Polska Grupa Energetycza (PGE) is largely fossil-fuel based, with coal as its core source of energy. The company's hard coal and lignite plants accounted for 89% of its total generation. The use of coal-fired power plants negatively impacts human health, the environment and climate change. Coal-fired energy generation causes air pollution, which can affect people's health. Health issues that arise are illnesses (like bronchitis and asthma), but they can also result in premature deaths. Due to the health impacts of coal, considerable costs are created as well. In 2016, the total modelled premature deaths due to the air pollution caused by PGE’s operational coal power plants were 1,179 (median) people. The costs of health impact were estimated at EUR 1.789 billion. These costs are not covered by the coal sector, but are borne by society.

According to a 2016 report, Polish coal plants cause the most health damage in the EU and have caused 5,800 premature deaths across the EU. Of these deaths, 1,100 occurred in Poland. Moreover, the most damaging plant to human health in the EU, the coal power plant Belchatow, is owned by PGE.

PGE is targeting phasing out its coal-fired power station fleet by 2040-2045.

As mentioned, coal pollution also negatively affects the climate. Coal-fired power generation processes emit greenhouse gases and therewith directly contribute to climate change. About two-thirds of PGE’s investments are still in hard coal and lignite and as recently as 2016 PGE acquired EDF’s coal assets, adding 3.3 GW of coal capacity. 

As reported in Europe's Dark Cloud, Polish coal plants are the worst CO2 emitters of the EU. Unsurprisingly, Poland is struggling to meet the European air pollution requirements. The worst CO2 emitter of the EU is the lignite-fired plant, Belchatow, which is owned by PGE. This plant emitted almost 38 milion tonnes of CO2 in 2017.

As reported by IEEFA, PGE is facing enormous pressure regarding the stricter standards on air pollution that will come into effect in 2021. The company is majority state-owned, and the Polish government is backing the use of coal. However, as market forces are shifting, the government is now facing economic pressures.