Climate activists have presented Poland with an ironic "Fossil of the Day" title for dodging its commitment to phase out coal by 2030 already the day the country made the pledge. The title is being awarded on each day of the COP26, to countries "doing the most to achieve the least" in terms of the progress on climate change.
On Thursday morning, the British government announced that Poland, along with over 40 other countries, signed a declaration to phase out coal. According to the pledge, the biggest economies promised to do it by 2030, whereas poorest states - by 2040.
However, already later that day, Poland's Climate Minister Anna Moskwa said on Twitter the stategy adopted by the government assumes quitting coal by 2049, while treating energy security and jobs as priority.
That's why the Climate Action Network, a global network of 1,500 non-governmental organisations from over 130 countries focused on climate issues, has presented Poland with "Fossil of the Day" award.
The title is being awarded on each day of the COP26, to countries "doing the most to achieve the least" in terms of the progress on climate change.
On previous days the award was granted to: the British presidency of COP26 and Australia (on Monday), Norway, Japan, and Australia again (on Tuesday), and the USA, France, and the International Emissions Trading Association (on Wednesday).
UN climate summits, called COP (Conference of the Parties), are the annual global meetings during which actions regarding climate issues are discussed and negotiated.
This year's conference, COP26, was opened on October 31 and will end on November 12.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP