Challenges related to climate change and the global epidemic are no longer distant topics relegated to catastrophic films. We must face their consequences here and now, but this does not mean that the world of economy and politics as we knew it ceases to function even for a moment. How to build the future while simultaneously addressing present challenges was discussed by guests at the autumn edition of Impact’21. During the panel titled “How to Build a Better Future by Responding to Present Challenges,” moderated by Marek Tejchman from “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna,” the participants included Bartosz Ciołkowski from Mastercard Europe, Piotr Dardziński from the Łukasiewicz Research Network, Prof. Lidia Morawska from Queensland University of Technology, and Tomasz Suchański from Żabka Polska. The topic of their discussion was the possibility of combining two perspectives. The first is focused on the present – companies want to make a profit, and customers want to use familiar goods and services. The second perspective, however, is directed towards the future. But is it possible to reconcile revenue generation in a world where we increasingly know its resources are limited? The speakers and moderator agreed that this is by no means a futuristic, hypothetical speculation. Questions such as how to cope with the green transformation and energy shock, or how to incorporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues into business, currently dominate most political and industry discussions. Transformation Without Sacrifices However, for modern business, the statement that we must renounce economic development is an unacceptable answer. As Bartosz Ciołkowski from Mastercard stated, generating profit is a fundamental need in the business Maslow’s hierarchy. But, in his opinion, we are currently at a stage of development that allows us – and simultaneously forces us – to consider other, higher needs. Tomasz Suchański spoke about how business, when faced with such a necessity, is indeed capable of change. He pointed out that the pandemic caused three significant shifts in business operations: the dynamic pace of e-commerce model adaptation; the redirection of management’s focus and language from annual budgets to more general, alternative scenarios; and changes in the relationship between employees and companies. Additionally, as Tomasz Suchański indicated, the epidemic crisis has, in many ways, highlighted that one of the greatest values in business is responsibility. Companies are now required to demonstrate social responsibility not only by their customers but also by regulators, shareholders, and employees. Technology Has a Real Impact on Life Piotr Dardziński from the Łukasiewicz Research Network spoke about how the perception of technology changed during the pandemic. During this period, as the entire world feverishly sought methods for treating Covid-19 and preventing infections, we realized that scientists are not “eccentrics detached from reality,” but people who genuinely help us change that reality for the better. The specialist in the commercialization of scientific innovations pointed out that to change the future for the better, while more effectively meeting the needs of eco-conscious customers, new technologies and their commercialization are indeed necessary. It is a mutual interest – businesses need emission-free fuels, biodegradable packaging, and other innovations. In turn, the scientific world needs funding and direction for technological development to better meet the needs of the modern world. Prof. Lidia Morawska also spoke about society being an interconnected system. As the scientist stated, we cannot consider contemporary challenges in “either-or” terms. Business will not flourish in a sick society, and without a developed economy, neither society nor science will develop, the professor indicated. In this spirit, she also stated, with which all panelists agreed, that we need certain changes right now. We cannot postpone actions for the future, as it will also impact our present lives. Especially since, in public opinion, the beliefs of politicians, scientists, and the business world, there is a consensus – the issue of values and responsibility is the challenge of our times, and we must confront it now.

Combating drought and improving air quality – these are the actions being undertaken by the Upper Silesian-Zaglembie Metropolis as part of its climate change adaptation efforts. At Impact’21 in Poznań, Blanka Romanowska, Director of the Department of Infrastructure and Environment at the Upper Silesian-Zaglembie Metropolis (GZM) Office, discussed cooperation with municipalities in this regard. Among the most important climate change adaptation initiatives in the GZM Metropolis area are combating drought and improving air quality. As Director Romanowska pointed out, “one of the first problems identified in the GZM Metropolis area is the issue of drought. In this regard, we have prepared an in-depth diagnosis of how this topic is perceived and managed in the municipalities. Workshops were held for specialist staff in the municipalities, and a range of initiatives for residents were developed, such as preparing a brochure encouraging small-scale water retention near their apartments and houses.” “Furthermore, we are undertaking actions to improve air quality, as the air quality in the Metropolis leaves much to be desired,” she added. What Challenges Does the Metropolis Face in Preparing the Region for Climate Change? A significant problem in implementing changes related to climate change adaptation are legal and legislative issues, Blanka Romanowska indicated during Impact’21. “The barrier to preparing for climate change lies in legislative aspects. We are the first metropolitan union in our country. We are paving this path and are the first to have to find solutions for emerging interpretive doubts. We are currently in the process of clarifying them,” stated the GZM representative. “However, the lack of precise clarification of the metropolis’s responsibilities regarding the possibility of carrying out environmental protection tasks significantly hinders our work, and in some aspects, sometimes makes it impossible. For example, the fact that we cannot be an investor has halted work on the construction of a thermal waste treatment facility for municipal waste,” stated the Director of the Department of Infrastructure and Environment of the GZM Metropolis. Improving Air Quality and Overcoming Energy Poverty The GZM Metropolis, along with the municipalities within its area, has undertaken the implementation of a project as part of the government’s Stop SMOG program. It has two objectives. The first is to improve the quality of life for residents struggling with inefficient home insulation. The second is to improve air quality in the region. “We support our municipalities organizationally, executively, and financially. We are preparing a project for 18 municipalities. The project will cover 400 energy-poor buildings and will support the improvement of energy efficiency along with the elimination of coal-based heating sources. The total amount will be PLN 22.5 million,” said Blanka Romanowska in Poznań. “Assuming that an average of three people live in each of these buildings, we will directly improve the quality of life for approximately twelve hundred people. Thanks to this project, these households will no longer be poisoning themselves and their immediate surroundings. I think these projects are of great significance,” she added. Flowering Meadows in the GZM Metropolis In 2021, the GZM Metropolis also continued the Metropolitan Flowering Meadows program, which began in 2020. Sowing flowering meadows offers numerous benefits. Meadow plants do not require watering, even during drought, and effectively absorb water during rain. Additionally, they grow about 10 times taller than lawns, thus better capturing smog-forming dust and lowering air temperature. “With our project, we encourage municipalities to establish flowering meadows. Maintaining lawns is becoming increasingly expensive, mainly due to mowing. When in 2019 all lawns turned yellow due to drought, the approach changed. Maintaining lawns became more expensive, but also proved to be a dead end,” said Blanka Romanowska during Impact’21. She also indicated that while flowering meadows require a significant amount of work to establish them properly and select the right mix of meadow plants for the substrate, they “are mown only twice a year, and do not need to be watered. Their advantage is that they become a reservoir of biodiversity for fauna and flora, and they are also beautiful.”

