Decarbonization Crisis and Rising Energy Bills in Poland and Europe

The current economic situation in the European Union is characterized by a clear retreat from the radical assumptions of climate policy. Analyses indicate that the process of decarbonization is slowing down, and the governments of member states, including Poland, are increasingly prioritizing the protection of domestic industry from the high costs of transformation. Experts warn that growing burdens related to climate reforms translate directly into electricity and heating bills, despite periodic drops in raw material prices on global markets. In Poland, particular controversy surrounds the so-called hidden tax, which will drastically increase the cost of living for millions of citizens through higher fuel and heating energy prices. Since 2015, when the Paris Agreement was signed, the European Union has aimed to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, but the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine has forced many countries to revise their energy strategies.The situation in the United States also stirs emotions, as the latest polls indicate weakening support for the vision of Donald Trump's "golden era," which may suggest a shift in public sentiment ahead of upcoming political processes. Meanwhile, in the technology market, the HBO service announces a crackdown on account sharing, following in the footsteps of other streaming giants. These changes coincide with new cybersecurity warnings. CERT Poland issued a warning about scams targeting customers of the popular financial app Revolut, indicating a growing scale of phishing attacks. In the social sphere, pay transparency is becoming a significant trend, emerging as a new standard for protecting employees in companies. Legislative amendments are forcing employers to be more open about remuneration, aiming to counteract pay discrimination. At the macroeconomic level, an unexpected rise in inflation in France and Spain complicates the plans of the European Central Bank regarding a potential interest rate cut. Maintaining a firm monetary stance currently seems the most likely scenario for the eurozone in the coming months.