Polish Senate Rejects President Nawrocki's EU Climate Policy Referendum

President Karol Nawrocki submitted a second request to the Polish Senate for a national referendum on the European Union's climate policy, commonly referred to as the Green Deal. The revised question asks voters whether they support Poland implementing the EU climate agenda, after an earlier wording that linked the policy to rising living costs was rejected.

The governing coalition, which holds a majority in the Senate, voted to reject the proposal for a second time, scheduling the debate and vote for Wednesday evening with limited media coverage. The president’s office argues that the EU climate plan is costly and ineffective, citing an estimated 3.5 trillion zlotys in expenses for Poland through 2040 and potential shifts in industry and agriculture. The referendum would have covered measures such as CO₂ emission fees, mandatory building retrofits, bans on new gasoline cars from 2035, and other climate‑related costs.

The Senate’s decision follows constitutional rules that place the authority to approve referenda with the upper house, and it signals continued resistance from the ruling coalition to the president’s push for a public vote on the EU climate agenda.