In a series of video interviews recorded by our editorial team during the Impact’21 conference, we asked event guests what they came to Poznań for and what reflections their attended speeches prompted. In this episode, Maryjka Szurowska talks with Michał Kruszyński, co-founder of the startup ZNIKA, which provides biodegradable packaging for e-commerce. We spoke with Michał Kruszyński about ZNIKA's range of disappearing products that reduce plastic pollution, as well as how they managed to secure funding for the company's development. Michał Kruszyński also revealed where he met his business partners and what the behind-the-scenes story of the startup's first month looked like.

Kazimierz Karolczak, Chairman of the Board of the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis (GZM), spoke at Impact’21 in Poznań about the benefits and barriers associated with hydrogen, and the potential of Silesia in the energy transformation. Hydrogen used as fuel is an emission-free technology and an important element in the European Union's energy transformation strategy. However, the implementation of hydrogen energy is still very costly. As Damian Szymański, Chairman of the GZM Board, pointed out during the conversation, as much as 420 billion euros will need to be spent on this strategic fuel by 2050 to achieve the goals related to green hydrogen. The Strongest Economies Set the Trends "It's an astronomical amount," admitted Kazimierz Karolczak. "But if we look at the economies of European countries, we know who is emerging as a leader," he said. "Four years ago, I had the opportunity to visit a hydrogen trade fair. Roughly half of the exhibition stands were occupied by German companies. Even then, many German companies and research institutes were very interested in these technologies, and hydrogen wasn't even on the EU agenda at the time. Once this technology was partially developed and some solutions were introduced, hydrogen set a significant direction for energy in the European Union," Karolczak said during Impact’21. Therefore, "when planning long-term development actions, we should first look at what research institutes and scientists in the strongest economies are working on. Then we will know what direction will be taken," indicated the Chairman of the GZM Board. Poland Has Technological Potential it Should Utilize More Kazimierz Karolczak spoke in Poznań that today the strongest economies are focused on hydrogen because there is no better way to store energy from RES. And storing energy produced in this way is crucial for intensifying the development of renewable energy due to its production instability. What does this instability entail? When atmospheric conditions are favorable, there is an overproduction of energy that cannot be consumed by the power grid in the quantities produced. Conversely, when weather conditions change and energy cannot be generated, periods of shortage arise. In addition, as the GZM Chairman pointed out, the coming end of coal is not solely due to the necessity of green transformation. "This global challenge is also linked to the fact that coal resources are simply running out. Today, coal is extracted from such depths that it is already very inefficient. We are importing more and more coal from Russia. We have gas also from Russia." Therefore, "it is worth considering our own raw material derived from RES. This is a good direction," he added. Hydrogen can serve excellently in this role. Why? "Investing in and acquiring technology that other countries will later buy is a very well-thought-out strategy. I believe that Poland also has this potential because we are the third-largest producer of grey hydrogen in the world. Thanks to this, we have the 'know-how' on how to use hydrogen," indicated Kazimierz Karolczak. "It is worth utilizing the knowledge and experience of companies like Orlen or Grupa Azoty, and developing our own technologies. These technologies are still in development in Germany and Japan, but they are already being implemented there. Hydrogen buses are running in London. We have ambitions for such vehicles to run also in Upper Silesia, a region historically associated with the dominance of coal," he said in Poznań during Impact’21. However, there are certain barriers. "Unfortunately, our country still lacks many research and development centers where technical solutions could be developed and subsequently implemented. It is worth utilizing the work of scientists and the experience gained so far. It would be good for the money flowing from new technologies to remain in our economy," indicated the head of the Metropolis Board.