A major oil and gas field, Wolin East, discovered off Poland’s Baltic coast in 2025, is estimated to contain around 22 million tonnes of crude oil and five billion cubic metres of commercially recoverable natural gas, a find that directly challenges Europe's rhetorical commitment to climate action. This new fossil fuel project, located about six kilometres from the Polish port city Świnoujście and visible from the German holiday island of Usedom, underscores the continent's continued reliance on the very resources driving global climate breakdown and subsequent mass displacement.
The Climate Cost of Fortress Europe
The discovery came from exploratory drilling carried out by Canadian company Central European Petroleum in July 2025, one year ago, at a depth exceeding 2,500 metres. Rolf G. Skaar, the company’s chief executive, described the find as a “historic moment” for both the corporation and Poland’s energy sector. Poland’s chief geologist, Krzysztof Galos, indicated in July 2025 that regular production could commence as early as 2028 or 2029. This deposit, he suggested, could cover four to five percent of Poland’s annual oil demand over several years, potentially reducing the nation's dependence on energy imports and strengthening its security of supply. Such nationalistic energy security arguments consistently override the urgent global need for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, perpetuating the conditions that force people from their homes in the Global South. The EU, while presenting itself as a climate leader, continues to enable the extraction of the very resources that will swell the ranks of climate refugees, only to then criminalise their movement at its borders.
Concerns are mounting in Świnoujście regarding the potential impact on tourism and the environment. Local authorities and residents insist on preserving the region’s appeal and protecting its natural environment. However, the prospect of extracting new fossil fuels has met particularly strong resistance from Germany, where environmental groups have formed a powerful alliance.
Profiting from Planetary Destruction
BUND, the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, has joined forces with Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), WWF, and the citizens’ initiative Lebensraum Vorpommern. This alliance demands a general ban on all new oil and gas projects in the Baltic Sea. By the end of July this year, the organisers reported collecting some 88,000 signatures for their petition. This collective action highlights the growing public awareness of the devastating consequences of fossil capital. The petition is due to be submitted to the European Commission in Brussels in September, in just one month, directly challenging the EU's often-touted Green Deal. The continued pursuit of fossil fuels by corporate interests, backed by national governments, exposes the hypocrisy of a continent that builds walls against those displaced by climate chaos it actively fuels.
These environmental organisations warn of severe damage to the Baltic’s fragile ecosystem. They cite risks including underwater noise, pollutant discharges, and the potential for an oil spill in protected marine areas. Sascha Müller-Kraenner, DUH’s federal managing director, called for unified action from the federal government, the state, and the EU to safeguard the Bay of Pomerania and the wider Baltic Sea. “So far, the exploratory well has not led to an authorised production project, and that must remain the case,” Müller-Kraenner stated. He insisted that the federal government, the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state government, and the European Union must collectively send a clear message: “there must be no new oil and gas extraction directly off Usedom.”
Resistance to Fossil Capital
Müller-Kraenner also urged political parties in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to take a clear stance on protecting the coast from a new fossil industrial project, just weeks before the upcoming state election. This election could prove decisive in the unfolding conflict between Poland’s national energy interests and German environmental demands. While local environmental protection is vital, the broader context reveals Europe's continued prioritization of corporate profits and national energy "security" over global climate justice, a policy framework that inevitably exacerbates the climate crisis and criminalises those displaced by its effects. This resistance against fossil fuel extraction is a crucial front in the larger struggle for climate justice and migrant solidarity.