GUS publishes green economy indicators

Poland has one of the highest percentages of legally protected green areas in the EU. We also lead in terms of the concentration of PM2.5 dust in the air. The index of energy productivity and domestic material consumption also increased, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) announced.
In 2018, legally protected areas with special natural values occupied 10.2 million ha or 32.6 percent of the total area of  Poland. According to World Bank data, in 2018 Poland was among the European Union countries with the highest percentage of land areas and marine protected areas (after Slovenia, Luxembourg, and Germany).
An important problem related to air quality in Poland is exceeding the standards for particulate matter, especially in the winter season. In 2017, PM10 dust emissions in Poland amounted to 246,300 tonnes and were higher by 2.4 percent in relation to the previous year, but lower by 10 percent from the level recorded in 2000. Calculated per capita in 2017, 6.4 kg of PM10 dust was emitted, including 3.8 kg of PM2.5 dust. According to Eurostat, Poland together with Bulgaria were among the leaders of the EU countries in terms of exposure of the population in cities to PM2.5 concentration in 2017.
(PAP)