Poland’s Economic Recovery and Its Implications for Energy Use and Air Pollution

Since the transition from centrally planned to market economy started in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the early 1990s, the conditions for energy use have changed significantly. The former system left the countries in the southern and eastern Baltic region with a strong dependence on fossil fuels and an inefficient energy use, which made them exceedingly polluting compared to the countries of the western Baltic region. Are there any signs that this situation is improving? This chapter takes a closer look at Poland — the country in CEE where the transition started. The chapter reviews recent changes in Poland’s energy use and air pollution against the backdrop of its recent economic recovery and discusses to what extent the Polish trends are discernible in other parts of the eastern Baltic region.