Clean Air Forum: Energy Transformation for Generations
Another Clean Air Forum was held on 20-21 March at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. The event, organised by the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, the Mazowiecka Energy Agency and the City of Warsaw, brought together experts, local government officials and representatives of institutions related to environmental protection. The Forum was also attended by representatives of the Environmental Department of the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region.
What are the challenges for Poland?
The Forum aimed to discuss the key challenges of improving air quality and energy transition in Poland. During the two-day programme, participants had the opportunity to take part in inspiring debates, lectures and workshops, which included:
- air quality priorities at the European, national and regional levels,
- effective methods of implementing the energy transition,
- fighting energy poverty,
- best practices of local governments in the field of air protection,
- the role of education and air quality monitoring,
- sources of financing ecological activities.
What was happening during the Forum?
The first day of the Forum began with a press conference and an opening session, during which speakers included Adam Struzik, Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, Tomasz Mencina, Deputy Mayor of the City of Warsaw, and Bartosz Dubiński, President of the Mazowiecka Energy Agency. The following hours were filled with debates on air quality policy in the context of the current economic, geopolitical and social situation.
On the second day, participants focused on the topics of energy transition, the key competences and human resources needed to accelerate change and the challenges of energy poverty.
An important point on the agenda was a debate on public education, in which Kinga Radoń, Director of the Environmental Department of the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region, actively participated. The panel entitled “How to change residents’ awareness? – Education, information and air quality monitoring” was devoted to ways of effectively involving the community in pro-environmental activities and methods of building awareness among residents. The role of innovative educational tools and technologies supporting real-time air quality monitoring was also discussed.
Lessons for the future
The Clean Air Forum became an important venue for local governments, NGOs and environmental experts to exchange knowledge and experience. A key conclusion from the event was the need for wide-ranging cooperation between different sectors in order to implement environmental measures more effectively. The role of educating the public as one of the most important tools in the fight for cleaner air and sustainable energy development in Poland was also emphasised. The event was undoubtedly an important step towards long-term action on environmental protection.
