Invitation for Global Clean Air Summit conference

Małopolska Region in cooperation with two leading Polish antismog organizations: Smogathon and the Polish Smog Alert co-organizes the Global Clean Air Summit conference.The aim of the conference is an international cooperation with regions or states which  are struggling with similar air pollution problems, as well as the exchange of experience with countries which on the base of their own achievements could help others to work out an effective strategy against these threats. The conference will be held in four parallel thematic blocks: policy, health, business and technology in the presence of experts, doctors, entrepreneurs and government representatives at national, regional and local levels.

You are cordially invited to participate in the Global Clean Air Summit conference, which will take place on November 27, 2017 in ICE Krakow Congress Centre (st. Marii Konopnickiej 17, 30-302 Kraków, Poland) between 10:00 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.

You are especially welcome to attend at the thematic block “POLICY”, which will be attended by the European Commission Representatives – Francois Wakenhut (Acting Director of the Quality of Life Directorate, Directorate-General for Environment), Erich Unterwurzacher (Director, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy) and Jadwiga Emilewicz (Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development). Detailed information about the conference can be found on the website.

“POLICY” block agenda

Get your free entry ticket until 24 November 2017.

The conference is organised within the framework of the E.3 activity “Creating a platform for experience sharing with stakeholders and networking with other projects” of the “Implementation of Air Quality Plan for Małopolska Region – Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” European Union LIFE integrated project.

On Monday (2 October 2017), the air quality control was started to be carried out by the European Court of Auditors began in Poland. The audit is aimed at reviewing the projects implemented for the air quality improvement and financed by the European Commission.

From 3 to 6 October. The audit is being conducted in the Malopolska Region. The following projects are subject to review:

1. “Implementation of Air Quality Plan for Małopolska Region – Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” integrated project
2. Low emission program for the city of Krakow
3. Thermomodernization of educational buildings in the Municipality of Krakow
4. Integrated public transport in the Krakow agglomeration – 2nd stage
5. Construction of flue gas NOx system for boilers no. 3 and 4 in EDF Polska SA Branch No. 1 in Krakow

On the first day of the audit, the strategy for air quality improvement for the Malopolska Region – the air quality plan for the Malopolska Region, financial support for the regional energy policy from the ROP MR for 2014-2020, the activities of the Voivodeship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Krakow within the inspections conducted in municipalities were discussed. At the end of the day, the ECA inspectors visited the measurement station located at Karsińskiego Avenue and the National Reference and Calibration Laboratory of the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection.

On the second day of the audit, the objectives and assumptions of the “Implementation of Air Quality Plan for Małopolska Region – Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” LIFE integrated project were presented together with the results of the implementation of the program. The employees hired within the framework of the Eco-Adviser project, from the municipalities of Gdów, Wolbrom Wadowice and Zakopane, presented their actions taken locally in terms of improving air quality. The activities in the LIFE project were also presented by the City of Krakow and the Krakow Smog Alert. It is worth recalling that the LIFE-IP MALOPOLSKA project was positively evaluated by the European Commission and considered the best of the 39 integrated projects reported from the European Union.

During the meetings, the barriers to the successful implementation of activities were repeatedly pointed out, including the lack of legislation regulating the quality parameters of solid fuels allowed for the sale to individuals, specifying the procedures for controlling the emissions from operating boilers for solid fuels or regulations enabling the implementation of restricted emission zones in urban centers. Attention was also paid to the suspension at national level of co-financing for the replacement of heating appliances (the KAWKA program) and for the thermomodernization of single-family buildings (the RYŚ program).

At the same time, the Supreme Chamber of Control launched the control over the planning, implementation and monitoring of the activities of the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region aimed at achieving the required air quality in the voivodship.

The Malopolska Region has for many years been innovating in the Polish scale within its competence, which has been aimed at improving the air quality and living conditions of the inhabitants. However, the lack of support at the national level means that the effectiveness of the measures taken is limited and the possibility of achieving rapid improvements in the air quality in the region is threatened.

