‘Today we are sending an important message from Warsaw to Durban,’said Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament. ‘Climateprotection is possible provided that we base the production of energyon advanced technological solutions,’ he added.
‘I’m glad that science has such a significant place in thediscussion. All the more so because we really want energy to be one themost important elements of the 8th EU Framework Programme, which isbeing compiled,’ said Maria El\xc5\xbcbieta Or?owska, Secretary of State atthe Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Waldemar Pawlak, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofEconomy, emphasised the economic significance of the European StrategicEnergy Technology Plan. ‘The government promotes the guidelines of theSET-plan. It is the field of energy where it is best visible thatworking out solutions of stable development prospects is crucial’ -said Mr. Pawlak.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that it is necessary to change overfrom a 'low-carbon' economy to a 'low-emission' economy. ‘We shouldn’teliminate fossil fuels,’ said Pawlak. ‘Poland serves as a good exampleof this direction as we have managed to lower CO2 emissionsand maintain economic growth at the same time,’ he added.
Both Mr Pawlak and Prof. Or?owska emphasised the necessity to builda global agreement on the limitation of carbon dioxide emissions.‘There is still a lot to be done on the political front. It isnecessary to work out a joint international position because we willnever be fully successful without cooperation,’ said Or?owska.
The Warsaw conference was the fifth annual conference on theSET-Plan. During this installment, the discussion featuring PhilipLowe, Director-General of DG Energy, as well as EU politicians,experts, scientists, researchers and representatives from industry,focused on the resources for the implementation of SET-Plan’sprinciples.
The Warsaw Declarationon the European financial involvement in research on energytechnologies in 2014-2020 will also soon be signed. According toestimates of the European Commission, investments of about EUR 8billion a year for a 10-year period will ensure effectiveimplementation of the SET-Plan. The anticipated increase in investmentoutlays on energy technology research (from EUR 3 to 8 billion peryear) can only be achieved by a simultaneous increase in capitalparticipation from both public and private entities. ‘We don’t want tofocus exclusively on the present crisis but we wish to project futuresolutions for the next dozen or so years which will ensure futuredevelopment. Some of the objectives of new energy solutions aredesigned to push the whole economy forward,’ concluded JerzyBuzek.
Deputy Prime Minister Pawlak noted that the Polish Presidency fullysupports the premises of the SET-Plan and is vitally interested in theimplementation of new technologies based on fossil fuels. ‘Over thepast 20 years we have decreased Poland’s CO2 emissions by 30percent whilst doubling our economic growth. That is the proof that wecan make use of our coal resources whilst simultaneously caring for thenatural environment. The SET-Plan takes that into account and envisagesthe development of CCS technologies,’ the Deputy Prime Ministeradded.
‘The Polish Presidency has expended a great deal of effort to elaboratea strategic plan for EU energy technologies,’noted President Buzek. ‘Asa result, the EU’s drive towards a low-carbon economy has beensuccessfully re-orientated in the direction of creating low-emissiontechnologies which are nevertheless based on coal,’ heemphasised.
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