Is smog harmful to health and life? The court will decide
18.12.2024
ClientEarth Foundation is suing the State Treasury for failing to tackle smog effectively. More than five years after the 2018 EU Court of Justice ruling against Poland on air quality, the actions of successive governments have been too slow and Poland’s failure to meet air quality standards is still among the most severe in the European Union.
A 55-year-old man, Andrzej, from Rybnik, and a 5-year-old boy from near Toruń (represented by his mother) are suing the Treasury for years of negligence in tackling smog, which has led to their deteriorating health. Both suffer from asthma and other respiratory diseases. Represented by the Polish section of the ClientEarth Foundation (Prawnicy dla Ziemi), they are seeking compensation for damage to their health and reimbursement of medical expenses (PLN 200,000 for Andrzej from Rybnik and PLN 100,000 for the 5-year-old boy from Toruń).
For the first time in Poland, the court will have to consider whether there is a direct link between air pollution and serious illnesses. The cases show that the lack of rapid and effective action to improve air quality is a systemic problem. Its health consequences are borne by everyone living in Poland.
On behalf of the law firm, the Foundation and the victims are assisted pro bono by Monika Hartung, Piotr Golędzinowski, Filip Olszówka and Martyna Skrobotowicz.
More information on the foundation’s website