safety - PKN Orlen

PKN ORLEN activities and their impact on the climate and environment
ENVIRONMENT
PKN ORLEN activities
and their impact
on the climate and environment
4.1. Climate changes – challenges
Adam Czyżewski
Chief Economist at PKN ORLEN
Climate changes concern the entire globe rather than
individual continents or countries. Preventing climate
changes requires coordination of climate policies
on a global scale. Socially acceptable solutions are
developed through international negotiations. Poland
is involved in climate negotiations at the EU level,
and the EU represents its Member States at international
climate summits. Polish Presidency of the Council
of the European Union obliges us all to pay particular
attention to shaping the EU’s new climate architecture
in such a way that it has coherent objectives
and is achievable in terms of safe financing, and acceptable
for all the Member States.
As it is, climate policy is shaped in the process of multilateral
negotiations which start on the national level
before they move to the international arena. The national
level of negotiations is a very important link
in the climate process, since this is where negotiation
mandates are established, determining the framework
within which Government delegations will operate
during international negotiations. Due to the fact
that any arrangements made on the international
level have to be implemented by the respective countries,
each local entity has the right to express their
opinion on the desired direction of changes in climate
and to actively participate in the process of developing
an official negotiating stance on the national level.
In 2010, PKN ORLEN strengthened its position
of the leader in environmental protection. However,
we must not forget that the years to come will bring
major changes in the broadly understood chemical
industry. The new Community legislation that is about
to enter into force requires ever more restrictive solutions
in the area of enviro nmental management.
Companies from the energy sector (in the broad meaning
of the term), whose practical know-how related
to the possibilities and costs of adapting to climate
challenges may serve the negotiation process, play
a particularly important role here. Shaping the future
EU climate policy is the domain of the Government.
However, the government does not act on its own
behalf. Instead, it represents companies which create
jobs and households that, in the end, will pay the costs
of climate policy. PKN ORLEN, as an operator to whom
the energy and climate policies apply may – and should
– influence their future shape. The best way to make
use of the potential of economic and business knowhow
concerning climate change policies and their
impact on the economy and business is to participate
in the public debate.
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