Agriculture and environment protection

The primary aim of waste management policy is the prevention of waste creation, the recovery of raw materials and the reuse of waste and environmentally safe end-neutralization of unused waste. The condition for realization this aim is first of all, a decrease in the use of materials and energy in the production processes (amongst other things, via the use of clean technologies), the use of alternative, renewable sources of energy and through conducting analyses of the full "life-cycle" of a product (from production to repeated use and neutralization).

In recent years, environmental protection in Poland has been set by negotiations on EU membership. When the negotiations ended, the process of implementing certain instructions from European Commission directives into life started. All waste emission norms have to be fulfilled by 2016, although as of January 1st 2003 there has been a prohibition on the use of substances that destroy the ozone layer.

Adapting the Polish economy to the high standards of environmental protection is an expensive process. However, the implementation of the EU regulations will in the future bring measurable benefits. The European Commission estimates that - considering the health, economic and social outcomes - the benefits will amount to over 4 billion euros a year in Poland.

Over the past decade huge progress in the area of environmental protection has taken place in Poland. About 2% of GDP has been earmarked for this end, or 25 times more than several years ago. Positive changes also relate to the pro-ecological awareness of most Poles. All the time different educational campaigns are being conducted aimed at disseminating the idea of eco-development that is written into the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. The realization of the idea is possible thanks to legislation, of which the most important is the 2001 law on environment protection. This acts as a basis for other detailed acts, as it affects all sectors of the economy. Amongst other things, it includes regulations on preventing and limiting pollution.

Environment protection is financed in Poland mainly from fees paid by companies on the use of the environment and penalties for exceeding the norms. About 25% of all expenditures on environmental protection come from the National Fund of Environment Protection and Water Management. The fund issues loans to enterprises, towns, communes and counties, which are ready to engage their own means in pro-ecological investments. The Eko Fundusz foundation was created in 1992 by the Minister of Finance with the task of managing funds coming from the so-called "eco-conversion" of debts, that is the exchanging part of Polish foreign debt into support for enterprises related to environment protection. To date, six countries, including the United States, France, Switzerland, Italy and Norway have decided to eco-convert Polish debt in a joint figure of $571 million. From these funds, enterprises with an international significance are being financed.

Poland also fulfils the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the EU’s ECE programme. It also covers European marine life and participates in programmes related to rescuing the Baltic Sea. In line with the Vienna Convention of 1986 and the latter protocols, Poland has decreased Freon emission. Moreover, in order to prevent o-zone heating, the emission of the greenhouse gases (mainly CO2) is being lowered, according to the framework convention on climate change (a protocol signed in Kyoto in 1997).

The Polish government has also signed many conventions aimed at the protection of animals and plant species close to extinction. Poland acts on behalf of environment protection, co-operating with other countries. Various bilateral agreements aim at joint investments, scientific work and training courses to allow resolution of problems related to the protection of environment.

The Polish-German Environment Protection Council initiates and supervises work in relation to such enterprises, for example, the building of the joint sewage cleaning plant at Gubin/Guben. Co-operation with the Czech Republic and Slovakia is also being continued. Help in environmental protection provided to Poland's eastern neighbours is also important. Poland is financing the participation of countries from Eastern Europe in different types of ecology-related seminars and conferences.

source: www.poland.gov.pl