This paper emphasizes the role of universities in encouraging ecological initiatives for sustainable development. We characterized the origin of sustainability and its consistency with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. Moreover, we present ecological education as the concept of lifelong learning in the spirit of respect for the natural world. The examples of pro-ecological higher education initiatives were described, such as Poznan School of Logistics (“EKO-LOG” programme), Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce and the University of Social and Medical Sciences in Warsaw (education of ethnic minorities), Andrzej Frycz-Modrzewski Krakow University and the University of Agriculture in Krakow (Friend of the National Park educational program) as well as the AGH University of Science and Technology (continuing education). It has been shown that schools and universities play a major role in environmental education not only for children, but also adults. It is worth mentioning that the potential and clout of universities should be continuously employed in the environmental movement.
University didactics determines the individual’s place in the educational process as well as provides for a multidirectional continuing education which environmental protection is an important point. This discipline perfectly combines methods of working and scientific research. This paper describes particulates which are produced naturally and by anthropogenic sources. The influence of fossil fuel combustion on atmosphere conditions in a large urban agglomeration is shown. I discuss the causes of the high concentration of particulate matter pollution in Poland, which is tied to city planning and the development of the energy industry as well as the municipal and residential sector. The effects of introducing a ban on burning solid fuels in Krakow are reported.
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