Experts from the National Centre for Emissions Balancing and Management (KOBiZE) and the Centre for Climate and Energy Analysis (CAKE), operating within the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute (IOŚ-PIB), are actively participating in this year’s COP29 climate summit. During the session “The EU Clean Industrial Deal – what to expect?” at the Greek Pavilion, key issues were discussed, including the impact of the global geopolitical situation on climate policy and negotiations. The discussion was based on the findings of the work and analyses carried out under the LIFE VIIEW 2050 project.
The event took the form of a panel discussion moderated by Joanna Pandera, President of the Forum of Energy. Among the participants were Robert Jeszke, Deputy Director of IOŚ-PIB and Head of KOBiZE/CAKE, Jan Dusík, Deputy Director-General of DG CLIMA at the European Commission, and Rosana Santos, Executive Director of E+ in Brazil.
The panelists emphasized that while the global geopolitical situation significantly impacts climate policy and negotiations, actions in this area continue, and changes on the international stage are becoming increasingly visible. “EU emissions are falling, so we are on the right track. And we still need to be ambitious, there is no other starting point” – stated Jan Dusík.
Robert Jeszke discussed how climate change mitigation policy could be shaped, emphasizing the need for global coordination, including mechanisms such as carbon pricing. Referring to the discussion on CBAM, he stated that although the carbon border adjustment mechanism may lose significance, the development of carbon pricing solutions is already evident in many countries. CBAM could play a role in catalyzing these processes.
Rosana Santos highlighted the diversity of climate challenges across different regions. She informed that Brazil recently passed a law establishing an emissions trading system based on European Union experiences. “However, we must consider the diversity of countries and regions— in Brazil, 75% of emissions come from deforestation and agriculture, so the distribution of priorities in the climate policy toolkit should be somewhat different from that of the EU and other developed countries” – she added.
Director Jeszke also addressed the upcoming Polish presidency in the EU Council, drawing attention to the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine and the various conditions surrounding energy transition in EU member states. He stressed the need to consider social sensitivities, particularly regarding energy affordability, as well as the mobilization of private capital for investments in renewable energy, energy storage, and nuclear power.
Despite the challenging topics raised by the panelists, all expressed a strong commitment to finding effective and acceptable pathways to achieving climate neutrality.
