With the colour green today, we are joining forces with cities committed to reducing greenhouse gases from the C40 Cities organisation. It's been exactly 5 years since the Paris Agreement was signed, intended to limit the increase in global temperatures and combat climate change. On this occasion, the Palace of Culture and Science was illuminated in gree
For these goals to be met, cities need to be proactive. #Warszawa is and intends to continue to be a leader in this area. We are investing in, among other things, clean public transport, renewable energy sources, greening the city and making the capital energy efficient - by taking a range of measures and increasingly ambitious targets to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible - by 2050 at the latest. Caring for us - the residents, future generations as well as the environment.
Through this global solidarity action, we want to remind people how vital it is for the fate of our planet that the objectives of the agreement are fulfilled.
On 12 December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted, with almost 190 countries joining. The Agreement is the first ever universal and legally binding climate pact. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of its adoption, the Palace of Culture and Science will be symbolically illuminated in green. This is a global solidarity campaign. This is our message: we want to remind you how important the fulfilment of the agreement’s goals is for the future of our planet.
The Paris Agreement defines a global action plan to protect us from the threat of far-reaching climate change. It aims to limit global warming to less than 2°C and keep it at 1.5°C. The Agreement also endeavours to improve countries’ ability to cope with the effects of climate change and to provide them with support.
The Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski emphasises the huge role of cities, regions and local authorities in counteracting climate change. Warsaw is pursuing an active climate policy intended to contribute to the Capital’s fulfilment of its obligations under the Agreement. The city pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent [GA(1] by 2030 and to become climate neutral by 2050. We want to achieve this by investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, low-carbon transport and greening the Capital City. At the same time, we are counting on effective and bold government action to transform the country’s energy system in line with Europe’s new green deal.
The Green Vision for Warsaw
On 3 December 2020 Warsaw launched the project Green City Action Plan. A flagship programme of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development dedicated to large cities (over 100,000 population) that are willing to pursue an effective policy of sustainable development.
Ultimately, the project will produce a set of tailor-made measures for Warsaw. An integral part of the resulting recommendations and investment proposals will be a plan for their implementation as well as estimated costs, including indication of financing sources and methods of their implementation.
The Warsaw Climate Panel
Warsaw is actively listening to its citizens and involving them in the efforts to combat climate change. In November this year we organised the first ever citizens’ panel in the city devoted to the subject of climate change. It was participated by 90 randomly selected Warsaw residents. The aim of the Warsaw Climate Panel was for the panellists to develop recommendations on increasing the capital's energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy sources in powering the city.
Out of 93 recommendations allowed for voting, 49 were supported by at least 80 percent of participants. The Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski made a commitment that these recommendations will be implemented by the city. These recommendations can be read on the Panel's website.