish electricity would rise 150 percent."

Apart from cheap energy, the mine provides several thousand jobs in the region.

Miners fears for their jobs were echoed by Katowice residents, many of whom have family members employed by the coal industry. They see job losses as a bigger evil than damage to the climate caused by the coal.

Maria Potpora is a local Katowice resident:

"Protection of the environment is important, but so is work for the miners. And there are a lot of miners in Poland and they all have families to support. And if they lose their jobs, from what would they live? Would they go and steal or what?"

Although coal still provides 40 percent of the world's electricity, environment group Greenpeace points out that it is the most polluting source of energy and one of the largest contributors of carbon emissions.

Stefan Krug, Head of political representation of Greenpeace in Berlin, said that Poland had to fulfill its obligation as an EU member.

"I think that Poland has to, as part of the EU, fulfil its commitments, and implement a turn in the energy policy. One cannot demand the same from Poland as from Germany or France, but one has to demand enough from Poland. That means that Poland should see the Poznan conference as a chance and not as a threat, and the Polish government has to send a clear signal that the climate protection in Poland begins"

Miroslaw Pajor, chief engineer of the Ziemowit mine, said Greenpeace had every right to comment and protest on the use of coal, but added that the protesters were a minority compared to the miners who "do not protest, but do their work everybody for a good life."

The Kyoto treaty expires in 2012. UN delegates aim to seal a new deal next December in Copenhagen, Denmark.