Let’s recall that the European Court of Auditors is an independent external controller of the European Commission. It is responsible for monitoring the correct collection and use of EU funds and helps to improve the EU financial management. The ECA’s audit in Poland shall last until 6 October 2017. The audit is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment. Similar controls are being carried out in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

On 3 October 2017, the Regional Administrative Court issued a ruling on four complaints submitted for the resolution of the Malopolska Region Parliament regarding the introduction of restrictions and prohibitions in the area of the Malopolska Region regarding the operation of fuel combustion installations.

The complaints of two companies operating in the field of coal distribution were rejected due to the lack of the proof of the violation of their legal interest. The provisions of the resolution do not limit their economic freedom and do not prohibit the sale of heating appliances or solid fuels.

In the case of the complaints from two natural persons who use non-class solid fuel boilers for heating, the complaints have been considered and dismissed. The ruling confirmed that the anti-smog resolution for the Malopolska Region was legally adopted and meets the requirements of Article 96 of the Environmental Protection Law. The court emphasized that regional self-governments can adopt restrictions on the operation of installations and the use of fuels when poor air quality requires such actions. The resolution implements the constitutional right of citizens to live in a clean environment and to protect their health. The legislation in the Malopolska Region has also been recognized as complying with the EU regulations as they implement the European requirements for air quality improvement.

The anti-smog resolution for the Malopolska Region entered into force on 1 July 2017 and introduced a ban on the use of coal sludges and flotation concentrates and wood with a moisture content greater than 20%, and a ban on the use of new boilers and fireplaces that do not meet the EU ecodesign standards. Residents of the Malopolska Region have to replace existing boilers that do not meet the emission standards by the end of 2022 and by the end of 2026 in the case of the operation of boilers class 3 or 4.

Anti-smog resolutions were also adopted in the Silesia and Opole Regions, while work on the preparation of similar regulations is taking place in the following regions: Dolnośląskie, Mazowieckie, Łódzkie and Wielkopolska.

Information about the anti-smog resolution

Picture: Marcin Hałat, Wikipedia Commons

On June 12th 2017, as a part of the LIFE IP “Implementation of Air Quality Plan for Małopolska Region – Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” there was organized an online lesson for high schools about the air pollution. The lesson was held online using the “Małopolska Educational Cloud”, which is an innovative information and communication platform, allowing to conduct interactive classes by universities and secondary schools of Małopolska. The lesson was focused on the basic information about the air pollution and smog. The main theme blocks of the lesson were:

• • What is the smog and how is it formed?
  • What are the effects of exposure to the smog?
  • How to fight against the air pollution?

The lecture, taught by Professor Piotr Kleczkowski from the University of Science and Technology in Krakow, was heard by students of 10 high schools from the Małopolska Region:

1. Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie w Andrychowie (Maria Skłodowska-Curie High School in Andrychów),
2. II Liceum Ogólnokształcące w Zespole  Szkół Ogólnokształcących Nr 2 im. Hetmana Jana Tarnowskiego w Tarnowie (Hetman Jan Tarnowski 2nd High School in Tarnów),
3. Liceum Ogólnokształcące w Powiatowym Zespole Nr 1 Szkół Ogólnokształcących im. Stanisława Konarskiego w Oświęcimiu (Stanisław Konarski 1st High School in Oświęcim),
4. I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Bartłomieja Nowodworskiego w Krakowie (Bartłomiej Nowodworski 1st High School in Krakow),
5. I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Stanisława Staszica w Chrzanowie (Stanisław Staszic 1st High School in Chrzanów),
6. Zespół Szkół Chemicznych im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie w Krakowie (Maria Skłodowska-Curie Chemical Schools Complex in Krakow),
7. Zespół Szkół Łączności im. Obrońców Poczty Polskiej w Gdańsku w Krakowie (Defenders of the Polish Post in Gdańsk Schools Complex of Connection in Krakow,
8. Zespół Szkół Ekonomicznych im. Jana Pawła II w Gorlicach (John Paul II Economic School Complex in Krakow),
9. Zespół Szkół Ponadgimnazjalnych im. W. Witosa w Nawojowej (W. Witos Upper Secondary School in Nawojowa),
10. Zespół Szkół Ponadgimnazjalnych im. Józefa Piłsudskiego w Zakliczynie (Józef Piłsudski Upper Secondary School in Zakliczyn).

The main idea of these activities was to raise awareness among young people about the dangers of smog. Such classes are an excellent source of information about the air quality and an incentive to actively participate in the fight against the air pollution. The awareness of each inhabitant of Malopolska is another step towards improving the quality of the air we breathe.

The lesson was carried out within the implementation of the action E.2. “ Local education and information campaign to promote clean air ”of the LIFE IP “Implementation of Air Quality Plan for Małopolska Region – Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” / LIFE-IP MALOPOLSKA / LIFE14 IPE EN 021.

At the end of January, a particulate matter measuring device was installed on the Wadowice market, in line with the Integrated Project “Implementation of the Air Quality Plan for the Malopolska Region – Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere”. The results of the measurements show that the air in the city during the heating season is of very bad quality.

In the last week of January, the average PM10 concentration in Wadowice was 289 ug / m³. In the same period, in Krakow, fighting against massive smog, the average was lower by almost 100 ug / m³ and was 198 ug / m³. The results recorded in both cities significantly exceeded the standards and reached a level that is dangerous to human health.

The air was also of poor quality in February. The air in Wadowice was below the permissible level of contamination in April – after the end of the heating season. During the measurements, a total of 50 days was recorded that exceeded the daily standard for PM10 concentrations – all during the heating season. The Polish levels of the need for informing and alerting about smog have been exceeded many times, despite the fact that they are very high. The first (200 μg / m³) was exceeded for seven days, while the second (300 μg / m³) for six. Twice, the daily average exceeded 400 ug / m³, reaching 800% of the limit.

Detailed information on the results of the measurements can be found in the following presentation.

Summary of the measurement results in Wadowice

Actions aimed at air quality improvement undertaken by Wadowice

The Malopolska Region is not alone in the fight for clean air in the region. Once again, the efforts of our region have been recognized internationally. Following the LIFE project, the Malopolska Region has now become a partner of the World Bank and the European Commission in the implementation of the “Catching-up Regions” project which aims at helping to eliminate smog.

Within the project, the Malopolska Region has been already visited by the World Bank experts: Ashok Sarkar and Anand Subbiah. In order to better understand the problem of smog, they visited several municipalities in the region: Wadowice, Jordanów and Maków Podhalański. They also talked with the representatives of the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow. This week, experts will be going to the Silesian Region. Currently, the World Bank representatives will be carrying out an analysis of legal requirements and whether the Malopolska Region will be able to introduce additional tools that will enable the modernization of single-family houses.  They will also estimate the need for additional support, taking into account the demographics, conditions of the region and the characteristics of individual buildings.

The solutions developed in the Malopolska Region to improve the energy efficiency of buildings will also, in the future, be available to other regions in Poland.

The “Catching-up Regions” program (formerly, Lagging Regions) is targeted at the less developed regions of the EU. It is a research and advisory program. So far, two regions have participated in the project: Świętokrzyskie and Podkarpackie. In their case, the main axis of cooperation was economic development and business support. Now the project has been joined by the Silesian and Malopolska Regions – regions that face the problem of polluted air and take the furthest action in the fight against smog.

As of July 1, 2017, the provisions of the anti-smog resolution for the Malopolska Region enter into force, and the ban on the burning of coal and coal fossils and biomass with a moisture content greater than 20% will begin, while all of the newly installed boilers, ovens and fireplaces should meet ecodesign requirements for emissions and energy efficiency. Monitoring compliance with the requirements of the resolution belongs to the tasks of the municipalities, that should be carried out by municipal police and municipal guards or the employees of municipal offices.

