Air quality and health- representatives of science and authorities together for better air

On July 3-5 this year at the Congress Center of the Wrocław University of Technology it was worthwhile to be at the 4th Scientific Conference “Air Quality and Health”. The conference provided a platform that brought together the scientific community, air quality institutions, regional authorities and public benefit organizations or environmental educators.

The scientific event was implemented within the framework of Project LIFE-MAPPINGAIR/PL.

Health and environment

As in previous editions, the main theme of the conference was the study of air pollution and its impact on human health and life. Environmental education issues were also raised and legal aspects related to improving air quality. This year, the topic of bioaerosol was also added to the program, which is important in the context of increasing climate change.

The organizers of the event were the University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw University of Technology, the City of Bydgoszcz, Medical University of Piastów Śląski in Wrocław, the Institute for Territorial Development and the European Clean Air Center. Representatives of the LIFE project “Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere” also took part in the fourth edition of the JPAZ conference.

Three days of discussions

The conference was divided into three days. Its program included a variety of presentation sessions, discussions and panels. The first day began with an opening session, followed by three blocks of presentations. They discussed topics related to the impact of air quality on health, as well as the state of the atmospheric environment. Information was presented by representatives of the scientific community, doctors and research units. New scientific evidence has been presented confirming the link between poor air quality and the development of respiratory diseases,  cardiovascular and other health problems. At the end of the day, a poster session was held, which provided an opportunity for discussion and exchange of views.

The second day continued with topics related to the state of the atmospheric environment, including emissions of harmful gases from various sources, such as landfills and tailings piles. There was also a session on molecular and environmental aerobiology covering topics including pollen transfer and its impact on allergy risk, as well as the impact of climate change on allergen concentrations. The day ended with a session on modeling the spread of chemical and biological pollutants and air quality.

The final day of the conference began with a panel discussion on air quality management in the face of upcoming environmental challenges. The experts focused on the challenges of managing low emissions and introducing effective emissions monitoring mechanisms. The second part of the panel dealt with clean transportation zones and the question of whether they can be an effective tool in reducing traffic pollution. Experts have pointed to the positive impact of such solutions on air quality, especially in high traffic areas. Examples of foreign success stories were presented, where the introduction of clean transport zones has helped reduce emissions and improve the quality of life of residents. During the last day of the conference, there was also a session on air quality measurements during which the latest methods and technologies for monitoring pollution levels were presented. Social, economic and legal aspects of air quality were also addressed.

Summary of the conference

The Scientific Conference “Air Quality and Health” was not only a venue for the presentation of the latest research and scientific achievements, but also an opportunity to integrate the air quality community. The exchange of knowledge and experience between different entities was aimed at creating effective air quality management strategies. The scientific conference certainly contributed to raising awareness of air quality problems and their impact on health.

Main events

• The European Green Week (Green Week) celebrations were held from June 3 to 11. This year’s edition focused on creating cross-cutting skills that contribute to sustainable development, innovation and adaptation to new conditions. 84 local governments in the Małopolska region actively joined in the Green Week celebrations. A number of attractions and surprises awaited the youngest residents. Among them were competitions, planting actions, cleaning up parks and forests, as well as workshops and lectures on clean air.
• A meeting of the Task Force on Techno-Economic Issues (TFTEI) within the framework of the work of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution was held in Warsaw on June 12-13. The meeting was attended by representatives from Italy, France, Armenia, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Turkey, among others. One of the speakers was Katarzyna Stadnik – head of the Air Protection Team of the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region.
• On June 15, the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region hosted a visit of 50 students from Poland and Germany. The young people were hosted in Krakow as part of the “Clean Air Around Us” project. It was an opportunity to explore topics related to air protection, renewable energy sources and counteracting climate change.
• The eco-advisers distributed a total of more than 50,000 informational and educational materials and provided more than 11,000 pieces of advice to residents of Malopolska.

C.1 Eco-managers

Advice and assistance to residents

In June, Eco-managers employed under the LIFE program provided counseling assistance to residents of Malopolska:

• 4,886 persons admitted in the office
• 4,803 by telephone
• 498 in writing or by e-mail
• 1,063 during field visits

104 inspections were carried out at residents regarding waste incineration. In 6 cases, violations were found.

Surveys from residents and applications for funding

Eco-managers were involved in collecting applications for funding from residents. As of June 2023:

• 362 applications were collected from residents interested in benefiting from subsidies for heat source replacement.

The eco-managers entered or updated data on 282 properties in the Central Energy Efficiency and Building Heating Records (CEEB).

C.2 Competence Center

“Eco-intervention” application

In June, 124 applications were accepted. The application is available at https://ekomalopolska.pl/app/ekointerwencja/index.html.

It can be listed:

• 66 reports of air pollution,
• 25 of illegal waste disposal,
• 18 related to sewage and waste discharge,
• 15 qualified as other notifications,

The Competence Center responded to more than 90 inquiries addressed to UMWM in the form of e-mails and 110 telephone inquiries.

Meeting with an expert

The National Energy Conservation Agency, as part of its online training courses titled “Meeting with an Expert,” held two events in June with eco-advisors:

– 7.06 – Improving energy efficiency – EPC/ESCO projects for public entities,

– 21.06 – EPBD Directive – proposal of energy class system for buildings in Poland.

Meeting of the Committee on Environment and Public Safety

A meeting of the SWM Committee on Environmental Protection and Public Safety was held on June 15. During the meeting, a presentation on the implementation of the Air Protection Program was made by Katarzyna Stadnik – head of the air protection team.

Warm-up with European Funds – LIFE Project stand

June saw another event in the series: Warm-up with European Funds. The main purpose of the meetings is to prepare future beneficiaries of European Funds in Małopolska to apply for EU support for planned investments. During the events in Gorlice and Stary Sącz, the LIFE project “Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere” also had its stands.

Meeting of the Energy Policy Team

On June 20, a meeting was held of the Energy Policy Team, which operates at the Union of Provinces of the Republic of Poland. The guests of the meeting were representatives of the Institute for Territorial Development, who presented the Energy Strategy for Lower Silesia. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the LIFE Project Competence Center from Małopolska.

Meeting to initiate the launch of the ZONE system pilot

A meeting was held on June 26 to initiate the launch of the ZONE system pilot. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to learn about the goals, timelines and details of the formula and how the pilot would be conducted. The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the process of preparing participants, including setting up accounts in the CEEB system and selected functionalities that participants will be asked to test. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Competence Center.

E.2 Local air protection information and education activities

Eco-managerss in the municipalities:

• distributed 35,512 leaflets and brochures and 593 posters,
• prepared and distributed 13,956 other educational and promotional materials (promotional materials, leaflets related to the Clean Air Program, board games and school materials for children).

Meetings and events

Eco-managers organized meetings and events:

• 9 competitions for children and young people, with 700 participants,
• 121 meetings in schools and kindergartens, attended by 1,771 people,
• 22 meetings with local residents, attended by 782 people,
• 8 meetings with local leaders, with a total of 51 people,
• 47 other events on air protection, attended by 18,324 people.

Use of media

Eco-managers in the municipalities have prepared:

• 11 articles in the press,
• 80 articles and posts on the Internet and social media,
• 37 times used other media

and took part in media information related to the project:

• 3 radio or TV broadcasts.

E3. Networking to share experiences with other projects

Celebration of European Green Week (Green Week)

The European Green Week (Green Week) celebrations were held from June 3 to 11. This year’s edition focused on creating cross-cutting skills that contribute to sustainable development, innovation and adaptation to new conditions. 84 local governments in the Małopolska region actively joined in the Green Week celebrations. A number of attractions and surprises awaited the youngest residents. Among them were competitions, planting actions, cleaning up parks and forests, as well as workshops and lectures on clean air.

Expert meeting within the framework of the LIFE REMY project

On June 7, an expert meeting was held as part of the LIFE REMY project. During the meeting, LIFE IP Malopolska project manager Piotr Lyczko shared the LIFE IP Malopolska project’s experience in air quality modeling tasks.

Meeting of the Task Force on Techno-Economic Issues (TFTEI)

A meeting of the Task Force on Techno-Economic Issues (TFTEI) within the framework of the work of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution was held in Warsaw on June 12-13. The meeting was attended by representatives from Italy, France, Armenia, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Turkey, among others. One of the speakers was Katarzyna Stadnik – head of the Air Protection Team at the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region, who outlined the actions taken in Krakow and throughout the region to improve air quality. During the speech, the effects of the implementation of the LIFE integrated project for air quality in the province were also discussed, including the work of the Eco-managers.

E4. Promotion of project implementation

On June 15, the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region hosted a visit by 50 students from Poland and Germany. Young people from Małopolska elementary schools in the towns of: Buków, Konary and Włosań, as well as from Berlin, were hosted in Cracow as part of the “Clean Air Around Us” project. It was a great opportunity to explore topics related to air protection, renewable energy sources and combating climate change. Students learned why air quality is important for health, and also learned about the possibilities of climate protection. However, the meeting was not limited to theory. Participants of the meeting also had the opportunity to take part in practical experiments. Their purpose was, among other things, to present the mechanisms of renewable energy sources.

Main events

• The Trilateral Workshop of LIFE projetcts took place in Piestany, Slovakia, on May 17-19. It was attended by representatives of three LIFE projects from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The conference, organized by the Populair Project, brought together experts in various fields related to air quality. In addition, eco-advisers exchanged experiences from the implementation of the integrated project. It was an opportunity to discuss good practices in air quality monitoring, emission reduction and environmental improvement.
• The Energy Communities Congress was held in Bialka Tatrzanska on May 22. The meeting was attended by, among others, representatives of local governments and experts in the field of energy. One of the speakers at the meeting was Mr. Piotr Łyczko – Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, who presented the activities of the Małopolska province in the development of RES.
• A series of workshop meetings on effective communication with potential beneficiaries of the Clean Air Program ended on May 26. A total of 139 people took part in the trainings. The participants were mainly eco-managers from all over Małopolska. The series of trainings was organized as part of the Clean Air Academy.
• The eco-managers distributed a total of more than 17,000 informational and educational materials and provided more than 13,000 pieces of advice to residents of Malopolska.

C.1. Eco-managers

Advice and help for residents

In May, Ecodirectors employed under the LIFE program provided counseling assistance to residents of Malopolska in the amount of:

• 6,127 persons admitted in the office
• 6,234 by telephone
• 587 in writing or by e-mail
• 815 during field visits

218 inspections were carried out with residents regarding waste incineration. In 4 cases, violations were found.

Surveys from residents and funding applications

Eco-managers were involved in collecting applications for funding from residents. As of May 2023:

• 450 applications were collected from residents interested in benefiting from subsidies for heat source replacement.

The eco-managers entered or updated data on 12,999 properties in the Central Energy Efficiency Building Heating Register (CEEB).

C.2. Competence Centre

,,Eco-intervention” application

In May, 216 applications were accepted. The application is available at https://ekomalopolska.pl/app/ekointerwencja/index.html.

It can be specified:

• 114 reports of air pollution,
• 66 illegal waste disposal,
• 23 related to sewage and waste discharge,
• 13 were classified as other notifications,

The Competence Center responded to more than 80 inquiries addressed to UMWM in the form of e-mails and 100 telephone inquiries.

Meeting with an expert

The National Energy Conservation Agency, as part of its online training courses titled “Meeting with an Expert,” held two events in May, featuring eco-advisers:

10.05 – Energy performance certificate and energy audit of a building – when to perform them?

24.05 – White Certificate System – financial support for Local Government Units in energy transition.

Training for eco-managers on effective communication with the resident

A series of workshop meetings on effective communication with potential beneficiaries of the Clean Air Program ended on May 26. A total of 139 people took part in the trainings. The participants were mainly eco-counselors from all over Małopolska. The series of trainings was organized as part of the Clean Air Academy.

Regional evaluation workshop on the results of the ENTRANCES project

A regional evaluation workshop on the results of the ENTRANCES project was held on May 10, 2023. During the meeting, scenarios for the energy transformation of the Krakow Metropolis were presented. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Competence Center.

Meeting on the System of Local Public Warnings (SYSLOP)

On May 11, a meeting was held on the System of Local Public Warnings (SYSLOP) for the Mazowieckie and Malopolskie provinces. During the meeting, the level of work on the system was summarized, recommended changes to the Short-Term Action Plan were presented, and the process of implementing the SYSLOP system was discussed.

E.2. Local informational and educational activities on air protection

Educational materials on air protection

Eco-managers in the municipalities:

• distributed 14,565 leaflets and brochures and 1,151 posters,
• prepared and distributed 1,543 other educational and promotional materials (promotional materials, leaflets related to the Clean Air Program, board games and school materials for children).

Meetings & Events

Eco-managers organized meetings and events:

• 11 competitions for children and young people, with 488 participants,
• 117 meetings in schools and kindergartens, attended by 3,126 people,
• 31 meetings with local residents, attended by 465 people,
• 20 meetings with local leaders, with a total of 90 people,13 other events on the topic of air protection, attended by 2,087 people.

Use of media

Eco-managers in the municipalities have prepared:

• 12 articles in the press,
• 65 articles and posts on the Internet and social media,
• 29 times used other media

and took part in media information related to the project:

• 14 radio or TV broadcasts.

E.3. Networking with other projects

Conference Trilateral workshop of LIFE projetcts

The Trilateral workshop of LIFE projetcts took place in Piestany, Slovakia, on May 17-19 and was attended by representatives of three LIFE projects from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Representatives of the Malopolska LIFE project were representatives of the Competence Center of the UMWM together with Mr. Piotr Łyczko, Director, as well as Ecodoradors from Tarnów and Ciężkowice. The conference organized by the Populair Project brought together experts in various fields related to air quality. In addition, eco-advisers from Slovakia, Hungary and Poland exchanged experiences from the implementation of the integrated project. This was an opportunity to discuss good practices in air quality monitoring, emission reduction and environmental improvement. On the first and second days of the event, each of the invited projects presented the activities implemented under the LIFE Project. The Malopolska LIFE Project was represented in each topic:

• Presentation of the actual activities and outputs achieved for each projects – Anna Ponikiewska (Eco-manager) and Piotr Łyczko,
• National and regional air quality regulation – Natalia Ściślak and Klaudia Kowalczyk,
• Air quality monitoring and modeling – Piotr Łyczko,
• Financial instruments for improving Air Quality – Magdalena Łabuzek and Krzysztof Pluciński,

A group workshop covering the topics of educational activities, good practices and the Air Protection Program was also scheduled. On the last day of the study visit, participants learned about the activities of the Sorting Center.

We share the knowledge!

On May 24, a meeting was held with representatives of the Marshal’s Office of the Pomorskie Voivodeship. The activities of the Competence Center and partners of the LIFE project aimed at improving air quality were presented, and topics such as applying for participation in an international project such as LIFE were discussed.

E4. Promotion of project implementation

The Energy Communities Congress was held in Bialka Tatrzanska on May 22, 2023. The meeting was attended by, among others, representatives of local governments and experts in the field of energy. One of the speakers at the meeting was Mr. Piotr Łyczko – Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, who presented the activities of the Małopolska province in the development of RES.

Main events

• On April 3 and 4, at the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region, an informational meeting was held on piloting the introduction of so-called “operators” in the government’s Clean Air program, opened by Deputy Marshal of the Małopolska Region Józef Gawron. The meeting was attended by representatives of the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund (NFOŚiGW) with Deputy Chairman of the Board Paweł Mirowski; the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund (WFOŚiGW) with Chairman of the Board Kazimierz Koprowski; as well as representatives of municipalities, installation and consulting companies and non-governmental organizations from the Małopolska province.
• A conference on investments to increase energy efficiency in buildings was held at the Polish Aviation Museum in Cracow on April 12. The meeting was attended by more than 200 employees of municipalities and district offices, who deal with improving the energy efficiency of buildings, air protection and climate change adaptation on a daily basis. The conference was officially opened by the Deputy Marshal of the Małopolska Region, Józef Gawron.
• A plenary meeting of the Provincial Council for Social Dialogue (WRDS) was held on April 13. During the meeting, Mr. Piotr Łyczko – Deputy Director of the Department of Environment presented the current situation in the implementation of the anti-smog resolution.
• An online workshop entitled “Smartphone – how to use it safely and what to install” was held on April 19 as part of the Week with the Internet campaign aimed at users of digital devices. One of the elements of the workshop was a presentation of the Ecointervention application. Katarzyna Stadnik from the Department of Environment of the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region told about the functionality of the Ecointervention application.
• The 6th edition of the online conference “Clean Energy for People” took place from April 24 to 28. This year’s event traditionally focused on building renovation, sustainable heating, clean air and a greener future for district heating systems. One of the speakers at the conference was Mr. Tomasz Pietrusiak – Deputy Director of the Department of Environment. He introduced the participants to the topic of anti-smog resolutions. He discussed the challenges and possibilities of applying the developed solutions in other regions, as well as the scale of the effects of the measures taken. The conference was organized by the environmental association Za Zemiata – Friends of the Earth Bulgaria in cooperation with E3G – Third Generation Environmentalism and CEE Bank-watch Network. The conference was attended by representatives from Bulgaria, Belgium, France, Germany, England, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary and Poland.
• The eco-managers distributed a total of more than 16,000 informational and educational materials and provided more than 13,000 pieces of advice to residents of Malopolska.

C.1. Eco-managers

Advice and help for residents

In April, Eco-managers employed under the LIFE program provided counseling assistance to residents of Malopolska:

• 6,048 persons admitted in the office
• 5,973 by telephone
• 532 in writing or by e-mail
• 854 during on-site visits

298 inspections were carried out with residents regarding waste incineration. In 11 cases, violations were found.

Surveys from residents and applications for funding

Eco-managers were involved in collecting applications for funding from residents. In April 2023:

• 655 applications were collected from residents interested in benefiting from subsidies for heat source replacement.

The eco-managers entered or updated data on 13,027 properties in the Central Energy Efficiency Building Heating Register (CEEB).

C.2. Competence Centre

,,Eco-intervention” application

In April, 436 applications were accepted. The application is available at https://ekomalopolska.pl/app/ekointerwencja/index.html.

It can be listed:

• 202 reports of air pollution,
• 161 illegal waste disposal,
• 51 related to sewage and waste discharge,
• 22 were classified as other notifications,

The Competence Center responded to more than 120 inquiries addressed to UMWM in the form of e-mails and 135 telephone inquiries.

Meeting with an expert

The National Energy Conservation Agency, as part of its online training courses titled “Meet the Expert,” held two events in April with eco-managers:

12.04 – Changes in the Clean Air Program,

26.04 – Thermal imaging camera survey.

Conference on investments to increase energy efficiency of buildings

A conference on investments to increase energy efficiency in buildings was held at the Polish Aviation Museum in Cracow on April 12. The meeting was attended by more than 200 employees of municipalities and district authorities, who deal on a daily basis with improving the energy efficiency of buildings, air protection and adaptation to climate change.

Meeting of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Public Safety of the Małopolska Regional Assembly

On April 20, the Deputy Director of the Environmental Department took part in a meeting of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Public Safety of the Małopolska Regional Assembly, during which he presented activities carried out under LIFE projects.

4th Steering Committee Meeting

Representatives of the Competence Center took part in a number of meetings, including the April 13 Fourth Meeting of the Steering Committee of the “Poland’s Road to Clean Air” project and the April 14 meeting on the functionality of the ZONE system.

E.2 Local air protection information and education activities

Educational materials on air protection

Eco-advisers in the municipalities:

• distributed 10,884 leaflets and brochures and 482 posters,
• prepared and distributed 5,244 other educational and promotional materials (promotional materials, leaflets related to the Clean Air Program, board games and school materials for children).

Meetings & Events

Eco-managers organized meetings and events:

• 12 competitions for children and young people, with 519 participants,
• 142 meetings in schools and kindergartens, attended by 3,083 people,
• 19 meetings with local residents, attended by 450 people,
• 61 meetings with local leaders, with a total of 177 people,
• 41 other events on air protection, attended by 7,462 people.

Use of media

Eco-managers in the municipalities have prepared:

• 27 articles in the press,
• 165 articles and posts on the Internet and social media,
• 45 times used other media

and took part in media information related to the project:

• 2 radio or TV broadcasts.

E.3. Networking with other projects

Government Clean Air Program-pilot meeting

On April 3 and 4, an informational meeting was held at the Marshal’s Office of Małopolska Voivodeship regarding the pilot of introducing so-called “operators” in the government program Clean Air. The meeting was attended by representatives of the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund (NFOŚiGW) with Deputy CEO Pawel Mirowski; the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund (WFOŚiGW) with CEO Kazimierz Koprowski; as well as representatives of municipalities, installation and consulting companies and NGOs from the Małopolska province.

Implementation of the anti-smog resolution

A plenary meeting of the Provincial Council for Social Dialogue (WRDS) was held on April 13. During the meeting, Mr. Piotr Łyczko – Deputy Director of the Department of Environment presented the current situation in the implementation of the anti-smog resolution.

“Clean energy for people” conference

The 6th edition of the online conference “Clean Energy for People” took place from April 24 to 28. This year’s event traditionally focused on building renovation, sustainable heating, clean air and a greener future for district heating systems. One of the speakers at the conference was Mr. Tomasz Pietrusiak – Deputy Director of the Department of Environment. He introduced the participants to the topic of anti-smog resolutions. He discussed the challenges and possibilities of applying the developed solutions in other regions, as well as the scale of the effects of the measures taken.

Traffic pollution in cities

A meeting of experts on urban traffic pollution was held on April 24. One of the speakers at the event was Mr. Piotr Lyczko – Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, who discussed the role of air protection programs in reducing linear emissions.

Meeting with experts from Ukraine

On April 27 we hosted experts from the Ukrainian Environment People Law project from Lviv. During the meeting they discussed LIFE programs implemented in Malopolska, in the context of planned environmental activities in Ukraine.

E4. Promotion of project implementation

An online workshop entitled “Smartphone – how to use it safely and what to install” was held on April 19 as part of the Week with the Internet campaign. One of the elements of the workshop was a presentation of the Ecointervention application. Katarzyna Stadnik from the Department of Environment of the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region talked about the functionality of the Ecointervention application.

Highlights

• On March 16, in Warsaw, an award ceremony was held for the “Energy Transformation Leader” competition. Malopolska Voivodeship was awarded by the chapter for the implementation of two LIFE integrated projects. The award was received by Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Piotr Łyczko.
• A webinar in the series “Meeting with a KAPE expert” was held on March 1. Tomasz Pietrusiak-Deputy Director of the Department of Environment acted as an expert. During his presentation, he discussed the effects of the work of eco-managers and climate and environmental advisors operating in the Małopolska province.
• On March 7, a virtual meeting was held as part of the ClimAct CEE Project. During the webinar, participants discussed the possibilities of creating so-called “Low Emission Zones”, or Clean Transportation Zones. During the meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Tomasz Pietrusiak introduced the participants to the topic of anti-smog resolutions.
• On March 8-9, the 6th Clean Air Congress was held at the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw. This year’s Congress focused on the multidimensional aspect of air protection. At the invitation of the organizers, Katarzyna Stadnik, Head of the Air Protection Team, gave a lecture. In her presentation she answered the question “Why should there be an eco-managers in every municipality?” based on the experience of the Malopolska Region in the implementation of the LIFE project.
• Eco-managers distributed a total of more than 15,000 informational and educational materials and provided more than 14,000 pieces of advice to residents of Malopolska.

C.1 Eco-managers

Advice and assistance to residents

In March, Eco-managers employed under the LIFE program provided counseling assistance to residents of Malopolska in the amount of:

• 6,707 persons admitted in the office
• 6,947 by telephone
• 594 in writing or by e-mail
• 601 during field visits

744 inspections were carried out with residents regarding waste incineration. In 32 cases, violations were found.

Surveys from residents and applications for funding

Eco-managers were involved in collecting applications for funding from residents. As of March 2023:

• 427 applications were collected from residents interested in benefiting from subsidies for heat source replacement.

The eco-managers entered or updated data on 7,290 properties in the Central Energy Efficiency and Building Heating Records (CEEB).

C.2 Competence Center

“Eco-intervention” application

In March, 545 applications were accepted. The application is available at https://ekomalopolska.pl/app/ekointerwencja/index.html.

It can be specified:

• 236 reports of air pollution,
• 200 illegal waste disposal,
• 85 related to sewage and waste discharge,
• 24 were classified as other notifications,

The Competence Center responded to more than 150 inquiries addressed to UMWM in the form of e-mails and 180 telephone inquiries.

Meeting with an expert

The National Energy Conservation Agency, as part of its online training course titled “Meeting with an expert,” held three events in March, attended by eco-managers:

01.03 – Experiences and good practices of the Małopolska region in creating a network of eco-managers,

15.03 – Financing of investments increasing energy efficiency on the example of BOŚ,

29.03 – Geothermal as an opportunity for energy transformation of local governments.

Workshop to develop energy skills among young adults

On March 3, representatives of the Competence Center took part in a workshop to discuss issues related to the sustainable use of energy in the context of education and increasing public competence in this area.

Energy revolution at ENEX in Kielce!

On March 8, the jubilee 25th edition of the International Fair of Energy and Electronics and Renewable Energy Sources was held. The energy fair was accompanied by numerous industry conferences, workshops and trainings. The event was attended by representatives of the LIFE project “Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere”.

Training for eco-managers on effective communication with the resident

In March, another training was held on effective communication of eco-managers with residents. The workshops were a great opportunity to improve communication techniques with callers who are potential beneficiaries of the Clean Air Program. The series of trainings was organized as part of the Clean Air Academy in cooperation between the Malopolska Region and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and the Polish Smog Alarm. So far, more than 170 people have taken part in the trainings.

Update of the Air Protection Program and Short-Term Action Plan – stakeholder meeting

On March 23, a working meeting was held between representatives of the Marshal’s Office of Małopolska Voivodeship, the Regional Crisis Management Center, the Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection and the Regional Inspector of Environmental Protection. During the meeting, the preliminary assumptions for updating the Short-Term Action Plan in the Air Protection Program for Małopolska Province were presented. The approach to procedures for declaring degrees of emergency was also discussed.

E.2 Local air protection information and education activities

Educational materials on air protection

Eco-managers in the municipalities:

• distributed 6,358 leaflets and brochures and 485 posters,
• prepared and distributed 8,504 other educational and promotional materials (promotional materials, leaflets related to the Clean Air Program, board games and school materials for children).

Meetings and events

Eco-managers organized meetings and events:

• 1 competition for children and young people,
• 34 meetings in schools and kindergartens, attended by 2,389 people,
• 25 meetings with local residents, attended by 666 people,
• 68 meetings with local leaders, with a total of 192 people,
• 14 other events on air protection, attended by 2,405 people.

Use of media

Eco-managers in the municipalities have prepared:

• 25 articles in the press,
• 124 articles and posts on the Internet and social media,
• 45 times used other media

and took part in media information related to the project: 17 radio or TV broadcasts.

E3. Networking to share experiences with other projects

We share our experience and best practices in creating a network of Eco-managers!

A webinar in the series “Meeting with a KAPE expert” was held on March 1. Tomasz Pietrusiak-Deputy Director of the Department of Environment acted as an expert. During his presentation, he discussed the effects of the work of eco-managers and climate and environment advisors operating in the Małopolska province. He explained, among other things: what a huge benefit it is for municipalities to employ people responsible for implementing strategies to improve air quality at the local level.

Clean Transportation Zones and efforts to improve air quality in Europe

On March 7, a virtual meeting was held as part of the ClimAct CEE Project. During the webinar, participants discussed the possibilities of creating so-called “Low Emission Zones”, or Clean Transit Zones. During the meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Tomasz Pietrusiak introduced the webinar participants to the topic of anti-smog resolutions. He discussed the challenges and opportunities to apply the developed solutions in other regions, as well as the scale of the effects of the measures taken. He also described the effects of the implementation of the LIFE integrated program for air quality in the voivodeship, including the work of Eco-managers and the operation of the Air Protection Program.

VI Clean Air Congress – protecting the air in Poland!

On March 8-9, the 6th Clean Air Congress was held at the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw. This year’s Congress focused on the multidimensional aspect of air protection. As part of the last thematic block during the second day of the event, a lecture was given by Air Protection Team Manager Katarzyna Stadnik. In her presentation she answered the question “Why should there be an eco-manger in every municipality?” based on the experience of the Malopolska Region in the implementation of the LIFE project”.

E4. Promotion of project implementation

On March 16, in Warsaw, an award ceremony was held for the “Energy Transformation Leader” competition. Malopolska Voivodeship was awarded by the chapter for the implementation of two LIFE integrated projects. The award was received by Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Piotr Łyczko.

In an effort to strengthen local energy security, and thus guarantee warmth in homes during the heating season, the Małopolska Regional Government has commenced work on a pilot program entitled “Municipal firewood dryers.” It aims at creating funding for municipalities to purchase and install firewood dryers.

It is worth noting that the anti-smog resolution allows the burning of wood to heat homes, however it must be dry (no more than 20% moisture content). The moisture content of wood affects its calorific value and emissivity.

Local dryers could provide residents with quick access to dry wood. Drying wood through seasoning is a lengthy process. The availability of municipal dryers will help to solve this problem.

– emphasizes Deputy Marshal Józef Gawron.

On 2 March, Deputy Marshal Józef Gawron met with representatives of local governments and the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Kraków. During the meeting, the potential for access to the raw material, such as wood, was discussed, and possible solutions were reviewed. Participants in the meeting unanimously agreed that increasing the potential of using biomass for heating will improve the energy security of the region’s residents. Dry wood is a guarantee of higher combustion efficiency, but also less pollution emitted into the air.

The anticipated budget for the pilot program is 3 million złoty.

Main events

• On 2 December a meeting of the energetics and climate team of the Voivodeship Council of Social Dialogue was held. A representative of the Competence Centre participated in it.
• On 7 December workshops for Eco-managers took place. The goal of the meeting was to summarise the effects of actions undertaken as part of the Air Quality Plan, to present the results of the evaluation of the Plan, and to work together on creating ideas and soultions for updating it.
• On 14 December a meeting of representatives of environmental protection institutions was held in Skawina. During the meeting, current and planned activities implemented in the Skawina Municipality concerning the environment were presented. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Competence Center.
• On 21 December a meeting inaugurating the LIFE AFTER COAL PL Project – Implementation of the Climate Neutrality Strategy EASTERN WIELKOPOLSKA 2040 was held. During the meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Tomasz Pietrusiak spoke about Małopolska’s experiences concerning implementing the LIFE project.
• Eco-managers distributed a total of more than 78 thousand informational and educational materials and gave over 15 thousand pieces of advice to residents of Małopolska.

C.1. Eco-managers

Advice and help for residents

In December Eco-managers working on the LIFE Program provided the following counseling assistance to the residents of Małopolska:

• 7,206 people received in the office,
• 6,976 by telephone,
• 523 in writing or by e-mail,
• 818 during on-site visits

1,263 inspections of residents’ households regarding waste incineration were undertaken. In 39 cases, violations of regulations were found.

Questionnaires from residents and applications for funding

Eco-managers were involved in collecting applications for funding from residents.

In December 2022:

• 242 applications were collected from residents interested in benefiting from funding for heat source replacement.

Eco-managers entered or updated data on 14,123 properties in the Central Energy Efficiency and Building Heating Records (CEEB).

C.2. Competence Centre

“Eco-intervention” application

In December, 398 reports were accepted. The application is available at https://ekomalopolska.pl/app/ekointerwencja/index.html.

Specifically there were:

• 312 air pollution reports,
• 47 illegal waste disposal reports,
• 28 were related to sewage and wastewater discharges,
• 11 were classified as other types of reports,

The Competence Centre responded to more than 150 inquiries directed to UMWM in the form of e-mails and 200 telephone inquiries.

Meeting with an expert

The National Energy Conservation Agency held one event in December as part of its online “Meet the Expert” training, in which Eco-managers participated:

14 December – One Stop Shop in the municipality – local support of work for energy efficiency

Eco-managers in Małopolska improve their qualifications!

On 7 December a workshop for Eco-managers was held. The aim of the meeting was to summarize the results of actions carried out as part of the Air Quality Plan, to present the results of the Plan’s evaluation, and to work together on creating ideas and soultions for updating it. In the first part of the meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Piotr Łyczko summarized the effects of the implementation of the current Plan. After that prof. dr. hab. Aldona Frączkiewicz Wronka, on behalf of the company “EU-CONSULT” Sp. z o.o., presented an evaluation of the effectiveness of the current Plan. This analysis was undertaken for the purpose of updating the document. The study used, among other things, the results of the survey of entities such as: municipalities, county offices, scientific units or companies. The second part of the meeting was in the form of a workshop. Workshop participants were divided into 8 groups. Each team took on the challenge of developing solutions that could improve activities related to improving air quality.

E.2. Local informational and educational activities on air protection

Educational materials on air protection

Eco-managers in municipalities:

• distributed 70,858 flyers and brochures and 1,341 posters,
• prepared and distributed 6,094 other educational and promotional materials (promotional materials, leaflets related to the Clean Air Programme, board games and school materials for children).

Meetings and events

Eco-managers organised meetings and events:

• 2 school and kindegarten meetings attended by 140 people,
• 4 meetings with residents attended by 153 people,
• 27 meetings with local leaders, totaling 133 people,
• 17 other air protection events with 2,729 attendees.

Use of media

Eco-managers in municipalities prepared:

• 43 articles in the press,
• 86 articles and posts online and in social media,
• 11 times other media were used

and participated in media releases related to the project:

• 63 radio or TV broadcasts.

E.3. Networking with other projects

• On 2 December a meeting of the energetics and climate team of the Voivodeship Council of Social Dialogue was held, in which a representative of the Competence Centre participated.

• On 14 December a meeting of representatives of environmental protection institutions was held in Skawina. During the meeting, current and planned activities implemented in the Skawina Municipality concerning the environment were presented. The meeting was attended by: Tomasz Pietrusiak – Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Katarzyna Stadnik – manager of the air protection team, representatives of the Voivodeship Environment Protection Inspector, the County Office of the Kraków County, the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków and the Skawina Municipality.

• On 21 December a meeting inaugurating the LIFE AFTER COAL PL Project – Implementation of the Climate Neutrality Strategy EASTERN WIELKOPOLSKA 2040 was held. During the meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Tomasz Pietrusiak spoke about Małopolska’s experiences concerning implementing the LIFE project.

F.1. Project management

• On 7-9 December another monitoring visit of the LIFE IP Małopolska project took place. During the visit the project monitor – Stanisław Tworek, regional coordinator for Central and Eastern Europe NEEMO EEIG, met the project partners, the management team, and the representatives of partner On 21 December a meeting inaugurating the LIFE AFTER COAL PL Project – Implementation of the Climate Neutrality Strategy EASTERN WIELKOPOLSKA 2040 was held. During the meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Tomasz Pietrusiak spoke about Małopolska’s experiences concerning implementing the LIFE project.municipalities, i.e. Bochnia and Wierzchosławice.

June 3 is World Bicycle Day. The United Nations established this holiday four years ago because the bicycle is a global symbol of sustainable transport. The employees of LIFE Integrated Projects, operating at the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region, know this very well.

Why so much hype about a vehicle on two wheels? The UN resolution stresses that the bicycle should be seen as a means to support sustainable development, strengthen education, including physical education of children and youth, prevent diseases, promote healthy lifestyles, tolerance, mutual understanding and respect. Of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, as many as 13 are directly linked to cycling.

Among the most important advantages of cycling is the significant reduction of CO2 and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thus contributing to improving air quality and slowing climate change. Choosing two wheels instead of four saves on average 100 grams of CO2 emissions for every kilometer. According to a study published last year in the journal Transportation Research, the average person who swaps their bike for a car for just one day a week reduces their carbon footprint by 3.2 kg of CO2 (that’s the equivalent of driving 10 km in a car). Replacing one car trip a day with a bike for an entire year will reduce a city dweller’s carbon footprint by more than half a ton of CO2. That’s the equivalent of one plane trip from London to New York.

The physical benefits of regular cycling include improving fitness, supporting the heart and circulatory system, and maintaining a healthy body weight. A half-hour bike ride is also excellent rehabilitation for muscles, joints, and spine stiffened by office work. Using a bike, as any physical effort, also stimulates the secretion of serotonin and endorphins in the body, responsible for the feeling of happiness.

All cycling benefits are taken into account by employees of LIFE Integrated Projects, responsible for improving air quality and climate protection. In the Air Protection Team, the Climate Team, and the Financial Management Team, out of 27 people, as many as 15, including the Director, commute to work by bike every day

The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) would like to invite you to participate in the LIFE Information Day 2022. This year’s conference will be held in a stationary mode. The event will inaugurate another, already second, call for proposals for the LIFE Programme in the financial perspective for 2021-2027.

The event will take place on 14 June 2022, from 10:00 to 15:30, at Airport Hotel Okęcie. The meeting will also be broadcasted online on the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management’s channel on the Youtube platform. For those of you who will not have the opportunity to participate directly, we recommend online transmission. Link to the transmission will be given the day before the event.

On 21st May 2022, the LIFE Program, this unique financial instrument managed at the European Union level and dedicated exclusively to financing projects in the area of environmental protection and climate, will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The event organized by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management is to be not only a solemn inauguration of the call for proposals in 2022, but also a celebration of this anniversary. There will be no shortage of attractions and there will also be an opportunity to have fun.

The conference will explore the following topics:

• opportunities and rules for applying for LIFE funding in the 2022 call, indicating differences from previous years,
• the scope of substantive and financial support offered by NFOŚiGW to LIFE applicants and beneficiaries,
• presentations and contact with authors/implementers of selected LIFE projects and the opportunity to benefit from the Beneficiaries’ experience at the stage of their preparation and implementation.

Conference guests will include:

• Małgorzata Golińska – Secretary of State in the Ministry of Environment and Ecology, Chief Nature Conservationist,
• Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński – Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage,
• Maja Mikosinska – Head of the Nature Sector at the European Commission’s executive agency CINEA.

Participants will also have an opportunity to learn more about LIFE projects presented at specially prepared for the occasion stands. Representatives of two Małopolska LIFE Integrated Projects will participate in the event:

Integrated LIFE Project “Implementation of the Air Protection Programme for the Malopolska Region – Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere”

Project LIFE-IP EKOMAŁOPOLSKA “Implementation of the Regional Climate and Energy Action Plan for the Małopolska Region”.

Moreover, during the event it will be possible to exchange views on applying for LIFE directly with Project Beneficiaries. You will also be able to discuss your ideas for project implementation with specialists from the National LIFE Contact Point, ready to support you in your efforts and, if possible, dispel any doubts that may arise.

Submissions

Please register your interest in attending the conference by June 9, 15:00

The conference program and registration form are available at  linkiem

The Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region is working on the creation of a network of air pollution meters with interactive information boards for schools in the Malopolska Region.

Participation in the project has been declared by 99 municipalities. Each of those municipalities will receive one set of devices – an air pollution meter and an external information board, on which information about current air quality will be displayed.

Students and teachers will be able to continuously monitor the air quality in their area. The results will be presented in a simple way so that even the youngest students will be able to read the results. This information will allow teachers to rationally plan outdoor activities .

emphasizes Deputy Marshal Józef Gawron.

The schools that will receive the free devices will also organize educational classes on air protection. The aim of the educational project is to raise students’ awareness of the causes of smog, ways to reduce emissions and the benefits of breathing clean air.

In addition, the project aims to promote attitudes that combat climate change, which is occurring at an incredibly rapid pace. The project aims to raise environmental awareness among children and young people, and thus influence the formation of positive attitudes.

This is another project carried out by the Malopolska Region, which combines ecological education of the youngest inhabitants of Malopolska with preventive actions. I hope that also parents and grandparents of the children attending the schools where the devices will be installed will be interested in the results of the measurements. We are also prepared to install additional devices if other local governments wish to join the project

summarized Deputy Marshal Józef Gawron.

The purchase of air pollution meters and LED information boards is financed under the LIFE project “Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere” from funds of the European Union and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

Nearly 80 thousand replaced stoves, eco-managers and climate managers, the Eco-Intervention application, and over 24 thousand planted trees are just some of the effects of the activities of the two EU LIFE Integrated Projects in the Malopolska Region. On Thursday the 26th of May in Kijów Cinema a conference “LIFE in Malopolska” summarizing the actions of both projects took place. The meeting was an opportunity for local self-governments and Marshal’s Offices from all over the country to exchange experiences and good practices.

The conference was opened by Józef Gawron, Deputy Marshal of Małopolska.

The everyday work, passion and commitment of the eco-managers and climate advisors, employees of the Marshal’s Office and the Regional Competence Centre is what would make it difficult to achieve the set goals in terms of improving air quality and counteracting the negative effects of climate change. The challenge is big, however, the effects of our joint work are already visible in the region, and other provinces benefit from our experience

said Deputy Marshal Józef Gawron.
The meeting takes place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the LIFE Program, the biggest EU financial mechanism supporting environmental and climate actions. LIFE, functioning continuously in the EU since 1992, allowed for co-financing many projects from all over Europe, including Poland.

The first day of the conference was dominated by topics concerning the effects of implementing LIFE projects in Poland and the benefits resulting from them for the inhabitants of particular regions. Representatives of the European Commission Angelo Salsi and Christian Strasser as well as representatives of regional and local self-governments took part in panel discussions. The effects of our region’s activities were appreciated by Christian Strasser, responsible for the LIFE Project in the European Commission.

I would like to send words of appreciation to Malopolska, which is the only region in the whole community to lead two LIFE projects. I would like to congratulate you on this success

said during a speech at the conference.

The Małopolska Voivodeship, as the only region in Europe, undertakes the implementation of two integrated LIFE projects: LIFE MAŁOPOLSKA “Implementation of the Air Protection Programme for the Małopolska Voivodeship – Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” and LIFE EKOMAŁOPOLSKA “Implementation of the Regional Action Plan for Climate and Energy for the Małopolska Voivodeship”.

After 7 years of the LIFE “Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere” action, its effects can be felt in every breath. The average concentration of PM10 dust between the winter season 2014-2015 and the season 2021-2022 decreased in Małopolska by 36 percent, and in Kraków by as much as 49 percent.

The eco-managers employed in the municipalities have already provided more than one million advices and consultations, and obtained more than PLN 96 million of additional funds for specific activities related to improving air quality, such as replacement of obsolete stoves. Each inhabitant of Małopolska can also use the Eco-Intervention application in their smartphone or computer.

The LIFE EKOMAŁOPOLSKA for Climate and Energy, which has been operating since 2021, can also boast of tangible results. The action Tree for Climate, climate and environment advisors working in almost all of the poviats of Lesser Poland, numerous trainings and meetings within the Competence Centre created thanks to the project are just some of the results of just one year’s work under the project.

More information about both of the Malopolska LIFE projects can be found on the following websites  www.klimat.ekomalopolska.pl and www.powietrze.malopolska.pl.

In order to support actions contributing to the reduction of pollution and promotion of renewable energy sources, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) has launched a program which makes it possible to subsidize the purchase and installation of heat pumps. The program will benefit owners of new houses. Increasing the share of RES in energy consumption is an important element on the way to effective improvement of air quality.

Who can benefit from the grant?

The program is addressed to natural persons, i.e. owners or co-owners of new single-family houses with higher energy standard. Co-financing is provided for the purchase and installation of air-, water- and ground-source heat pumps. These devices will be used for house heating or for simultaneous heating and production of domestic hot water. It should also be taken into account that in the building covered by the subsidy there can be no solid fuel heat source.

“For the first time, owners of new buildings have gained the opportunity to reach for subsidies. The “My Heat” program provides funds for the purchase and installation of heat pumps – from 7 to even 21 thousand PLN. The budget of the nationwide program is 600 million PLN. What’s worth emphasizing is that only owners of new residential buildings of higher energy standard will benefit from the support. Therefore, it is an incentive to build ecological and less energy-consuming buildings, which will translate into lower bills in the future.”

emphasizes Józef Gawron – Deputy Marshal of małopolskie voivodship

What subsidies await program beneficiaries?

Support will be granted in the form of a non-refundable grant of up to 30% of the eligible investment costs. In case the applicant holds a Large Family Card (LDR) – up to 45%. The value of subsidies ranges from PLN 7 to 21 thousand. The highest support can be counted on by persons applying for a subsidy for a ground source heat pump.

The budget of the program is as much as PLN 600 million. These funds come from the Modernization Fund. It is a new financial instrument of the European Union.

New home with higher energy standard – what does it mean in practice?

A new residential building is defined as one that meets one of the following conditions:

• on the date of submitting the grant application, no notification of completion of construction of a single-family residential building has been submitted or no application for a decision on occupancy permit has been submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 7 July 1994 Construction Law
• the application for an occupancy permit was submitted no earlier than January 1, 2021.
• the notice of completion was filed no earlier than January 1, 2021.

The condition for obtaining a grant is also obtaining a higher energy standard of the building. This translates into the need to achieve an appropriate annual indicator of demand for non-renewable primary energy (EP) for heating, ventilation and domestic hot water preparation (EPH+W). It can be maximum 63 kWh (per m2 of house surface during the year) in case of applications submitted in 2022, and maximum 55 kWh for applications to be submitted in the following years.

When can you submit an application?

The call for proposals is continuous from 29.04.2022 to 31.12.2026 or until the dedicated pool of funds is exhausted. The period of cost eligibility began on January 1, 2021. The principle used in many other universal programs of the Fund is applicable: first make the investment, then apply to receive a non-refundable grant.

More information about the My Heat program can be found here https://www.mojecieplo.gov.pl/.

Main events

• On 31 March, an interim report on the Air Protection Programme for the Małopolska Region for 2021 was submitted to the Minister of Climate and Environment. It shows that in 2021 in Małopolska inefficient sources of heat from solid fuels were eliminated in a total of 13,581 buildings/locations, which is about 30% more than in 2020.
• In March, the modernization of the Eco-Intervention application was completed, in which a number of changes were made, e.g. reporting statistics for each municipality were made available, a new infringement category “sewage” was added, and the limit of adding reports was increased to 3 within 24 hours from each category. In March, 949 reports were received through the application.
• On the 3rd of March the webinar “LIFE Program for self-governments” took place, during which, among others, the assumptions of integrated projects realized in the Małopolska province were presented.
• On March 20-26, students from the 20th L. Staff High School in Krakow went to Italy to promote the LIFE program in Małopolska as part of the Erasmus+ “Boockpackers around Europe” youth exchange program.
• Eco-managers distributed over 50 thousand information and educational materials and gave over 13 thousand pieces of advice to inhabitants of Małopolska.

C.1.Eco-managers

In March, the Eco-managers employed under the LIFE program provided consulting assistance to the residents of Malopolska in the amount of:

• 5,666 people admitted to the office,
• 6,836 by phone,
• 314 written or emailed,
• 879 during visits,

707 inspections were carried out at residents regarding waste incineration. In 24 cases, violations were found.

Surveys from residents and grant applications

Eco-managers were involved in collecting applications from residents for funding. March 2022:

• 964 applications were collected from inhabitants interested in subsidies for heat source replacement.

The eco-managers entered or updated data on 16,141 properties in the Central Energy Efficiency and Building Heating Records (CEEB).

C.2.Competence Centre

List of low-emission heating appliances

The list of low-emission, ecodesign-compliant solid fuel heating equipment, available at www.powietrze.malopolska.pl, includes a total of 383 boilers and space heaters.

,,Eco-intervention” application

In March, 949 applications were accepted. The application is available at https://ekomalopolska.pl/app/ekointerwencja/index.html.

It can be specified:

• 702 air pollution reports,
• 150 illegal waste disposal,
• 75 were related to sewage and wastewater discharges,

The Competence Centre responded to more than 350 e-mails and 400 phone calls to UMWM.

Meetings with an expert

National Energy Conservation Agency in the framework of the online training “Meeting the expert” in March organized two events attended by eco-advisors:

• 09.03. – Meeting with KAPE expert – Energy efficient lighting of buildings and public places,
• 23.03. – Meeting with KAPE expert – Counteracting energy poverty in municipalities,

Communication Workshop for LIFE Integrated Projects

On 9th March the representatives of the Centre of Competence took part in the webinar Communication Workshop for LIFE integrated projects. During the meeting, experiences in implementation of LIFE projects from different countries were exchanged.

D1. Monitoring the effects of the implementation of the Air Protection Programme for Małopolskie Province (MPOP)

• On March 31, a summary report on the Air Protection Program for the Małopolska Province for 2021 was submitted to the Minister of Climate and Environment in accordance with the statutory deadline.
• In 2021, inefficient solid fuel heat sources were eliminated in a total of 13 581 buildings/locations in the Małopolska region. Municipalities implementing LIFE project continue to be more effective in replacing inefficient heat sources (6 397 replacements – 62 municipalities; average of 103 per municipality) than others (7 184 replacements – 120 municipalities; average of 60 per municipality).
• In addition to replacing boilers, the activities also included: information campaigns among the public and conducting inspections of waste burning and compliance with the provisions of the anti-smog resolution. In 2021 a total of 26.7 thousand inspections were carried out, during which 516 cases of non-compliance with the provisions of the resolution and 1070 cases of waste incineration were found. By the end of the year 2021 in the Małopolska province 180 municipalities have signed agreements with the WFOŚiGW in Kraków on establishing service points for the Clean Air Programme. What is more, in 2021 in the Małopolska province 19 973 applications were submitted within the subsidy programme for heat exchange.

E.2 Local information and education activities on air protection

Educational materials on air protection

Eco-managers in municipalities:

• distributed 42,659 flyers and brochures and 431 posters,
• prepared and distributed 7,873 other educational and promotional materials (promotional materials, leaflets related to the Clean Air Program, board games and school materials for children)

Meetings & Events

Eco-managers have organized meetings and events:

• 5 competitions for children and youth, with 95 participants,
• 7 meetings in schools and preschools with 345 participants,
• 49 meetings with residents, attended by 796 people,
• 27 meetings with local leaders, totaling 153 people.
• 6 other air protection events attended by 914 people.

Use of media

Eco-managers in the municipalities have prepared:

• 17 articles in the press,
• 156 online and social media articles and posts,
• 15 times other media were used

and participated in media releases related to the project:

• 2 radio or TV broadcasts.

E3. Networking with other projects

Webinar “LIFE Program for Local Governments”

The webinar “The LIFE Program for Local Governments” took place on the 3rd of March. The speaker during the event was Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Mr. Tomasz Pietrusiak. The event was organized by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and the Association of Polish Cities and addressed to representatives of local government units.

We share our knowledge and experience!

On March 10th a meeting with representatives of the Marshal’s Office of Pomorskie Voivodeship took place. The activities of the Marshal’s Office aiming at the improvement of the air quality were presented. The topics concerning, among others, the application for the participation in the international LIFE project were discussed.

LIFE Project in Italy!

On March 20-26, students from XX L. Staff High School in Cracow went to Italy as part of Erasmus+ “Boockpackers around Europe” youth exchange program. Together with partners from other schools (Spain, Turkey, Portugal), the students had an opportunity to present the main principles of the LIFE project and gave educational materials about the project in English to their peers.

The Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region invites you to participate in another training concerning the Air Protection Programme. The training will be conducted by the representatives of the Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal, the National Energy Conservation Agency and the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow.

To meet the expectations of local government units and fulfilling the obligations arising from the Air Protection Program for the Malopolska Region we invite you to participate in a training on:energy poverty, classification of solid fuel boilers and available forms of financing investments related to the replacement of the heat source and thermomodernization of buildings.

When?

The training will take place on April 7 this year, from 10:00 to 15:00, at the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków at 39 Jana Pawła II Avenue.

For Whom?

We invite you to participate in the meeting representatives of municipalities and county councils, employees of municipal and communal social welfare centers, eco-advisors, energy advisors and professionals involved in energy poverty and air protection.

Attention!

Applications should be made through the form available at: https://powietrze.malopolska.pl/ubostwo-energetyczne-4/

Registration is open until April 5, 2022. Participation in the training is free of charge.

Attention: the number of places is limited – the order of application decides.

The contact person in this case is Ms. Klaudia Kowalczyk, e-mail;
[email protected], phone: 12 37 96 084

Training Program:

Hour	Unit	Subject
10.00 – 10.10	Marshal's Office of the Małopolska Region	Welcoming the participants to the meeting
10.10 – 11.10	Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal	Classification of central heating boilers fired with solid fuels
11.10 – 11.20	Coffee break
11.20 – 13.00	National Energy Conservation Agency	Methodology for energy poverty analysis
13.00- 14.00	Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow	Financing sources for energy efficiency and RES projects for individuals
14.00 – 15.00	Dinner

As early as in April it will be possible to apply for subsidies from the government program My Current 4.0. A new feature will be the eligibility of energy storage devices for subsidies.

The new rules of the popular subsidy programme for individuals were announced by the Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment, Ireneusz Zyska, who is also the government’s plenipotentiary for renewable energy. He assured that the call for applications for subsidies from the fourth edition of the My Current program will be launched in April.

Traditionally, it will be possible to obtain subsidies from this program for small photovoltaic installations – from 2 to 10 kW. However, energy storage technologies will be of key importance, which will allow for storing the surplus of electricity produced by RES installations. The condition will be a comprehensive agreement with the so-called Distribution Network Operator (DSO). The program is to be compatible with the introduction of a new prosumer billing system – net-billing.

However, My Current 4.0 does not provide funding for installation of heat pumps in new buildings. The new version of My Heat program will provide such an opportunity.

More information about the My Current program can be found here.hhttps://powietrze.malopolska.pl/aktualnosci/moj-prad-4-0-z-doplata-na-magazyny-energii/#:~:text=Pr%C4%85d%20mo%C5%BCna%20znale%C5%BA%C4%87-,tutaj.,-Aktualno%C5%9Bci 

On 1 January 2022, the Central Register of Final Energy Savings (CROEF) became operational. The Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute is responsible for the functioning of the nationwide register.

What is CROEF and what was its purpose?

CROEF is a register created in an ICT system, collecting data on final energy savings achieved as a result of the implementation of national and EU programmes. The creation of this tool is an effect of changes introduced to the act on energy efficiency. The document adjusts the Polish regulations to the arrangements in force in the European Union.

The aim of the database is to effectively complement the operation of the system of energy efficiency certificates, commonly known as white certificates. The register is intended to be an additional means of increasing the efficiency of energy consumption. The Energy Efficiency Law defines a specific target for final energy savings. Poland is obliged to achieve this target by the end of 2030. CROEF was established to calculate energy savings resulting from alternative measures.

Thanks to the new solution, it will be possible to reduce or even completely avoid the risk of double counting of energy savings. This applies mainly to entities benefiting from multiple support schemes.

The project is funded by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

What does the registry contain?

The register contains information on the details of the measures, such as the type of measure to improve energy efficiency, the manner in which the amount of final energy savings achieved is verified, the period over which the savings were achieved and the amount of cumulative final energy. These savings are reported in the unit 1toe, i.e. tonne of oil equivalent per year.

Who can enter data?

Users with special rights can enter information into the Register. These include first of all representatives of the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute, as data administrators. Ministers responsible for climate, public finance and economic development also have these powers. The authorized organizational units also include, among others: Center for EU Transport Projects, National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management together with Provincial Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Bank for Environmental Protection, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and local self-government units.

The creation of a central register of final energy savings is an important initiative. It may improve the process of managing energy efficiency improvement mechanisms in Poland.

Where to look for information?

The registry website is available at:https://powietrze.malopolska.pl/aktualnosci/centralny-rejestr-oszczednosci-energii-finalnej/#:~:text=www.croef.ios.gov.pl

We invite you to join the ranks of energy efficiency experts!

We are pleased to announce the launch of another functionality of the Energy Efficiency Experts Platform (EEE) which can already be used by the potential beneficiaries of, among others, the “Clean Air” program. The EEE Platform is a tool of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, and its purpose is to facilitate contact between persons planning the replacement of the “coal burner” in their house or thermomodernization of the building and experts in the field of building energy efficiency. Experts can help you make a rational decision based on technical and economic reasons.

For all registered experts will be organized the first training (online) on March 15, during which will be discussed issues concerning the Clean Air Programme, relevant to the work of the expert active on the platform. Register and participate in the event!

The training agenda includes, but is not limited to:

• Discussing the assumptions and scope of the “Clean Air” program;
• presentation of technical issues;
• presentation of rules for filling in the application for co-financing and the application for payment.

After each presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers and clarify concerns.

We remind you that the recruitment of experts is continuous – you can join at any time. The requirements for experts who want to join the group of professionals are described in detail on the platform at www.peee.gov.pl.

Main events

• On February 17, public consultations took place on the introduction of the local anti-smog resolution for the city of Myslenice.
• On February 28, a presentation was held on the results of a study conducted on the possibilities of eliminating or reducing low emissions in the agricultural industry.
• Eco-managers distributed over 176 thousand information and educational materials and gave over 18 thousand pieces of advice to Małopolska residents.

C.1. Eco-managers

Advice and assistance to residents

In February, the Eco-managers employed under the LIFE program provided consulting assistance to the residents of Małopolska in the amount of:

• 9,044 people admitted to the office,
• 9,062 by phone,
• 394 in writing or by email,
• 412 during visits,

There were 885 inspections of residents regarding waste incineration. In 21 cases, violations were found.

Surveys from residents and grant applications

Eco-managers were involved in collecting applications from residents for funding. February 2022:

• 439 applications were collected from residents interested in applying for funding.

The eco-managers entered or updated data on 29,570 buildings in the Central Energy Efficiency and Building Heating Records (CEEB).

C.2 Competence Centre

List of low-emission heating appliances

The list of low-emission, ecodesign-compliant solid fuel heating equipment, available at www.powietrze.małopolska.pl, includes a total of 379 boilers and space heaters.

“Eco-intervention” application

In February, 837 applications were accepted. The application is available at https://ekomalopolska.pl/app/ekointerwencja/index.html.

You can specify:

• 662 air pollution reports,
• 185 illegal waste disposal,
• 72 were related to sewage and wastewater discharges,

The Competence Centre responded to more than 400 inquiries directed to UMWM in the form of e-mails and 380 telephone inquiries.

Meetings with an expert

The National Energy Conservation Agency held four events with eco-advisors in February as part of its online “Meet the Expert” training:

• 02.02. – Meeting with KAPE expert – Intelligent LED lighting management systems,
• 09.02. – Meeting with KAPE expert – Lighting Management System – good practices in tender procedures,
• 16.02. – Meeting with KAPE expert – Warsaw Green Building Standard as one of the pillars of Warsaw’s climate policy,
• 23.02. – Meeting with KAPE expert – How to implement civic energy in municipality?

Consultation on clean transport zone identification scheme!

In February, representatives of the Competence Centre took part in consultations on the draft Regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment on the system for identifying clean transport zones

Consultations of the local anti-smog resolution in Myślenice!

On February 17, public consultations took place on the introduction of the local anti-smog resolution for the city of Myslenice.

Analysis of opportunities to eliminate or reduce low emissions in the agricultural industry

On February 28, a presentation was held on the results of a study conducted on the possibilities of eliminating or reducing low emissions in the agricultural industry.

Student Internship at the Air Protection Team

Students of the Environmental Management Technical School No. 24 in Cracow, held a student internship at the Air Protection Team.

E.2 Local information and education activities on air protection

Educational materials on air protection

Eco-managers in municipalities:

• distributed 130,918 flyers and brochures and 19,275 posters,
• prepared and distributed 25,871 other educational and promotional materials (promotional materials, leaflets related to the Clean Air Programme, board games and school materials for children).

Meetings & Events

Eco-managers have organized meetings and events:

• 1 competition for children and youth with 21 participants,
• 1 school meeting attended by 13 people,
• 16 meetings with residents attended by 1,291 people,
• 50 meetings with local leaders, totaling 130 people.
• 1 other air protection event with 27 attendees.

Use of media

Eco-managers in the municipalities have prepared:

• 22 articles in the press,
• 139 articles and posts online and in social media,
• 24 times other media were used

and participated in media releases related to the project:

• 27 radio or TV broadcasts.

Main events

• A new reporting platform Ekoportal EkoMalopolska was launched in January. The portal will make it easier for communes and districts to report on the activities carried out under the Air Protection Program. The portal is available at: https://portal.dane.malopolska.pl.
• On January 10 and 18, online training sessions were held for employees of municipalities and counties responsible for preparing the annual report on the implementation of tasks contained in the Air Protection Programme. During the training a new reporting system (Ekoportal) was discussed.
• Eco-managers distributed in total over 41 thousand information and educational materials and gave over 21 thousand pieces of advice to Małopolska residents.

C.1. Eco-managers

Advice and assistance to residents

In January, Eco-counselors employed under the LIFE program provided consulting assistance to the residents of Malopolska in the amount of:

• 11,673 people admitted to the office,
• 9,530 by phone,
• 486 in writing or by email,
• 161 during visits,

467 inspections were carried out at residents regarding waste incineration. Violations were found in 20 cases.

Surveys from residents and grant applications

Eco-managers were involved in collecting applications from residents for funding.

January 2022:

• 1,180 applications were collected from residents interested in applying for funding.

The eco-managers entered or updated data on 20,975 buildings in the Central Energy Efficiency and Building Heating Records (CEEB).

C.2 Competence Centre

List of low-emission heating appliances

The list of low-emission, ecodesign-compliant solid fuel heating equipment, available at www.powietrze.malopolska.pl, includes a total of 379 boilers and space heaters.

“Eco-intervention” application

In January, 1,046 applications were accepted. The application is available at https://ekomalopolska.pl/app/ekointerwencja/index.html.

You can specify:

• 952 air pollution reports,
• 139 illegal waste disposal,
• 38 were related to sewage and wastewater discharges,

The hotline operated by the UMWM Competence Center responded to more than 400 phone calls.

Meetings with an expert

National Energy Conservation Agency in the framework of online training “Meeting the expert” in January organized two events attended by eco-advisors:

• 19.01. – Meeting with KAPE expert – Alternative forms of financing photovoltaic investments in TSU,
• 26.01. – Meeting with KAPE expert – Air pollutions – influence of emission sources on air quality and health of inhabitants.

Training on the new reporting system (Małopolska Exportal)!

On January 10 and 18 there were held trainings in an online form directed to the employees of communes and districts responsible for preparation of annual report on the realization of tasks included in the Program for air protection. During the training a new reporting system (Malopolska Eco-portal) was discussed. The principles of creating accounts and each issue included in the reports (of communes and districts) were discussed, paying attention to the most problematic issues. Participants’ questions were answered. A total of 300 participants took part in both editions.

D1. Monitoring the effects of the implementation of the Air Protection Programme for Małopolskie Province (MPOP)

A new reporting platform Ekoportal EkoMalopolska was launched in January. Representatives of municipalities and counties in order to provide their reports from the area of the Air Protection Program will use the dedicated Portal, which is available at: https://portal.dane.malopolska.pl.

E.2 Local information and education activities on air protection

Educational materials on air protection

Eco-managers in municipalities:

• distributed 21,899 flyers and brochures and 570 posters,
• prepared and distributed 19,191 other educational and promotional materials (promotional materials, leaflets connected with the Clean Air Programme).

Meetings & Events

Eco-managers have organized meetings and events:

• 4 school meetings attended by 80 people,
• 6 meetings with residents attended by 1,025 people,
• 23 meetings with local leaders, totaling 106 people.
• 5 other air protection events attended by 10,034 people.

Use of media

Eco-managers in the municipalities have prepared:

• 28 articles in the press,
• 171 articles and posts online and in social media,
• 32 times other media were used

and participated in media releases related to the project:

• 10 radio or TV broadcasts.

Myślenice Commune is following in the footsteps of other municipalities in Lesser Poland, which by virtue of adopted resolutions have introduced a complete ban on burning coal since 2030. The board of Małopolska voivodship has just sent to public consultation a project of local anti-smog resolution. Now the vote belongs to the residents.

More and more Małopolska self-governments decide to take bolder steps in the fight for clean air. According to the provisions of the Air Protection Program for the Małopolskie Voivodship, at the request of interested communes it is possible to adopt local anti-smog resolutions. The most important assumption of the local anti-smog resolutions is complete removal of coal from 2030. In Myślenice municipality also from 1st July 2022 will not be possible to install new coal boilers, and from the beginning of 2023 will be tightened emission requirements for newly installed boilers, fireplaces and heaters using wood and pellets. The local resolution still obliges local governments to meet the deadlines for replacing heat sources already set in the anti-smog resolution for Małopolska. This means that there is only time left until the end of the year to replace the old boiler.

Myślenice sets a good example

Concerned about the health and comfort of life of its residents, the Myślenice local government is taking decisive steps in the fight for clean air. Last year, the commune has allocated almost 2 million zlotys for the replacement of obsolete heating sources under the local subsidy program. Myslenice also ranks high in replacing old boilers under the government’s Clean Air Program. Combined with the municipal subsidy program and thermomodernization relief, this has allowed many households to cover 100% of the investment costs. There are three eco-managers employed in the commune, who advise in the choice of the ecological heating source and offer help in filling in the application form. Myslenice is also investing in renewable energy sources, building photovoltaic farms, creating energy storage facilities and supporting people affected by energy poverty. Thanks to this they are a leader of energy cluster “Eko Energia – Energy Cluster of Myslenice Land”.

Consultations with residents begin

The Marshal’s Office encourages to get acquainted with the draft of the resolution is available on the website of the Public Information Bulletin of the Marshal’s Office of Małopolskie Voivodeship in the section Public Consultations and at the address https://powietrze.malopolska.pl/konsultacje/Do. Opinions and comments to the draft resolution may be submitted until 28 February this year via an online form or in writing to the Department of Environment, Marshal’s Office of Małopolskie Voivodeship, 56 Racławicka St., 30-017 Krakow.