- 4d ago
Polish deputy climate minister Mikołaj Dorożała resigns over policy clashes
Poland's Chief Nature Conservator and Deputy Climate Minister Mikołaj Dorożała stepped down on Friday following policy disputes with Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska, with MP Sławomir Ćwik set to succeed him.
- Aug 23
Police investigate suspected arson of DIOZ animal welfare van in Podhale after Morskie Oko protest
A 500,000 PLN animal rescue vehicle burned down in Groń following protests against horse transport to Morskie Oko, prompting a police arson inquiry and a 1 million PLN legal fundraiser.
- Aug 21
Poland collects 3.2 billion deposit containers as ministry moves to extend voucher validity
Poland collected 3.2 billion deposit containers through July 2026 as the climate ministry prepared legislation to extend voucher validity and include single-use glass.
- Aug 12
TVN investigation alleges Elemental Holding falsified waste transports; minister freezes 1 billion złoty subsidy
Superwizjer TVN alleges Elemental Holding ran fictitious waste transports and falsified documents to claim recycling funds, prompting Finance Minister Domański to freeze a 1 billion złoty subsidy and order special oversight.
- Aug 9
Activists block horse-drawn carriages to Morskie Oko as dispute over fasiągi reignites
Animal rights activists blocked horse-drawn carriages at Palenica Białczańska on 8 August, demanding an end to the fasiągi service to Morskie Oko. Police intervened as protesters stepped in front of horses, a woman fainted, and a horse stumbled on the trail.
- Aug 3
Poland’s government removes free tap water rule from bill, coalition minister vows to bring it back
Poland's government has backtracked on a plan to require restaurants to serve free tap water, removing the provision from a packaging waste bill just days before it was due to take effect. A senior minister from a coalition partner immediately promised to fight for its return.
- Jul 18
Nawrocki to resubmit EU climate referendum request after Commission’s ETS reform, calling it cosmetic
President Karol Nawrocki will again ask the Senate to authorise a national referendum on EU climate policy, his office announced on 18 July 2026, one day after the European Commission presented its long-awaited ETS reform.
- Jul 18
European Commission proposes a softer ETS: billions for Poland from a fund extended to 2040, critics call it a cosmetic tweak
The European Commission proposed a revision of its emissions trading system on 17 July 2026, slowing the pace of CO2 allowance cuts and extending free permits, but left the core architecture untouched despite months of pressure from ten member states led by Poland and Italy.
- Jul 12
Poland’s ruling coalition gets a new party as Hennig-Kloska launches Unia Centrum from the ashes of Poland 2050 split
Climate minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska and MEP Michał Kobosko unveiled Unia Centrum on Sunday, merging the Centrum parliamentary club and the Union of European Democrats. The party formalises a February 2026 rupture inside Poland 2050 and enters the scene with 0.1 percent poll support.
- Jul 6
PiS demands resignations and EU complaint after 15 tonnes of fish die in Bóbr River
Poland's opposition Law and Justice party has called for the climate minister's resignation and announced an EU environmental complaint after 15 tonnes of dead fish were pulled from the Bóbr River following a dam drainage.
- Jul 3
President Nawrocki widens lead in Polish trust poll, Tusk distrust climbs to 49%
President Karol Nawrocki regained lost ground in the latest CBOS trust survey, pulling ahead of his rivals after two months of decline, while Prime Minister Donald Tusk saw distrust grow to 49%.
- Jul 2
Draining of Pilchowice reservoir for dam repairs kills thousands of fish and prompts crisis response
The partial draining of the Pilchowice reservoir in Lower Silesia to repair a damaged dam has led to a mass die-off of fish, with tons of carcasses contaminating the Bóbr River and prompting health warnings and political controversy.
- Jun 26
Poland's deposit system collects 1.6 billion containers in first half-year, but public criticism mounts
The government touts rapid growth, but over half of Poles rate the system negatively and complain about too few reverse vending machines.
- Jun 16
Wrocław establishes first nature reserve within city limits, protecting 13-hectare Las Pilczycki forest at Odra confluence
On 15 June 2026, Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska opened Wrocław's first nature reserve, the 13.21-hectare Las Pilczycki riparian forest at the Ślęza-Odra confluence, home to rare woodpeckers, bats, otters and beavers.