In order to prepare the municipality to the control and enforcement of the requirements of the resolution, on 13 and 14 June 2017, the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region organized a training for the employees of all of the municipalities in the Malopolska Region and representatives of the municipal police and municipal guards. The training included technical issues related to the design and requirements of boilers and room heaters, ways of identifying mules and fleets, sampling of fuel, and legal issues related to the preparation of inspection authorizations and the procedure for carrying it out. The lectures were conducted by specialists from the Institute of Chemical Processing of Coal in Zabrze, Oil and Gas Institute in Krakow and a legal advisor from the Frank Bold Foundation. The experience of conducting individual household inspections was also shared by representatives of the City Guards of the City of Krakow. On the other hand, the Voivodship Inspector for Environmental Protection in Krakow has provided information on the monitoring of compliance by municipalities with the obligations resulting from the Air Quality Plan.

Topics of the training

• Requirements of the anti-smog resolution for the Malopolska Region – Tomasz Pietrusiak, Deputy Director of the Environment Department at the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region.
• Inspections of the municipalities implementing the Air Quality Plan – Ryszard Listwan, Deputy of the Malopolska Voivodship Inspector for Environmental Protection.
• Overview of the types of installations for which restrictions were introduced – Katarzyna Matuszek, Head of the Laboratory of Combustion Technology and Power Engineering at the Institute of Chemical Processing of Coal in Zabrze,
  • presentation of differences between automatic and manual boilers,
  • presentation of automatic boilers (various types, e.g. with screw, drawer feeders),
  • presentation of the difference between boilers meeting the requirements of EN 303-5:2012 and ecodesign,
  • types and verification (reading, interpretation) of documents confirming that the heating devices used meet the requirements of EN 303-5:2012 or ecodesign,
  • presentation of the ways of illegal construction of boilers, assembly of additional elements in boilers,
  • indication of the possibility of recognizing whether boilers have an emergency grate,
  • presentation of examples of abnormal operation of boilers, indication of bad habits, practices in this regard,
  • discussing the issue of the obligation to undertake chimney sweeps and the negative effects of the lack of chimney sweeping.
• Overview of the type of fuels for which prohibition was applied – Łukasz Smędowski, head of the Laboratory of Fuel and Activated Carbon at the Institute of Chemical Processing of Coal in Zabrze,
  • presentation of an organoleptic method of the identification of mules and fleets – presentation of samples,
  • presentation of the coal grain testing procedure – indication of guidelines on how to take a sample, where to send a sample for testing,
  • presentation of the documents required for the sale of carbon, documents confirming the fuel parameters (quality certificates, confirmation of the parameters on invoices),
  • review the carbon certificates along with the way of reading the information contained therein.
• Overview of the scope covering the use of fireplaces – Robert Wojtowicz, head of the Laboratory of Gas and Heating Equipment Research in the Oil and Gas Institute – State Research Institute in Krakow,
  • overview of open and closed fireplaces, free standing heaters, types and differences between them,
  • presentation of ecodesign requirements for fireplaces,
  • types and verification of the documents confirming that the fireplace used complies with ecodesign requirements, reading and interpretation of documents,
  • wood moisture testing and measurement presentation with a moisture meter.
• Practical aspect of conducting inspections – Andrzej Ryś, head of the Department of Waste Control, City Guards of the City of Krakow.
• Legal aspect of conducting inspections – Miłosz Jakubowski, a legal advisor at the Frank Bold Foundation,
  • practical presentation of the procedure and experience of conducting fuel combustion control, as exemplified by the city of Cracow,
  • presentation of the scope of inspections,
  • issuing authorizations for inspections,
  • possibility of sampling ash for analysis,
  • drawing up an inspection report,
  • addressing applications for punishment to the court,
  • amounts of financial penalties.

