Poland archive
Polish residents finally able to breathe clean air as coking plant closes
Residents of Czerwionka-Leszczyny, a town in Silesia, Poland, have succeeded in closing the town’s highly polluting coking plant.
Poland’s breach of nature laws shows importance of access to justice for environment
Last month, the European Commission initiated infringement proceedings against the Polish government for breaching nature protection laws.
NGOs denied access to Court in Polish air quality case
The Supreme Administrative Court of Poland ruled that NGOs do not have legal standing in cases relating to the penalties that may be imposed on local authorities for exceeding deadlines for the adoption of Air Quality Programs.
EU takes legal action against Polish government for breaking nature laws
The Commission is urging Polish decision-makers to ensure proper safeguards are in place for protected forests, as recent changes to Polish laws have set off alarm bells for nature protection.
ClientEarth supports Poles in their fight against industrial emissions
ClientEarth is supporting residents of Mielec, a city in south-eastern Poland, who recently organised some of the largest ever environmental protests in the country.
Polish coking plant finally confirms closure after ClientEarth intervention
The owner of Debiensko coking plant in Silesia, Poland, has confirmed that it will stop operating in September, after years of efforts from local residents and a recent intervention from environmental law organisation ClientEarth.
Polish government confirms it will half-comply with EU Court order on illegal logging – minutes after press conference highlights failure to act
The Polish government has half-complied with EU judges’ order to reverse its illegal decision on logging in Bialowieza Forest, 20 minutes after environmentalists held a press conference highlighting its failure to act.
Final judgment of the EU Court of Justice: logging in Bialowieza Forest breaks EU law
The EU’s top court ruled today that increased logging in Bialowieza Forest violates EU law. The ruling comes into force immediately.
Means to improve access to justice in environmental cases discussed during workshop in Poland
On 21 March 2018, ClientEarth together with the Polish Ombudsman held a national workshop in Warsaw on access to justice in environmental matters.
Polish tourist town illegally charged clean air fees, rules top Polish court
Tourists who are visiting one of Poland’s favourite visitor destinations will be safe to assume they won’t be getting charged to breathe clean air… at least for the time being.
Supreme Administrative Court of Poland denies local resident the right to challenge air quality program
In January 2018 the Supreme Administrative Court of Poland upheld the decision of the Regional Administrative Court denying standing to a resident, to challenge the air quality program adopted by the Silesian Regional Assembly.
Poland breaks EU air pollution laws with illegal levels of PM10
Poland has broken European air pollution laws by continuing to exceed annual limits of particulate matter (PM10) in the air – the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled.
Logging in Bialowieza Forest is illegal, says proposed ruling
The Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the EU has today issued a legal opinion confirming that increased logging in Poland’s Bialowieza Forest breached EU nature laws. The final ruling will be published in a couple of weeks.
What you need to know: The culmination of the Bialowieza Forest case
The next few weeks are of real importance in the Białowieża Forest case. In this Q&A we cover everything you need to know about our battle to save Europe’s last primeval forest.
Save Europe’s ancient forest, environment minister told
ClientEarth and other ecological groups have asked the new environment minister to grant the entire Bialowieza Forest national park status.
Insurers may face legal questions if they keep propping up coal
The argument for underwriting coal is on ever shakier ground, but many European companies are still fuelling the fire.
Poland may be forced to pay up over illegal air pollution
Poland faces the threat of a hefty fine if the EU’s highest court finds it is still breaking pollution laws.
Polish minister who ordered illegal logging of Bialowieza Forest dismissed
Poland’s environment minister Jan Szyszko has been dismissed from his job. He was responsible for ordering a three-fold increase in logging in Bialowieza Forest – which ClientEarth and other environmental groups have fought.
Water management cannot be out of public control
The Court of Justice ruled that environmental NGOs must have the right to participate in water permit proceedings and to challenge them before courts.
2017: A big year for Białowieża Forest – and the battle to protect it
We started 2017 determined to do all we could to help save one of the most precious forests in Europe, the ancient Białowieża Forest.
Highest EU Court hears Bialowieza illegal logging case, hopefully for the last time
The hearing that took place today at the Court of Justice of the EU should finally decide whether Polish environment minister Jan Szyszko broke the law when he allowed increased logging in Białowieża Forest. The verdict is expected in early 2018.
The challenge of challenging air quality programs in Poland – The Silesian air quality program and the issue of standing
In February 2016, a resident of the town of Rybnik located in the region of Silesia, Poland, demanded that the Silesian Regional Assembly amend the air quality program it had adopted in 2014 for the region of Silesia.
Poland, bison, and exemptions from nature protection laws
ClientEarth is challenging two decisions allowing the killing of up to 40 bison in Eastern Poland. The European bison, an extremely rare animal, is under strict protection.
Polish authorities face fines of €100,000 per day over illegal Bialowieza logging, court rules
The Court of Justice has today upheld the emergency ban on logging in Bialowieza Forest, saying it will impose fines of at least €100,000 a day if Poland’s Environment Minister keeps ignoring the Court’s decisions.