Part II: Country studies: Chapter 9: Poland.

This chapter aims to discover how much progress has been made in solving Poland's environmental problems during the 1990s. In doing so, it will involve some appreciation of state environmental policy, the impact of major polluting factors, the role of biodiversity and nature conservation and character of environmental movements in the country. This analysis reveal that Poland has made progress in cleaning up industry and improving water and air quality since 1989. In addition, the restructuring of the coal, steel and energy industries enhanced the anti-pollution drive. Use of new technology in recent years has meant a decline in sulphur dioxide by about 42% and nitric oxide by 25%, as well as a considerable drop in industrial dust emissions and other harmful substances. However, increasing transport use has meant that both vehicular gases and dust continue to be above the European Union (EU) norm. Half a million meters of untreated sewage are recorded in the River Vistula daily, in spite of the construction of around 300 sewage purification plants annually and a further 1300 currently under construction. All these implies that despite its achievements, Poland needs to increase investment in environment if it wants to meet EU environmental standards.