Country Climate and Development Report   

The Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) assesses how Poland can reap the benefits of faster decarbonization while reducing its vulnerability to climate shocks. Accelerating decarbonization is in Poland’s economic interest. Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 will add an average 0.2 percent of GDP a year, leading to a cumulative 4 percent gain by 2050. At the same time, the reduction in air pollution brought about by decarbonization can lead to additional gains in terms of labor productivity and avoided mortality. 

A comprehensive transformation of the energy system is crucial to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This will entail removing barriers to renewable penetration, strengthening Poland’s transmission and distribution grid, using natural gas uniquely as transition technology, scaling up electricity trade, and repurposing current coal subsidies to mitigation of social end economic impacts in affected, vulnerable communities. Decarbonizing energy supply is also critical to cut the private sector’s carbon emissions to maintain competitiveness as global low-carbon efforts accelerate.