About the project - Life After Coal

In January 2023, the implementation process of the project worth PLN 85 million began. LIFE After Coal

This project received EU financial support in the amount of over PLN 51 million. from the LIFE Program. The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management co-financed this project with over PLN 28 million. The remaining funds come from the budgets of all Co-beneficiaries.

The local government of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship is the main coordinator of the Project, which is intended primarily to implement the Strategy for Climate Neutrality – Eastern Greater Poland 2040, prepared by the Management Board of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship.

This strategy defines the policy of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Local Government aimed at achieving the EU climate goals at the regional level, resulting directly from EU documents, such as: the European Green Deal, the Ready for 55 Package, the Clean Planet and the Hydrogen Strategy for a climate-neutral Europe.

This project is also consistent with the concept of the just transformation process of Eastern Greater Poland in the context of the fight against global warming and climate change. An important aspect will therefore be to focus on climate-neutral energy carriers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as improve energy efficiency. However, the overarching goal is to achieve climate neutrality in Eastern Greater Poland by 2040 and, among others, The cities of Kalisz and Ostrów Wlkp. – in the process of just transformation, also taking into account the needs of social groups at risk of exclusion and marginalization.

The project will strengthen local government administration bodies, including: by appointing district and municipal climate advisors or creating databases and IT systems for energy assessments. It is also planned to prepare thermal modernization projects for real estate and report the results. Local governments will also be equipped with knowledge on how to effectively use dedicated funds, including from the Just Transition Fund worth over four hundred million euros. According to the assumptions of the LIFE Program, our Project is intended to serve not only Eastern Greater Poland, but over time the entire Voivodeship and other coal regions in Poland and Europe will benefit from the experience, innovations and solutions gained.

The Consortium, apart from the coordinating beneficiary, which is the Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship, also includes the Regional Development Agency S.A. in Konin, the Local Government of the Łódź Voivodeship and over thirty cities, communes and counties in Greater Poland, as well as scientific and social organizations.

Project implementation area

Experience from the transfer process will be collected, documented and evaluated, which will allow for faster transfer of results to other coal regions in Poland and the EU