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