The energy industry think tank Ember has published a list of the European entities that emitted the most greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in 2022. The first place is "proudly" occupied by Elektrownia Bełchatów. The power plants in Kozienice and Turów also feature in the top ten.

As many as six places in the 'shame ranking' went to German power plants. This is, among other things, the aftermath of the controversial phasing out of nuclear power plants in Germany. However, in this country in 2022 46 per cent of the electricity generated came from renewable sources. In Poland, it was around 20 per cent.

Not only are we forcing future generations to face the consequences of an increasingly drastic climate crisis, we are practically 'burning money' by maintaining an unprofitable mining industry and importing coal and gas, often from ethically questionable sources.

Meanwhile, in the west and north of Europe, the problems are already quite different. Renewable sources have become so efficient that electricity prices are "negative" on some sunny or windy days. On 28 May, the cost of generating electricity was below zero in almost all European countries, except Poland and the UK. It was not the only such day this year.

There are also issues of what to do with surplus energy. Discussion about interconnecting national transmission networks to distribute electricity more efficiently is underway. There are surpluses in Denmark, Sweden and Finland, among others.