With these words, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially opened the UN climate conference in Poznań last week. During his introductory speech he underscored that Poland should be considered to be playing a positive role in the battle against climate change. Tusk reminded the audience that from 1988 to 2007, Poland reduced its CO2 emissions by 30 percent.
"Activities by the Polish government in terms of a climate-energy treaty are aimed at a consensus. Nobody is interested in halting the treaty," he explained.
On the other hand, Poland and a few other EU member states are demanding longer transition periods to adjust to the EU policy of cutting CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020 and seeking to exclude some Polish coal-fired power plants from having to pay for emissions rights. The vast majority of energy in Poland comes from coal-operated power plants.
The main goal of the Poznań conference, which will last until next weekend, is to set a timetable for a new global agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, approve the technology and agree on where to find the financing necessary to tackle climate change. Another climate meeting is scheduled to take place in Copenhagen one year from now. From then on, countries will be given time to ratify the new UN treaty before 2012 when the Kyoto provisions expire.
However, it is highly likely that the Poznań summit will not have any significant outcome. Several participating officials pointed out that no country will disclose their true negotiating positions until the new US president is in office.
According to UN data, the Poznań conference will produce a total of 28,000 tons of CO2 - mainly in transporting delegates and fuel for the conference itself. This will happen despite encouraging those present to use hybrid buses, travel in hydrogen-powered limousines and save paper.
The organizers say they plan to balance this pollution by planting trees.
