The fight to breathe - an analysis of the anti-smog-organization Polski Alarm Smogowy in Poland

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to show how the organization Polski Alarm Smogowy (Polish Smog Alert) has organized themselves and their ways of fighting against high levels of air pollution in Poland. By basing their actions on scientific evidence of detrimental somatic effects of low-stack emissions of coal in private households, the organization has revealed widespread and harmful cultural practices of burning low quality coal and toxic waste. The organization now consists of about 30 local alerts, spread all over Poland. At the inception of the organization in Kraków they started advocating for a ‘coal ban’. Seven years later, this law from November 2019. I have identified six approaches employed by seven local smog alerts in Poland that demonstrate a pragmatic and professional way of conducting environmentalism. I also looked at how joined organizational approaches and profile and analyzed how they relate to different ideology among members. A complex compound of few but very resourceful members from professional NGOs and civil activists in combination with their rational approaches has enabled the organization to gain trust and support from an increasing number of civilians, politicians and members of the authorities, set air pollution on the political agenda and changed laws all the way up to constitutional level.