Poland plans to plough PLN 130 billion into improving air quality and aims to put an end to the country’s smog problems within five to 10 years.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday that the Clean Air programme would include funds for improving the energy efficiency of homes.

Poles who cannot afford such measures would be entitled to subsidies, he added.

"This programme will cost about PLN 130 billion," the equivalent of USD 36 billion or EUR 30.5 billion, Morawiecki said, adding that the aim was to “stop smog.”

In May, 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.

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.

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

(pk/gs)

Source: PAP