Poland: The current pandemic recommends that the EU abolish its emissions trading system

Senior Polish officials say the EU should abolish its emissions trading system (ETS) or exclude Poland from the scheme, which helps combat global warming and free up money for Warsaw to fight the novel coronavirus
.

According to the ETS, the EU charges a fee
for emitting carbon dioxide.
European power producers, industrial emitters and airlines flying within the EU must buy permits to pay for their emissions
.

Janusz Kowalski, Poland's deputy minister of state assets, told Reuters on Tuesday: "The outcome of the fight against the coronavirus will be
painful.
" It is clear that countries will seek more funding to help their businesses and citizens
.
Poland and other countries should adapt to their own situation to combat climate change, so the ETS should be abolished from January 1, 2021, or at least Poland should be excluded from
the system.
”

At present, there have been 5 deaths due to the new coronavirus infection in Poland, and more than 200 confirmed cases
.
In response to the pandemic, Poland has banned foreigners from entering the country, closed schools and restricted public gatherings
of more than 50 people.

Most of Poland's electricity comes from coal
.
Kowalski said he hoped other countries in Central and Eastern Europe would support the proposal
.
Poland is the only EU country
to reject a commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 at its summit last December.

But the Czech prime minister said on Monday that the EU should now focus on fighting the coronavirus, not on a "green deal" policy package
on climate change.
Kowalski agrees
.

In response, a spokesperson for the European Commission said: "Although our focus is now on the fight against COVID-19, our work on implementing the European Green Deal continues
.
The climate crisis remains a reality and requires our continued attention and efforts
.
”