Episode 12: The Polish Perspective: Carbon Pricing, Just Transition, and the EU ETS, with Robert Jeszke

In this episode of ICAP’s Carbon Market Conversations, host Trevor Laroche-Theune sits down with Robert Jeszke (Deputy Director for Emissions Management at the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute (IOŚ-PIB), and Head of Poland’s National Centre for Emissions Management (KOBiZE)) for a grounded look at how EU carbon pricing lands in Poland. Building on the EU ETS reform agenda and the rollout of EU ETS 2, the discussion explores how policy design translates into practice in Poland, from price signals and competitiveness to revenue use for the energy transition and cushioning social impacts. Robert sheds light on KOBiZE’s policy and operational work, the role of complementary measures, and what a “just transition” means in the Polish context. The conversation also examines deployment of EU funds, the significance of the Social Climate Fund, and how public acceptance is managed. We close with lessons other countries can draw from Poland’s experience and why reframing carbon pricing as a credible transformation contract may be key to the years ahead.Breakdown of topics covered:0:55 – Introduction to today’s topic and our guest3:10 – How EU ETS reforms translate to the Polish context5:45 – Poland’s preparation for EU ETS 28:00 – KOBiZE’s role and the kinds of policy and operational questions Robert works on11:05 – How the EU ETS price signal lands in the polish context given the economy and energy system structures14:00 – Economic competitiveness17:50 – ETS revenue allocation in Poland, including toward the energy transition and cushioning economic impacts20:00 – Complementary policies23:40 – Just transition in the Polish context26:45 – Deployment of EU funds and examples of meaningful change taking shape29:35 – Significance of the Social Climate Fund33:40 – Managing the question of public acceptance36:00 – Lessons other countries can learn from Poland’s engagement with the EU ETS38:00 – Most important challenge for Poland, or countries in comparable situations, will face in the years ahead, and steps to confront it38:00 – Shifting perception of carbon pricing to that of a credible transformation contract42:10 – Closing remarks