Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska is widely seen as a defender of climate action, ready to challenge anything she views as a threat to the environment. Yet her remarks—often shaped by a left-leaning climate ethos—have drawn mockery online. Most recently, she claimed that home fireplaces are harmful because people burn wet wood, and she later advocated making wind power Poland’s main energy source.
Fighting with fireplaces
On Radio Zet, she voiced support for a ban on burning fireplaces in certain rural areas of Poland.
Proponents said that improving air quality requires ensuring that the wood used in fires does not release more pollutants than coal because undried and freshly cut wood can emit more pollutants when burned, polluting the air and making clean air something many Poles deserve.
Critics dismissed the claim as unfounded. Very few people burn wet wood in home fireplaces. Wet wood is not ideal for fireplaces because it burns slowly, provides less heat, creates more ash, and quickly soils the glass.
But that’s not all
This episode is one example of her controversial stance. Critics point to the ministry’s renewed push to advance renewable energy solutions in Poland. The National Energy and Climate Plan appeared recently. It proposed a radical reshaping of the country’s energy mix. The ministry aims for renewables to supply a substantial share of energy and for coal to play a much smaller role by the end of the decade.
Coal and lignite currently meet roughly 60 percent of Poland’s demand, while renewables account for about 30 percent. The plan envisions coal fading from the energy sector by 2040.
Hennig-Kloska’s theorems
Hennig-Kloska defended these ideas in a spirited speech on the parliamentary floor. Wind energy is presented as essential for the national energy balance. Wind and solar are described as a natural pair: in Poland, days with abundant sun often feature weaker winds, while windy days tend to bring less sun. This pattern is cited as a defining feature of the country’s climate. The minister argues that these sources complement one another.
Solar and wind are said to balance across the year because in summer there is plenty of sun but often less wind, while in winter the wind picks up as sunshine declines. The minister emphasizes that relying on both sources can help stabilize the energy mix.
Windmill scandal
Hennig-Kloska’s long affinity for wind energy has fueled controversy and was tied to an early scandal in the new ruling coalition. In November last year, members from Poland 2050 and the Civic Coalition submitted a draft amendment to extend the energy price freeze and to liberalize wind farm development. The proposal included allowing wind turbines to be built within 300 meters of residential buildings and expanding wind farms into the catalog of strategic investments, potentially sidestepping local development plans. The move sparked debates, with experts suggesting the rules could favor large wind industry players and possibly reflect lobbying.
Observers noted a coincidence with a downturn in Siemens Energy shares and a positive assessment from the European Commission on a revised national plan, which was followed by news of a substantial EU support package for Poland.