Poland's forthcoming government, led by the Civic Platform and allied parties, intends to hasten the nation's departure from coal and significantly amplify green energy sources, as revealed by lawmaker Paulina Hennig-Kloska, a potential climate minister. The proposed changes outline an ambitious vision for Poland's energy transformation, where renewable energy is set to contribute to 68% of the nation's energy production, coupled with a proposal to ban coal in household heating post-2030. Hennig-Kloska's party, Polska 2050, goes further, aiming to achieve a complete abandonment of coal by 2040 and striving for carbon neutrality by 2050, a decade earlier than the proposed target.

These proposed initiatives stand in contrast to the previous Law and Justice party's position, which advocated for a slower transition and criticized the EU's accelerated pursuit of climate neutrality. As the EU's most coal-reliant member, Poland currently derives about 70% of its electricity from fossil fuels. To address rising carbon emissions impacting energy costs, Poland is looking to invest in offshore wind and nuclear power to replace aging coal-based plants, although the majority of this new capacity is expected to come online by the next decade.

The incoming administration aims to expedite this transition, prioritizing renewable and nuclear energy while curbing emissions. Additionally, the coalition is keen on shielding consumers from soaring energy prices and plans to introduce measures estimated to cost billions of zlotys. Immediate steps include facilitating investment in onshore wind projects and reinstating mandatory electricity sales via exchanges by energy companies. The new government, anticipated to assume office in mid-December, will also confront the task of divesting coal assets from state-controlled power utilities.

Hennig-Kloska expressed support for the divestment of coal assets but opposes the formation of a single state entity, as proposed by the previous government. Instead, she advocates against creating a new monopoly, emphasizing the evolving challenges associated with coal-generated electricity.