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MINISTRY
OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Warsaw, 15 May 2008
Press Release
On 14 May 2008, on the
occasion of the 2008 Earth Day, the Academic Forum was held in the Warsaw
Palace of Culture and Science to discuss global warming issues, as titled
"Between Bali and Poznan; Poland's facing climate change: Science, Economy,
Policy, Society".
The agenda included four
thematic panels: science, economy, policy, society.
The Science Panel provided
for presentations on scientific research on global climate warming, which
involves growth of the mean global temperature. Several theories try to
explain this phenomenon including those driven by the space, earth, and
human factors. Dr Krzysztof Olszewski presented astonishing and optimistic
scientific theory, following which cultivation of maize for kernel or vine
plants will be soon possible in Poland. Unfortunately, there is also an
opposite theory which suggests unfavourable temperature impacts on water
reservoirs (natural loss of water resources and decline in water management).
Dr. Konrad Bajer concluded that the mankind will be yet for a long time
period unaware of the reasons which form the background of climate change
and those are to much extent independent upon anthropogenic factor.
Economic Panel was dedicated
to economic impacts of climate change. Dr Witold Lenard presented both
strengths and weaknesses of the global warming, i.e. expansion of vegetation
and general economic period, enhanced availability of new areas for investments
and living, recreation, but also economic conflicts caused by imbalanced
economic growth between countries. Hazards and also new opportunities emerging
to energy generation plants were presented by Mr. Roman Szramka who emphasised
that involvement of economic operators into enhancement of energy efficiency
and investments in use of renewable energy sources could not only reduce
the costs of adaptation to new environmental requirements, but would be
also capable of improvement in their financial condition.
During the Political Panel,
Dr. Janusz Radziejowski and Dr. Jacek Ja¶kiewicz presented the policy issues
in the context of climate change and related conflicts between States in
spite of their individual different aspirations. Dr Ja¶kiewicz perceives
an opportunity to halting climate change in pursue of the principles of
sustainable development.
The social panel included
the role of the general public in the actions which could contribute to
reduction of pollutant emissions. Dr Anna Kalinowska presented the methods
to raise awareness and educate people and their communities. The tasks
to be possibly performed to this end by non-governmental organisations
were presented by Dr Zbigniew Karaczun (provision of information on the
effects of actions and negligence in the social, economic, environmental
and political dimensions).
The Forum was concluded with
general discussion.
The Conference was
financed with the resources of Financial Mechanism of the European Economic
Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism
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