Since its accession to the European Union in 2004, Poland has experienced impressive economic growth. This has allowed living
standards and environmental performance to improve. Increased infrastructure investment has extended access to water services
and helped reduce pollution. Emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) and several air pollutants, along with waste generation and water withdrawal levels, have been decoupled from economic growth. Environmental policies and institutions have been strengthened. More
than half of Polish citizens consider the state of the environment in their neighbourhood to be good. Polish forests are an important income source and valuable biodiversity repositories. Poland hosts Europe’s only remaining primeval forest, Bia?owie?a. However, the economy remains among the most resource- and carbon-intensive in the OECD, due to a strong industrial base and
heavy reliance on coal.