Teaching materials

Requirements of the anti-smog resolution for the Malopolska Region

Requirements for solid fuel boilers

Requirements for solid fuels

Requirements for fireplaces and heaters

Practical aspects of inspections

Legal aspects of inspections

Model inspection authorization

Model inspection notice

Model application for a punishment

Training was organised within LIFE-IP MALOPOLSKA / LIFE14 IPE PL 021 with the contribution of the LIFE Programme of the European Union.

On June 5-6, 2017, the 13th Polish Symposium will be held in the series “Krakow Meetings with INSPIRE” concerning “Air quality – from measurements to presentation” in the Malopolska Garden of Art, 12 Rajska, 31-124 Krakow.

This year’s symposium is devoted entirely to the issues related to air quality management, pollution modeling and measurement, and the role of geoinformation in air quality analyses.

All information related to the organization of the Symposium is available on the website www.inspire.krakow.pl.

You are invited to participate.

The organizers:

Malopolska Region,
City of Krakow,
Voivode of the Malopolska Region,
Stanisław Staszic AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow
District Geodetic and Cartographic Company in Krakow Sp. z o. o.

The Małopolska Regional Assembly adopted a resolution dated April 24, 2017 on the introduction of bans concerning the scope of the operation of installations in which fuel burning takes place in the area of the Krakow municipality in the period from 1 July 2017 to 31 August 2019. As a result, from July 1, 2017, it will not be possible to heat houses and flats using low-quality coal in Krakow. It applies to:

• fuels in which the mass fraction of hard coal or lignite of particle size 0-5 mm is greater than 5%,
• fuels containing hard coal or lignite with at least one of the following parameters: calorific value below 26 MJ / kg, ash content greater than 10%, sulfur content greater than 0.8%,
• fuels containing biomass with operational moisture content greater than 20%.

The regulations will apply for about two years. On September 1, 2019, a total ban on coal burning in the area of the municipality of Krakow comes into force.

Resolution No. XXXV/527/17 of the Sejmik of the Malopolska Region of April 24, 2017 on the introduction in the area of the municipality of Krakow, during the period from 1 July 2017 to 31 August 2019, bans on the operation of installations in which fuels are burned.

The Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal in Zabrze, having an accredited laboratory for solid fuel boilers, has measured the actual effects of the use of the top-down burning method on the emission of particulate matter and benzo (a) pyrene in the combustion of coal and wood. The study included 4 different boilers with manual fuel feed and one goat-type heater in which both coal and wood were burned.

The study has shown that the “top-down” burning method has unpredictable effects on the amount of pollutant emissions. Its use does not in any case translate into the reduction of pollutant emissions into the air. In many trials there were no significant decreases, and on the contrary, there was an increase in particulate matter and benzo (a) pyrene emissions, both for coal and wood.

In none of the trials conducted, no pollutant emissions comparable to the emission criteria for Class 5 or Ecodesign and even Class 3 were obtained. The best result was obtained for a boiler that was specifically designed for use in top burning – 127.9 mg / m³ for coal and 104.6 mg / m³ for wood. In the case of the “top-down” burning method in conventional boilers, the measured particulate matter emission was from 297.3 to 547.0 mg / m³ for coal burning and from 181.8 to 396.0 mg / m³ for wood burning. The standard for boilers meeting ecodesign requirements is 40 mg / m³.

Using the “top-down” burning method in boilers that are not designed for this purpose can significantly increase the risk of boiler explosion, chipping or faster wear of the device. The study has shown that it can significantly increase the heat load of the combustion chamber, change the temperature and pressure distribution in relation to design values, and lead to rapid combustion reactions (explosive combustion).  Each user purchasing a heating device should operate the device according to the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Other use can pose a danger to the health and life of the user and cause the failure or loss of the warranty granted for the boiler.

The study was commissioned by the Krakow Smog Alert within the implementation of the integrated project LIFE-IP MALOPOLSKA co-financed by the LIFE program of the European Union.

Short report on the IChPW research

Presentation of the report

Below, there are also the tests carried out by the City Office of Gliwice carried out with the use of particulate matter analyzer and the traditional “top-down” burning method of a boiler used in a household’s boiler room: