The Wielkopolska region wants to realise the idea of zero-emission in 2040 – ten years earlier than the EU’s intentions. EU funds from the LIFE programme are to help in this initiative – in particular the „Life After Coal – Implementing a Climate Neutrality Strategy for Eastern Wielkopolska 2040” project.

The project is scheduled to be implemented over a nine-year period and will commence in the new year. The Wielkopolskie Voivodeship successfully applied for EU funding from CINEA – the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Climate Infrastructure and Environment. It received more than 51 million PLN of EU support, which will enable the implementation of a project worth 85 million PLN.

The project’s beneficiaries include the districts of Konin, Słupca and Turek; the cities of Ostrów Wlkp., Kalisz and Konin; the communes of: Brudzew, Dąbie, Dobra, Golina, Grodziec, Kawęczyn, Kazimierz Biskupi, Kleczew, Kramsk, Krzymów, Lądek, Malanów, Powidz, Przykona, Rychwał, Rzgów, Słupca, Sompolno, Stare Miasto, Ślesin, Tuliszków, Turek, Wągrowiec, Wilczyn, Wierzbinek and Władysławów.

“The introduction of zero-emission sources will have a positive impact on the climate and our air quality”, emphasised Marshall Marek Woźniak during the project’s inaugural meeting in Poznań.

The LIFE programme is a financial instrument of the European Union dedicated exclusively to the co-financing of projects serving environmental protection and actions mitigating and adapting to climate change. Its main objective is to support the implementation of Community environmental law, the implementation of EU pro-environmental and pro-climate policy, as well as to identify and promote new solutions.

The eastern Wielkopolska region is currently responsible for 60 % of the greenhouse gas emissions of the entire region. According to the voivodship’s authorities, the experience, innovations, and solutions gained will in time benefit the entire voivodship and other coal regions in Poland and Europe.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński