The current EU energy policy aims to diversify energy sources to ensure energy security while decarbonising the economy and promoting low carbon and clean energy technologies. These tasks are carried out under the European Green Deal Program. Therefore, the overriding goal at present is to search for new sources of energy, including energy recovery from waste. In EU countries, the legal system for waste management is adapted to the circular economy. In Poland, due to the legal possibility of temporary storage and disposal of waste, a substantial volume of industrial waste is temporarily stored and landfilled (above 40%), compared to the importance of waste subjected to treatment. Moreover, energy recovery from waste accounts for a negligible share (below 5%). It may be due to the high costs of these processes, stringent emissions and environmental quality standards. Therefore, as in certain EU countries, the problem of landfill site arson attacks has been exacerbated in Poland (177 fires in 2019). The aim of this article is to determine the relationship between the application of the existing regulations concerning closed-loop waste management and the effectiveness of methods, ways and economic instruments preventing the illegal burning of landfill waste in Poland under the current EU energy policy. Therefore, it can be assumed that this system is not complete. Based on factor force analysis at a scale 1–5, it was found that technological (3.4), legal (3.16) and economic (3.0) factors have the greatest impact on this system. The waste management system should be oriented towards increased waste recovery and a more significant reduction in the volume of temporarily stored waste and landfill waste. It should be considered whether the current move away from the incineration of waste, according to the new EU energy policy, is a better solution in environmental and economic terms than incurring very high costs due to eliminating the effects of the incineration of landfill waste that causes environmental damage.

The production of lignocellulose biomass on dedicated plantations is an option that facilitates the implementation of sustainable development policy. The novelty of this type of research is that it involves the use of various types of methods—economic and legal analyses within a particular subject. This makes it possible to obtain a holistic view of the chosen case study. The purpose of this study was to determine whether setting up a Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) plantation of willow (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.) was economically profitable and if the legal regulations supported this type of production. The economic data are based on an experimental case study. The economic profitability of the plantations was assessed through an analysis of discounted cash flows, net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and profitability index (PI). The legal analysis of the relevant EU and Polish legal solutions was based on a dogmatic approach. The study demonstrated that SRC cultivation was mostly hindered by economic factors, including the low selling price of biomass as an energy resource and the high costs of harvest. Meanwhile, in the analysed period, i.e., from 2015 to 2020, there were no additional legal or economic forms of support for this type of production that was addressed directly to lignocellulose biomass producers, with the exception of the standard support under the Common Agricultural Policy framework. The results of this study provide information for decisionmakers about the opportunities and challenges experienced during the development of SRC plantations.

A stable and predictable legal environment is one of the basic factors considered in the investment process. It is of particular importance in the energy sector with its characteristically long-term investments which require substantial financial outlays. It has to be underlined that the nature of energy industry is rapidly changing both from the overall shape of the investment and regulatory models. One can observe that the model of the energy market that used to be based on state monopoly evolved into private or half private structure. However, of the particular importance is the fact that together with liberalisation and privatisation of the market the state becomes an active regulator of the market. It is especially noticeable in renewable energy sector in which governments by anticipating and incentivizing are creating conditions for new investments. Simultaneously, one cannot ignore that the state active regulatory policy may also bring a risk that support for certain investments will last as long as it is necessary to achieve its goals such as environmental protection, the need to strengthen awareness or equalise support costs. Therefore, abrupt change in the legal framework may affect the previously accepted financial set-up of the investment. In extreme cases, the change may make the investment unprofitable and thereby cause damage to the investor. This raises the question as to what legal remedies are available to foreign investors in the event of an unexpected and unjustified revision of the legal environment by the host state, provided that said revision causes damage to the investor. The authors assume the following thesis: the investor’s interests are protected under the principle of reasonable and legitimate expectations established in the framework of international law. The practical aspect of the hypothesis is also related to the question of the legal force of the arguments contained in the cases that were analysed and given as an example in the paper. As the paper analyses the principle of reasonable and legitimate expectations in the framework of international law through the prism of the investments in the energy sector, it is reasonable to verify the hypothesis regarding the effectiveness of the said principle as a legal basis for bringing claims by the investor. By analysing the doctrine itself and the related legislation and judgements, the authors shall attempt to determine when, and under what conditions, it is possible to apply the principle of reasonable and legitimate expectations in order to minimise the regulatory risk of an investment.

Over the years, the generation of energy from renewable sources (RES) has gained importance because of a number of reasons. One of the most powerful arguments in favor of the development of RES is the deteriorating natural environment, and consequently worse human health, due to energy generation from fossil fuels. The extent of this impact can be determined by identifying external costs. In a circular economy, the estimation of external costs attracts much attention in both the literature and practice. The aim of this article was to review and analyze the latest literature (2018–2022) covering the external environmental costs of solid biomass production for energy purposes in the context of the political, legal and methodological debate concerning the production of energy from biomass, and to make an effort to estimate the external costs of producing energy from solid biomass grown for energy purposes. The methods used in the article were as follows: a comparative analysis of the collected references; a dogmatic analysis of the contents; a meta-analysis of results published in the literature; and an analysis of frequency occurrence and co-occurrence of the key words. The average external environmental costs of the production of biomass for energy purposes were calculated at 20.35 EUR Mg⁻¹ d.m. with a 95% confidence range of 13.86–26.85 EUR Mg ⁻¹ d.m. (adjusted to EUR 2021). These values were estimated from the meta-analysis, which was statistically significant despite a rather small sample of studies submitted to the analysis. The European Union (EU) policy and the law passed under this policy over the past 15 years have supported and stimulated the development of renewable energy resources. The political and legal situation arising after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis has forced decision-makers to revise the previously developed assumptions, although reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Europe and achieving climate neutrality remain important targets. It is also crucial to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels, for example by accelerating activities aiming to raise the production of renewable energy. In this context, the production of solid biomass for energy purposes gains importance, especially since it can be produced locally and become an important contributor to national energy security. Hence, the external costs of the production of biomass and energy from sources other than fossil fuels should be analyzed. Such analyses are significant because they show the actual costs of renewable energy production, including its profitability and competitiveness in relation to fossil fuels.

Background: Women who decide to become a surgeon are afraid of motherhood. The aim of this study was to establish the opinions of patients and doctors on the professional activity of pregnant surgeons (PS). Methods: The study was conducted on a group of respondents consisting of doctors and patients. The study was carried out using a questionnaire of 12 questions. Results: 1074 doctors and 657 patients responded to the survey. Doctors, especially non-surgeons, significantly more often believed that PS should stop working in the operating theatre immediately after pregnancy confirmation. Most patients thought that operations performed by PS are normal, whereas the doctors more often considered it heroic or irresponsible. Doctors more often mentioned fear of financial stability and fear of losing their reputation as reasons for working by PS. Most respondents claimed that it made no difference whether they were operated on by PS or not. However, patients significantly more often declared their willingness to be operated on by PS. Conclusions: The study showed that female surgeons may have slight concerns about how they will be perceived by colleagues and patients. However, most respondents, patients significantly more often, believed that working during pregnancy is the natural course of things.

This book examines the legal protection and management of inland waters in Europe. With inland waters facing a range of significant threats, including from climate change, pollution, and overexploitation, this volume discusses legal solutions for protecting and managing these inland waters. It presents comparative studies from a range of European countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Lithuania, Poland, and Spain, with each chapter examining the legal status and legal instruments being implemented in each country, allowing for easy cross-comparison. Topics covered include surface water management and protection, water quality and monitoring, management of hazardous substances, and crisis management. Through these unique comparative studies, the volume highlights legal solutions which can be adopted by other nations and used as models for wider implementation across Europe. In doing so, this book offers important recommendations for changing water law to ensure a water secure future in Europe. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of water law, water resource management, environmental policy, and environmental conservation. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->