Poland President signs renewable energy and greenwashing laws

President Karol Nawrocki has signed two significant pieces of legislation aimed at advancing the energy transition and protecting consumers.

The amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Act, prepared by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, introduces an auction-based support system for biomethane production facilities with a capacity exceeding 1 MW. The law also establishes rules for pipelines used to transport biogas, agricultural biogas, and biomethane. Additionally, the regulations provide new facilities for prosumers regarding energy storage and electricity settlement, while streamlining the operations of energy cooperatives.

Separately, a new law targeting greenwashing has been signed to combat misleading environmental claims. Under these rules, companies can no longer use vague terms such as ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘climate-neutral’ without verifiable evidence. Environmental claims must now be part of a realistic, detailed, and publicly accessible plan, with regular verification required by independent experts. Furthermore, ‘green’ labels and eco-labels must be based on a certification system or established by a public authority. The law specifically prohibits declaring climate neutrality based solely on carbon offsetting, such as tree planting.