Poland’s prime minister on Tuesday urged a responsible climate policy during a conference in Berlin, according to reports.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (right) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) attend the 9th Petersberg Climate Dialogue conference in Berlin on Tuesday. Photo: PAP/Adam Guz

Speaking at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue conference in the German capital, Mateusz Morawiecki said prosperity for everyone was impossible without a responsible approach to the climate, Poland’s PAP news agency reported.

Environmental factors are crucial for any development policy, he said, as quoted by PAP.

Morawiecki also said that his government was launching an ambitious clean-air policy based on allocating a generous PLN 130 billion (EUR 30 bn, USD 35 bn) for the thermal modernisation of up to 5 million Polish homes, in order to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.

PM @MorawieckiM participates in 9th Petersberg Climate Dialogue. pic.twitter.com/ufVzOtr9OI — Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) June 19, 2018

Representatives from more than 30 countries on Tuesday gathered for the 9th Petersberg Climate Dialogue conference in Berlin to discuss progress made in carrying out the 2015 Paris climate agreement and preparations for a United Nations climate summit (COP24) in the southern Polish city of Katowice in December, the Polish news agency said.

The main topic discussed at the Berlin meeting was a move away from old energy sources such as coal in favour of "clean" energy, according to public broadcaster Polish Radio.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the meeting that her country aimed to give up coal completely this year in a move that began 10 years ago, Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Morawiecki, meanwhile, said that Poland’s goal was to achieve a golden rule whereby environmental protection would not hinder economic development, IAR reported.

Talking bilateral relations, migration with Germany's Merkel

Ahead of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue event, Morawiecki met for talks with Germany's Merkel to discuss a range of bilateral issues and topics such as migration policy, according to the PAP news agency.

It quoted Morawiecki as saying after the meeting that Poland was looking for a consensus on the divisive issue of migration.

The meeting of PM @MorawieckiM and Chancellor Angela #Merkel. pic.twitter.com/8C4XPzT00U — Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) June 19, 2018

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP/IAR