New law on environmental crimes in force since 10 June 2011
There are now more acts against the environment punishable as crimes. In some cases members of the management board of a company may be held responsible.
New Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allowance Trading Scheme Act
The Polish Parliament has adopted a new act governing the functioning of the scheme for trading in greenhouse gas emissions allowances.
Will businesses flee Poland?
The European Commission wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95% by 2050. What effect could that have on the Polish economy, in which about 90% of electricity comes from high-emission sources?
A preparation is now a mixture
The Act on Chemical Substances and Mixtures (Dz.U. 2011 No. 63 item 322), adopted by the Polish Parliament in February, went into effect on 8 April 2011. There are numerous changes, but they are not revolutionary.
Climate change impacts airborne sleigh traffic
As an operator of seasonal reindeer-powered sleigh flights, is Santa Clause required to pay a fee for generating greenhouse gases on the same basis as airlines?
Tough new regulations on industrial emissions
On 8 November 2010 the Council of the European Union approved the Industrial Emissions Directive which was passed in July by the European Parliament. The directive replaces seven different EU legal acts now in force.
Tougher sanctions for environmental offences
On 14 September 2010 the Polish Government approved the guidelines for an act amending the Penal Code and other acts relating to environmental offences.
New authority for environmental inspectors to issue fines
The list of offences for which inspectors may impose fines by issuing a notice of penalty to violators has been expanded.
Almost PLN 300 million for pro-climate investments
Poland’s National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management has announced the first four competitions for financing of green investment projects, in a total amount of nearly PLN 300 million.
Court rules on stay of enforcement of environmental decision
An environmental decision is not a basis for commencing implementation of a development project, and thus it does not entail a threat of significant harm or irreversible effects that would justify a stay of enforcement.
Environmental decisions assignable from 20 July 2010
Transferability of environmental decisions, which was possible under Polish law prior to November 2008, has now been restored. The gap caused major difficulties for investors carrying out projects that could have a significant environmental impact.
Izabela Zielińska-Barłożek: Prison for pollution
An interview with Izabela Zielińska-Barłożek, a partner at Wardyński & Partners who directs the Environmental Law practice group
