Accessible public transport for all!

Austerity in the public transport sector

Despite international treaties and growing global pressures to combat climate change, the greenhouse gas emissions in the Polish transport sector increased by 77 per cent between 2005 and 2017. Simultaneously, the Polish government implemented drastic cuts to the public transport sector, resulting, for example, in the termination of several bus lines. Although the promotion of public transport use would bring Poland closer to its promised climate goals, the government’s policies are making its population more dependent on cars and have left approximately 15 million Poles excluded from transport (out of a population of 38 million!). This is not only harmful for the environment but also a source of social inequality: according to Unicef, the measures have mainly cut off poorer rural children and teenagers from their social network, education, the cultural sector and essential health services.

The Last Generation

In 2024, a group of activists, previously active in movements that employ conventional protest methods, founded Ostatnie Pokolenie (Last Generation) to focus on direct action instead. The organization’s first actions, including a blockade of the entrance to Taylor Swift’s Warsaw concert to draw attention to the emissions of the richest 1% and the twentyfold occupation of a major highway, were successful and received extensive media attention. As a result, Ostatnie Pokolonie was invited to speak in the Senate and received endorsement letters from over 100 Polish public figures.

An occupation of the Polish parliament

With the support of The Action Fund, Ostatnie Pokolenie occupied the Polish parliamentary grounds in Warsaw for five days in September 2025. On the first day of the occupation, the protesters parked two trucks in front of the parliament’s exit while around twenty people glued themselves to the ground, wearing their signature orange traffic vests. Their demands? A transfer of all money, earmarked for highway expansion, to public transport starting in 2025 and the introduction of a 50 zloty per month (around twelve euros) ticket for the entire public transport system to make transport accessible to all Polish residents.

The occupation was successful! After four weeks of deliberation, the Ostatnie Pokolenie bill was passed by 94.3% of parliament, supporting the introduction of the affordable public transport ticket. The Action Fund is proud to have supported this action and continues to stand in solidarity with everyone fighting for the climate and accessible public services for all!