Instrat Foundation report warns of accelerated coal phase-out in Poland

A report by the Instrat Foundation indicates that coal mining in Poland may cease much sooner than the current 2049 target established in the Social Agreement. This shift is driven by declining market demand and European Union climate policies.

While Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic remain the largest coal producers and consumers in the EU, their transition strategies differ. The Czech Republic aims to end lignite mining by 2033, and Germany by 2038, whereas experts suggest Poland's timeline requires urgent updating due to economic viability concerns.

The report highlights that the transition will impact 66 Polish counties differently. Based on labor markets, wages, and development potential, these areas have been categorized into five distinct clusters: Mining counties with potential, Mining and rural peripheries, Average coal and post-coal counties, Large cities with mining ties, and the Coal core.