Katowice will host the UN climate summit in 2018

"We opened a competition for the organization of the climate summit in Poland, and received proposals from two cities - Gdańsk and Katowice The UN commission evaluated the two cities. After careful analysis of all pros and cons, I decided today that this conference will take place in Katowice" - said Minister Szyszko.

According to the Minister of the Environment, Poland will host the summit for the third time, and preside for the fourth time.

Patricia Espinosa thanked the mayors and residents of Gdańsk and Katowice for welcoming her and the members of her team during the technical mission in both cities. According to the UN report, both Gdańsk and Katowice meet the conditions to be the host. The final decision was made by the Polish government. After very careful consideration of various factors, the government decided that Katowice would host the summit. Espinosa congratulated the city and said she looked forward to helping to organize this event of international climate diplomacy and fight for climate change.

The Secretary noted that Poland was nominated by the United Nations East European Group, which nominated the summit host this time.

Espinosa added that Poland had significant experience in hosting conferences and it could turn out that Poland was the most experienced organizer of the United Nations climate summits. She said she was convinced that together the conference would be a success and contribute to raising the level of climate protection.

Mayor of Katowice Marcin Krupa said he was happy that Katowice would organize the UN climate conference.

"Many associate Katowice with industry. This is not entirely true, because the city is one of the greenest in Poland. 45% of the area is green (...) A great part of the course is covered by forests, with beautiful old trees, remnants of the Pszczyna Forest - beautiful beech forest" - he emphasised.

Krupa pointed out that Katowice was a city of meetings and conferences, with one of the largest international congress centres in Poland and the sports and entertainment hall Spodek, where the conference would take place.

In Tuczno, Espinosa and her colleagues visited the research station of the Department of Meteorology of the Poznań University of Life Sciences. The station estimates the flow of carbon dioxide streams exchanged between the forest ecosystem on post-farming land and the atmosphere, using spectroscopic and numerical measurement methods. The research area covers 10 ha of forest, where the measuring tower is located. The highest equipment is installed 46 meters above ground.

Espinosa said it was fascinating to see the station performing CO2 measurements, and she appreciated the centre\'s ability to monitor the flow of carbon dioxide emissions and the absorption of carbon dioxide. She congratulated on conducting such important work of international importance. She welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the actions Poland was taking in preparation for the summit.

UN climate meetings called COP (Conference of the Parties) are the annual global conferences in which climate change policy is being negotiated. Poland hosted two conferences - in 2008 in Poznań and in 2013 in Warsaw. Polish representatives were conference presidents three times: Jan Szyszko in 1999-2000, Maciej Nowicki in 2008-2009 and Marcin Korolec in 2013-2014.

The summit in Poland will include: the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 24), the 14th meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 14) and the Conference of Signatories to the Paris Agreement (CMA 3). The event will be attended by over a dozen thousand people from over 190 countries - politicians, representatives of non-governmental organizations, academia and the business community.

rau/ twi/ skr/ kap/

tr. RL