Poland prepares to host UN climate conference

As Poland makes preparations to host this week's United Nations (UN) climate change convergence, it has been highlighted that the country is still very much dependent upon coal.

The nation, it was pointed out by spacedaily.com, stands alongside South Africa as the world's most coal-dependent nation, according to figures from the World Coal Institute.

A total of 94 per cent of its power is generated by fossil fuels, compared to Germany's 47 per cent, it was stressed.

However, the nation has taken steps to address this, it was added, as several ageing power plants have been closed and the country has managed to lower its CO2 emissions by 32 per cent compared to 1988 statistics.

Professor Wladyslaw Mielczarski of the European Energy Institute said that, despite this, Poland is not yet ready to embark upon a nuclear-powered future.

"Poland isn't ready, be it in the legal, financial or psychological sense, to launch a vast nuclear energy programme," he commented.

Meanwhile, it was announced that Poland's neighbour Belarus will not face opposition from the EU on its decision to develop a new nuclear reactor.