poland A Green New Deal
The Government favours a neoliberal model of development that has led to growing social stratification and rising pressure on the environment. An alternative could be the Green New Deal, which aims to address global warming and global financial crises by implementing a set of policy proposals intended to secure global sustainable development. Green Growth and environmental protection programmes must act as catalysts to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods for the most disadvantaged Polish citizens.
ATD Fourth World Poland Basic Capabilities Index (BCI) Gender Equity Index (GEI) Pierre Klein Monika Kalinowska BCI = 98 100 96 GEI = 76 100 Empowerment The Green Institute Children reaching Dariusz Szwed 5th grade 52 Introduction1 Poland is one of the very few countries that have 0 0 introduced the concept of sustainable development at a constitutional level. According to Article 5 of the Polish Constitution: “The Republic of Poland shall 100 100 100 75 100 safeguard the independence and integrity of its terri- 99 99 100 tory and ensure the freedoms and rights of persons Births attended Surviving under-5 Education Economic activity and citizens, the security of the citizens, safeguard the national heritage and shall ensure the protection missioned, which made consultations impossible. the country, eliminate the threat of digital exclusion, of the natural environment pursuant to the principles The power to set the direction for the future of the improve social integration levels, structure and sup- of sustainable development.” country was thus given to a narrow group.4 Moreover port intergenerational solidarity, and offer a sense of Paradoxically Poland is also a country where in an interview for Polska one of the co-authors said capacity to follow individual ambitions.”7 However any reference to the concept of sustainable develop- that the departure point for the creation of this new the authors also define economic growth as a solid ment is rather difficult to find in public debate. In July model was the observation that “in reality, sustain- foundation for Poland’s development, along with 2000, for example, the “Poland 2025 – Long-term able development is only a myth.”5 “efficient administration and demographic poten- strategy for sustainable development” was adopted tial,” and state that “current EU policy, as regards by the Council of Ministers with the clear objective to Unsustainability and the neoliberal model energy and climate security, is heading towards the “improve the welfare of Polish families.” According The lack of implementation (or rather comprehen- reinforcement of Europe as a world leader in sustain- to some experts, however, its overall impact is extre- sion) of the principle of sustainable development able development. This, however, cannot occur at the mely limited: “[It] has met with no response from inscribed in the Polish Constitution can be illustrated cost of the Polish economy.”8 society and today hardly anybody seems to remem- by the fact that subsequent governments have im- Here lies the biggest trap of the Government’s ber its existence. The average citizen does not know plied the existence of a conflict between environment development strategy: Poles ought to tighten their about the concept of sustainable development, nor and economy or between environment and society. belts in order to achieve a state of economic and so- does he or she have even the vaguest notion of it.” Ways of addressing the current state of affairs, as cial balance in 20 years time. But this model has led The authors go on to say that even people who have presented by key politicians, seem to have been instead to increased social stratification, decreasing heard of sustainable development often consider it poorly prioritized. “The economy first, my reason- social capital and rising pressure on the environ- to be synonymous with environmental protection.2 able Pole,” said Bronisław Komorowski, incumbent ment measured by the total use of energy and non- In July 2009 the Government issued Poland President of Poland, during a debate on the future of renewable resources.9 2030. Development challenges,3 intended to be the the Polish and European economies.6 The prevailing ideology was aptly described by mainstream analysis and strategy line for develop- In explaining the “polarization-diffusion mod- Edwin Bendyk in the afterword to Ecology: Guide ment over the next 20 years. Written in hard-to- el,” Poland 2030 states that “apart from boosting for Political Criticism. Noting that the dominant de- understand jargon it favours the “polarization and growth polarities (i.e. polarisation processes), we velopment discourse rested on neoliberalism and diffusion model” as opposed to that of sustainable have to primarily create conditions for diffusion – development. Developed by the Board of Strategic anything and everything which might support the Advisors to the Council of Ministers led by Minis- process of equalizing education-related opportuni- 7 Board of Strategic Advisers to the Prime Minister, Poland 2030. Development challenges: Report summary, p. 4., ter Michal Boni, the report was not discussed in its ties, improve transport accessibility in all parts of
National reports 162 Social Watch postcolonialism, he writes, “The former means the izing the building sector and promoting autonomous in the country. There is no national policy dedicated primacy of growth policy using free market instru- and sustainable buildings, developing environmen- to building homes for low-income groups, nor for ments understood as a space for negotiations of tally friendly railway systems on the continent and assisting them with home improvements. Nearly private preferences that are only protected and not changing the priorities of the EU Common Agricul- 12 million Poles – almost a third of the population shaped by the state which is withdrawing from the tural Policy. Like the reforms of the 1930s, the Green – live in overcrowded homes. More than 60% of management of interpersonal relations to the maxi- New Deal involves an active role for public authorities apartments need serious renovation and more than mum extent. If at all, this can happen only under in the implementation of policies, in this case, for half of