Coal in Poland

144 million metric tons of coal was mined in 2012, providing 55 percent of that country's primary energy consumption.

In September 2020, the government and mining union agreed a plan to phase out coal by 2049,[5] but this has been criticised by environmentalists as too late to be compatible with the Paris Agreement to limit climate change.

[8][9] The effectiveness of this decision has been questioned as any trade ban would be likely to contravene European Union (EU) rules because the vast majority of Russian coal is imported by private companies.

This includes decreasing coal's share in electricity from 68.5% in 2020 to 11–56% by 2040, influenced by European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS) prices.

This move is crucial for these companies to reduce their direct exposure to coal, enabling them to regain access to financial markets and to fund further investments in renewable energy and other sustainable technologies.

Pollution of coal mines in Poland caused approximately 630 cases of chronic bronchitis, 1,310 admissions to the hospitals, in total 359,200 and 27,830 asthma attacks for children under 18 years.

[15] In April 2008, five thousand people demonstrated in Kruszwica to protect cultural heritage and the nature reserve at Lake Gopło, against the Tomisławice opencast mine, which was due to open in 2009.