Karski, Leszek --- "Climate law in Poland: towards an overall regulation" [2012] ELECD 1214; in Peeters, Marjan; Stallworthy, Mark; de Cendra de Larragán, Javier (eds), "Climate Law in EU Member States" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012) 231

Book Title: Climate Law in EU Member States

Editor(s): Peeters, Marjan; Stallworthy, Mark; de Cendra de Larragán, Javier

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781002773

Section: Chapter 11

Section Title: Climate law in Poland: towards an overall regulation

Author(s): Karski, Leszek

Number of pages: 28

Abstract/Description:

The climate change challenges to the Polish legislator stem from both the current condition of some sectors of the economy and the global character of climate law. Global law, as a combined system of the current regulations at international, regional (EU) and national level, is well suited to cope with the problems besetting all of mankind. At the same time, implementation of the objectives of international law into regional (EU) and national law encounters a number of barriers. These barriers boil down to some deeply rooted divisions between the systems of law and a reluctance to allow transfer of certain regulations between the systems. The barriers are also axiological in character. The socio-economic transformation that took place in Poland starting from the early 1990s entailed significant social costs. Unwilling to add to those burdens, the state for a long time tried to avoid raising the costs of modernization in certain sectors. This significant lack of investment in rebuilding the infrastructure is largely the reason why the costs of additional emission reduction are now so high. On the other hand, it should be emphasized that a massive reduction of gas and particle emissions, including greenhouse gases, has been achieved thanks to, among other factors, a unique system of financing environmental protection. The substantial funds thus generated for the protection of air produced an effect that is unique on the global scale.