After arriving in Glasgow on Monday afternoon, Morawiecki addressed the conference, saying that “the wellbeing of citizens must be at the heart of green policy,” PAP reported.
He also noted that different countries had different starting points when it came to tackling climate change, “but we must all remember that transformation should not come at the expense of people.”
In the evening, the Polish prime minister reflected on the day’s proceedings in a Facebook post, noting that “energy transition needs to be just.”
“For Poland to be able to participate in it under fair conditions, we must have appropriate resources, and also, appropriate regulations must be in place in the European Union,” he added.
Morawiecki also said that Poland “is catching up quickly, after remaining on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain for decades, through no fault of its own.”
He argued that Warsaw needed to pursue “a responsible climate policy,” protecting “the most vulnerable groups,” so that “Polish people do not bear the brunt of rising energy prices, and the Polish economy does not lose its competitive edge.”
“It is possible, provided that internationally agreed rules take into account the different starting points of individual countries,” Morawiecki said.
He revealed that behind the scenes in Glasgow, he had met Biden. “We have discussed climate challenges and security issues, including energy security, among other topics,” Morawiecki said, attaching photographs with the American leader, PAP reported.
Coming at a crucial moment to tackle climate change, the United Nations’ COP26 summit sees world leaders under increasing pressure to act to limit the rise in global temperatures. The event runs until November 12.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP