Meeting of the municipalities participating in the LIFE project

Municipalities participating as a co-beneficiaries in LIFE integrated project met with Jacek Krupa, Marshal of the Małopolska Region, to discuss the current situation with the financing of the project. It was agreed that in two weeks will be taken decisions on the continuation of the project.

LIFE Integrated Project “Implementation of the Air Quality Plan for Małopolska Region – Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” in September 2015 was selected by the European Commission as the best project in Europe, and received 10 million Euro funding from the LIFE program. Its aim is to support municipalities in Małopolska in the tasks related to the protection of air. Implementation of the project, however, is delayed and uncertain due to the wait for the decision of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management about co-financing the project.

The Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region has launched a new website presenting information on the forecast of air quality in the Malopolska Region. It will replace the existing site on the Gateway of Malopolska.

The service is very popular with the inhabitants of the region because, due to the publication of forecasts, such particularly sensitive people as children, the elderly and people with respiratory illnesses can avoid excessive exposure to pollution. Within 5 years of its existence, the service has been visited by approx. 30 thousand users and about 240 thousand view were recorded. At that time, over 7 thousand email addresses were registered to receive a newsletter concerning poor air quality.

The new version of the site has gained a new layout and functionality. Anyone interested can get acquainted with the current quality of air pollution and a 3-day forecast for the whole region or part of the Malopolska Region. The website also includes information on the degree of the threat caused by air pollution (https://powietrze.malopolska.pl/en/air-quality/announcements/).

Within the service, there is a possibility to receive a newsletter with the information about the measured and forecasted level of air pollution in three options: daily, warning and alarm, as well as the possibility of choosing the area of the region to be informed about.

The air quality forecast service in the Malopolska Region has been operating since 1 November 2010. The air quality modeling is conducted by the Faculty of Environmental Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology.

The new site is available at: powietrze.malopolska.pl/prognozy

The project was co-financed by the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow.

During the official meeting in Brussels on 26 January has been presented the first 6 LIFE integrated projects in  Europe. The European Commission has selected for funding three projects for the protection of natural areas NATURA 2000 in Italy, Belgium and Finland. Two projects were aimed at implementation of management plans for the river basin in the UK and in the Germany, and a project to improve air quality coordinated by the Małopolska Region. The meeting was led by Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director-General for Environment is the European Commission, and it was attended by Jacek Krupa, Marshal of the Malopolska Region.

LIFE integrated project is a new instrument of the European Union serving the implementation of relevant strategies to improve the quality of the environment, which involve the most important institutions and partners in order to achieve the objective.

The LIFE project “Implementation of the Air Quality Plan for Małopolska Region – Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” involves 45 partners, including 38 municipalities of Malopolska, Krakow Energy Conservation Agency (KAPE), Energy Savings Company (ESCO), Association Krakow Smog Alert, VITO Institute from Belgium, the Czech Ministry of the Environment, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute. The project cost is 17 million euro.

European Commission – Press release

The Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow announces the preliminary call for proposals under the priority program “Improvement of energy efficiency. Part 4b) Ryś – thermo-modernization of single-family buildings through provincial funds for environmental protection and water management”. Deadline for submitting applications – 01.02.2016 until 3.00 pm (according to the date of receipt at the seat of the Fund).

The call is a preliminary element of the preparation of the application for the co-financing of the planned tasks from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The submission of this proposal is not conclusive with the accession to the RYŚ Program by the WFOŚiGW in Krakow. Taking up actions in this respect is conditioned by the positive consideration of the application for co-financing by the National and Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. These activities are informative and introductory in view of the willingness to obtain information about the beneficiaries’ interest in participating in the aforementioned program.

Beneficiaries of the program may be natural persons, local self-government entities and non-governmental organizations (including foundations, associations, churches, religious associations), having ownership rights to a single-family residential building. A single-family residential building is to be construed as a stand-alone building or semi-detached, multi-family or complex development being a self-contained unit intended for residential use in at least half of the total area.

On 15 January 2016 Małopolska Regional Parliament adopted a resolution prohibiting the use of solid fuels in Kraków. Resolution covers the area of the Kraków city and prohibits burning coal and wood in boilers, stoves and fireplaces from 1 September 2019. Using only gaseous fuels, oil, renewable energy sources and district heating will be allowed.

The vast majority of citizens in Krakow participating in the public consultation have supported the introduction of the resolution. Comments and conclusions reported almost 4.8 thousand individuals, organizations and institutions and over 96% of them supported a complete ban on the use of solid fuels in Krakow. Krakow has become the first city in Poland, which was covered by these rules.

The content of the resolution (in Polish)

The public consultation on the draft resolution of the Malopolska Regional Assembly concerning the introduction of restrictions for the operation of fuel combustion installations included a public hearing held on Friday, 27 November on this project.

Each participant of the meeting was given the opportunity to speak and express their opinions, comments or motions to the draft resolution. Nearly 30 people spoke.

The public consultation of the draft resolution lasts until 8 December 2015 and the content of the document can be found on the website: www.malopolska.pl/antysmogowa.

By 8 December 2015, a public consultation on the draft resolution of the Malopolska Regional Assembly is being held on the introduction of restrictions concerning the operation of fuel combustion installations in the municipality of Krakow.

The document is available on the Public Information Bulletin of the Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region, at www.malopolska.pl/antysmogowa. Comments and motions to the draft resolution can be submitted electronically to the following e-mail address: [email protected] or in writing to the following address: Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region, Environment Department, 30-017 Krakow, 56 Racławicka.

In addition, on 27 November 2015 at 6:00 pm in the Congress Center of the University of Agriculture, 29 Listopada Avenue 46 in Krakow, there will be a public hearing on the draft resolution.

The draft of the new resolution was adopted by the Management Board of the Malopolska Region on November 12, 2015 simultaneously with the entry into force of the amendment of the Environmental Protection Law which extended the scope of the legal basis for the adoption of this resolution. According to the new wording of Art. 96 of the Act, the Malopolska Regional Assembly can, by way of a resolution, in order to prevent negative effects on human health or the environment, introduce restrictions or prohibitions concerning the operation of installations in which fuel combustion takes place.

The draft resolution subject to official consultations takes into account the remarks of the majority of the inhabitants involved in the initial consultations concerning the assumptions of the resolution. The vast majority of people voted in favor of introducing a complete ban on solid fuels in Krakow for heating individual buildings.

TVP Krakow  prepared another series of episodes entitled “Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere” commissioned by the Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region. This is a continuation of the broadcast program aimed at promoting actions taken by self-government units to reduce air pollution in the Malopolska Region.

You are invited to watch!

Małopolska in healthy atmosphere- part 4 (ep. concerning transport emissions)

Małopolska in healthy atmosphere- part 5(ep. concerning thermo-modernization)

Małopolska in healthy atmosphere- part 5(ep. concerning low emissions  )

The program was funded by the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Cracow.

The amendment of the Environmental Protection Law adopted on 10 September 2015 makes it possible to introduce restrictions not only on the types of fuels allowed but also on emission requirements from heating installations. On this basis, the assumptions of the new resolution of the Malopolska Region Sejmik have been prepared, which will introduce in the area of Krakow restrictions on the operation of installations in which fuel combustion takes place.

The proposed resolution provides for the use of only gas fuels, light fuel oil and biomass only in boilers and furnaces (e.g. furnaces, fireplaces, goats). The use of biomass will only be possible in installations that meet the particulate matter emission requirements at the level:

• 40 mg/m³ for boilers with automatic fuel supply,
• 50 mg/m³ for local room heaters with open combustion chamber,
• 40 mg/m³ for local room heaters with closed combustion chamber using biomass other than pressed wood in the form of pellets,
• 20 mg/m³ for local room heaters with closed combustion chamber using pelletized wood.

The indicated emission level corresponds to the requirements of EU Commission Regulations implementing the Ecodesign Directive and will apply throughout the European Union for solid fuel boilers placed on the market and usable from 2020 and local solid fuel boilers marketed and used from 2022.

At the same time, the use of hand-fed boilers and those with emergency grids will also be banned, as well as multi-fuel installations that will not meet the emissions requirements for all fuels approved for use.

The new regulations will be effective from September 1, 2018.

Discussion concerning the draft version of the resolution was addressed to the general public. By October 31, 2015, anyone can submit their comments and requests to the following e-mail address: [email protected] or in writing to: Environment Department, Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region, 56 Racławicka, 31-534 Krakow.

Assumptions of the new “anti-smog resolution” for Krakow

Malopolska Region on behalf of all 45 partners submitted to the European Commission a full proposal for LIFE Integrated Project. Preparation of the proposal was possible thanks to the commitment and support of all partners who were actively involved at every stage providing the necessary information.

The total value of the project is 16.8 million euro and the requested funding from the LIFE Programme is 9.9 million euro. In addition funding from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management is planned of 4.8 million euro and from the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow of 0.9 million euro.

According to the expected schedule, assessment of the application by the European Commission experts will last until August. In the case of a positive decision to co-finance the project, its implementation will begin in October 2015 and will last eight years – until December 2023.

The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management declared co-financing implementation of the LIFE Integrated Project in Malopolska of 4.8 million Euro. Confirmation of the grant is conditional on European Commission’s decision to grant project from the LIFE Programme.

Also the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow declared co-financing of project of 896,000 Euro.

Full proposal for LIFE IP will be submitted to the European Commission to 17th of April 2015. The final decision to grant funding for the project will not be known until September 2015.

In the the unique scenery of the historic train station in Rabka-Zdroj, partners signed an agreement jointly applying for LIFE Integrated Project aimed at improving air quality in Malopolska. In the ceremony took part Wojciech Kozak, Deputy Marshal of the Malopolska Region, mayors and representatives of all 38 municipalities participating in the project, Polish National Energy Conservation Agency, Energy Savings Company ESCO and Krakow Smog Alert Association. The agreement was also signed by representatives of institutions supporting the implementation of the project: President of the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow and Regional Inspector of Environmental Protection.

Agreement of LIFE Integrated Project partners (in Polish)

LIFE Integrated Project for Malopolska (in Polish)

Polish Minister of Environment Maciej Grabowski presented in Krakow objectives of the National Air Quality Plan – a strategic document at the government level to solve the problem of air pollution.
Marshal of the Malopolska Region Marek Sowa presented possibility of co-financing actions from Regional Operational Programme of the Malopolska Region 2014-2020, which allocated with a total of 420 million euros to emission reduction.
Already implemented actions in reducing emissions summed up Wojciech Kozak, Deputy Marshal of the Malopolska Region, who also emphasized the importance of planned implementation of LIFE Integrated Project in Małopolska.
Invited representatives of authorities and organisations signed the “Agreement for clean air” declaring their willingness to cooperate to improve air quality in Poland.

Małopolska Region on behalf of 44 co-beneficiaries formally request the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management for co-funding LIFE Integrated Project for Małopolska in amount of about 5 million euro (30% of eligible costs).

Submitting full proposal to the European Commission for funding 60% of project costs from LIFE financial instrument is planned by 17th of April.

On 11th of February at Marshal’s Office was held a conference presenting concept of LIFE Integrated Project for Malopolska. The conference had a scientific debate with the participation of representatives of Krakow universities: Jagiellonian University, the University of Agriculture, Cracow University of Technology and the University of Science and Technology, as well as international guests: representatives of Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute and VITO NV from Belgium – the largest research organization in Belgium in field of air quality.

The meeting was attended by Wojciech Kozak – Deputy Marshal of the Malopolska Region, who listened to the comments and proposals and received numerous compliments from the scientific community for taking important effort to improve air quality in Malopolska.

Concept of LIFE IP for Malopolska Region (in Polish)

Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region organized workshop with international partners of LIFE IP project: Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic and VITO NV (Belgium).

At the meeting were agreed details of preparation of common emission database and air quality modeling in Małopolska, Slovakia and Czech Republic.

Concept of LIFE IP for Malopolska Region

On Monday 9th of February Stijn Janssen, who directs the modeling team at VITO (Belgium), presented the experience of preparation of this type of model for other cities: Antwerp, Glasgow and Graz.

The use of high resolution modeling to evaluate the effects of different scenarios to reduce emissions from transport in Krakow is planned as part of LIFE Integrated Project on implementing Air Quality Plan in Małopolska Region.

At the second meeting of LIFE IP partners, we summarized information about the concept of Ecomanagers, planned expenditure and key elements of the Excellence center to support the activities of Ecomanagers in municipalities.
The second part of the workshop was dedicated to the concept of media campaigns and educational activities, which are planned as part of the LIFE Integrated Project.

Excellence Centre for Ecomanagers (in Polish)

Media campaign in LIFE project (in Polish)

Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region held first workshop of future partners of LIFE Integrated Project aimed at implementation of the Air Quality Plan. Workshop was a part of impementation LIFE Technical Assistance project.

The main topic of the meeting was to discuss the concept of Ecomanagers – profile, recruitment procedures, methods of evaluation and motivation and priorities for cooperation with other entities in the municipality and at regional level.

Presentation on the concept of LIFE IP in Malopolska (in Polish)

Presentation on the concept of Ecomanagers (in Polish)

Malopolska Region in cooperation with a partner – Association Krakow Smog Alert, has started implementation of LIFE technical assistance project. This is the first project of its kind in Poland and one of the first in the Europe as technical assistance projects were introduced to the LIFE Programme in 2014.

The main objective of the project is preparation of a full proposal for LIFE Integrated Project for implementation of Air quality plan in Małopolska Region. LIFE TA project is co-financed by the European Commission of 47 906 EUR.