Poland’s government plans to spend up to PLN 30 billion (EUR 7.2 bn, USD 8.8 bn) over the next decade on a new plan to fight smog, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (centre) attends a meeting, in Warsaw on Thursday, of a special government committee tasked with coordinating efforts to combat smog. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell

He announced the launch of the “Stop Smog” plan at a meeting of a special government committee tasked with coordinating efforts to combat air pollution.

Under the programme, the government plans to help finance home insulation and eco-friendly heating systems in a drive to cut hazardous emissions.

Earlier in the day, Morawiecki declared that his government would make every effort to drive down pollution and leave a legacy of cleaner air to new generations of Poles.

The Polish government in early March adopted a bill that will see a ban on sales of poor-quality coal used for heating homes as the country steps up efforts to fight smog.

According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 33 of Europe's 50 most polluted cities are in Poland. The WHO estimates that around 50,000 Poles die every year due to illness caused by air pollution.

The government in February launched a drive to improve the thermal efficiency of homes.

Morawiecki has previously said that the 33 most affected cities would each gain their own dedicated programme aimed at reducing the impact of smog.

After taking office in December, he declared that tackling air pollution would be one of his government’s priorities.

(gs)

Source: IAR