The decision issued by the OECD Polish National Contact Point (OECD NCP) following a notification of a potential breach of OECD Guidelines, directed at the Polish Energy Group (PGE), is another clear reminder that major Polish companies must finally start taking their climate commitments seriously. The OECD NCP stated plainly that PGE’s strategy needs to be aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Failure to make this shift not only deepens the climate crisis but may also lead to the loss of access to preferential financial and investment opportunities. In practice, it means that companies still relying on coal will be increasingly excluded from so-called green financing, and their projects will become riskier from an investor’s perspective.

Proceedings against PGE - a warning that cannot be ignored

The proceedings involving PGE were launched in 2023 at the request of Greenpeace Poland, supported by the Maruszkin Law Firm. In its final assessment, the OECD NCP urged the company to review its strategy in light of climate goals and to begin taking concrete steps to move away from coal in favor of renewable energy sources.

The OECD stressed that adherence to international standards for responsible business conduct is now not only a moral matter but also a financial one. Companies that disregard global ESG standards are increasingly losing credibility in the eyes of investors and financial institutions.

According to experts, the OECD’s recommendations for PGE are unambiguous: the energy transition can no longer be postponed, and the climate commitments arising from the Paris Agreement must be built into the company’s strategy.

PZU - an earlier precedent and the experience of the “Development YES – Open-Pit Mines NO” Foundation

This is not the first time the OECD NCP has taken a position on Polish companies tied to the fossil fuel sector. Back in 2019, our Foundation, “Development YES - Open-Pit Mines NO” (RT-ON), submitted a notification alleging that the PZU Group had violated the OECD Guidelines, pointing to a lack of transparency and the failure to account for climate impacts in its non-financial reporting.

That notification led to formal proceedings, which ended with a final assessment and an agreement between the parties. As a result, PZU committed to improving its reporting, developing an environmental policy, and beginning work on a new ESG strategy.

A follow-up review conducted by the OECD NCP in 2021 confirmed progress but also emphasized the need for faster, more practical steps. The NCP recommended further development of PZU’s climate policies, stronger communication efforts, and closer cooperation with civil society groups and international climate initiatives.

Lessons from both cases - business cannot ignore the climate crisis

Both the PZU case and the recent proceedings involving PGE reveal a clear trend: the OECD is enforcing responsible business standards more firmly and no longer treats climate issues as mere “reputation management.” For Polish companies, the message is straightforward: the time for evasions is over.

State-owned firms that continue to back coal and gas projects risk not only reputational damage but also tangible financial losses. Investors and banks increasingly make financing conditional on credible decarbonization plans. Failure to align with the Paris Agreement effectively means higher financing costs on global capital markets.

The role of civil society and NGOs

The experience of the RT-ON Foundation shows that civil-society interventions can meaningfully influence the attitudes and decisions of major corporations. While the OECD NCP is not a court, it plays an important role as a guardian of responsible business principles and creates space for dialogue, often prompting changes that the market would not implement on its own.

It is social pressure, expert support, and consistent legal action that help break the resistance of financial and energy institutions. Each such proceeding is a step toward a fair energy transition in which public interest and climate security matter as much as financial performance.

The transition is no longer a choice - it is an obligation

The OECD’s decisions make it clear that the green transition is not a trend but an international obligation arising from agreements and commitments that Poland has signed. The future of the energy and financial sectors depends on how quickly we align with global ESG standards and how effectively we reduce greenhouse gas emissions.