the housing stock is more than 40 years old. the influence of external commitments. This dictate, sustainable development. Low-quality building materials and poor insulation expressed in ideas like the climate and energy pack- In March 2009 prior to the European Parlia- are resulting in high monthly energy bills, making age or Natura 2000, is treated like divine retribu- ment elections, the European Green Party issued funds even scarcer for families that need to improve tion, a cost of membership in the club of developed its manifesto, A Green New Deal for Europe, which their living conditions. countries. In fact, we are a postcolonial, developing significantly develops this concept. The summary People facing extreme poverty are often seen country that was harmed by history and is still be- states: “As the economic, social and environmental as responsible for environmental damage and thus ing damaged by the hegemonic centre that tries to challenges currently facing the EU are closely interre- an obstacle to sustainable development. This has enforce solutions detrimental to aspirations reflected lated, they must be tackled together as part of a com- to change; in fact, people living in extreme poverty in a desire to maintain economic growth.”10 prehensive package which for us is the Green New should be included in all levels of policy making. Neoliberal notions of the unfettered free market Deal. … [This] is the only way of really delivering the Thus the Polish and international response to the and of endless economic growth measured by GDP changes to the way we live and work that will result challenge of sustainable development must ensure are wearing thin. The GDP does not reflect reality for in the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which that new technologies and mitigation and adaptation it does not consider the country’s low level of social science shows will be necessary if we are to avoid programmes benefit the most vulnerable popula- capital, unpaid housework (done mainly by women) the most disastrous impacts of climate change.” It tions and build on their capacities and efforts. Peo- and increasing income stratification. Nor does it take goes on to say that the benefits will go beyond the ple in extreme poverty are often at the frontline of into account environmental devastation, extinction environment “to provide a major boost to the econo- development initiatives that aim to transform their of plants and animals, growing populations or the my, lead to sustainable economic development and living conditions by improving water, sanitation or greatest challenge of the 21st century – the need to result in the creation of millions of new ‘green collar’ heating facilities. implement a global climate deal, which is a critical jobs in renewable energy and other future-oriented investment in our common future, as noted by the technologies.” It adds that the Green New Deal will Conclusion economist Nicolas Stern.11 ensure that social and labour rights are not sacrificed Some authors believe that in seeking an alternative in the name of competition and that public goods and development model, “it is essential to accurately The Green New Deal: an alternative services are provided so that all citizens can enjoy a define the goals of economic development, environ- The concept of the Green New Deal appeared first in good quality of life. “Greens will continue to defend mental improvement and social cohesion.’’16 This a July 2008 report by the New Economics Founda- equal rights for all within and outside the workpla- gets to the essence of sustainable development. tion12 in response to the economic crisis driven by ce, fight all forms of discrimination and intolerance Amartya Sen argues that eliminating poverty and credit bubbles, global climate change and increased and take the urgent action required to help the most preserving the environment could be considered as oil prices. The authors stated that in order to avoid a disadvantaged in society.”13 “different parts of an integrated task.”17 This means deep recession comparable to the Great Depression The Green New Deal in Poland also states that that environmental protection programmes could be it is necessary to undertake key structural chan- “business as usual” is no longer possible since it used to obtain decent work and training for the most ges both in the national and international financial merely continues to push economic growth at the disadvantaged groups while maintaining respect for systems, including the tax system, as well as make cost of the degradation of society and the environ- local cultures. stable investments in energy savings and the pro- ment.14 Green Growth must act as a catalyst for creat- duction of energy from renewable sources. ing decent work and sustainable livelihoods for The Green New Deal puts forward a set of policy Building sustainable development the most disadvantaged populations, building on proposals that aims to address issues such as global It is generally accepted that people living in extreme efforts they are already undertaking. This is in line warming and financial crises by securing global sus- poverty are the most vulnerable to dangerous envi- with the priority theme of a “green economy in tainable development and creating a low emission ronmental conditions. One main issue for the poor- the context of sustainable development and pov- economy. It also supports the development of mod- est in Poland, for example, is housing quality. Roofs erty eradication” of the forthcoming United Nations ern technologies that are human-, environment- and Over Heads,15 a coalition of 15 NGOs led by Habitat Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) climate-friendly, enhancing energy efficiency and for Humanity Poland, launched a campaign in 2008 in 2012 in Brazil. n greater use of renewable sources of energy, modern- to raise awareness about poor housing conditions
10 E. Bendyk, “Ekologia Polityczna dla Polski, czyli w stronę 16 X. Godinot, Th. Viard and H. de Courtivron, “Extreme Poverty Zielonego Okrągłego Stołu,” in Ekologia: Przewodnik Krytyki and World Governance,” Proposal Paper Series, Forum for Politycznej, Wydawnictwo Krytyki Politycznej, (Warsaw: 2009). a New World Governance, (December 2010),
Social Watch 163 Poland