COP24 environment summit being held in Polish coal mining city
642 views · Published 2 December 2018 · 5:37 · Indexed 4 November 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(27 Nov 2018) Poland, Europe's largest source of coal, will host this year's global climate summit in Katowice, the main city in Silesia, an area with a centuries-old mining tradition. The two-week conference starting December 2 will see governments, scientists and campaigners from around the world haggle over how to implement the Paris climate accord. The 2015 agreement set a goal of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which experts say requires sharp cuts in carbon emissions that can only be achieved by getting rid of coal-fired power plants. Poland's government argues that Katowice is a showcase for how a colliery centre can be transformed into a modern, environment-friendly city. The venue is a closed mine turned into a museum and culture centre. But despite the creation of a green technology hub and numerous new parks in recent years, Katowice and the surrounding region remains heavily reliant on coal. For Tomasz Mlynarczyk who operates heavy extraction machinery at the Wujek mine in Katowice, coal is a "treasure." "If there was no coal there would be no jobs," he said. Climate activists believe it is time for Poland to move away from the industry. However the mining industry has long been a source of pride and employment for generations of Silesians and 83 percent of Poland's energy still comes from coal. Consecutive governments have been assuring miners in Silesia, home to some 4 million people, that coal will remain important, if not leading, energy source until 2050. "The industry is still present in our city but no longer to such a significant degree as it used to be," said Katowice's mayor Marcin Krupa. Engineer and environmental activist Patryk Bialas plans to drive home that message during next month's climate conference in Katowice. "Coal and mining industry is a very strong element of our regional and local identity, for sure, but people are ready for change - and what they expect from politicians: they expect hope, new jobs and growth," Bialas said. At the same time, Poland's rollout of renewable energy, which provide about 15 percent of its electricity, has stalled, in part due to legislation that protects traditional, state-owned energy companies. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/07c9fc01b5b31d604eba4e2d8cec1d5f
