Czech Republic By Jiri Jerabek (Centre for Transport and Energy, Czech Republic)

Basic information

	Base-year emissions Mt CO2	2007 emissions Mt CO2	Change 2006– 2007 %	Change 2007/base year %	Kyoto target %
Czech Republic	194.7	150.8	1.2	–22.4	–8.0
EU-15	4232.9	4052.0	–1.6	–5.0	–8.0
EU-27	5564.0	5045.1	–1.2	–9.3	No target

2007

GDP Growth

2008

GDP Growth

2009

GDP Growth (est.) %

Gross Inland Energy Consumption Change

Feb.2009/ Feb.2008 %

Czech Republic

6,1

3,0

-2,7

-2,9

Source: EEA Report No. 5/2007

Greenhouse-gas emissions for emission-trading system sectors were 82,5 mil. t CO2 for 2005, 83,6 for 2006 and 86,8 for 2007. This is an increase by 5% in two years. The main cause of increased ETS emissions according to our analysis is the low price of carbon allowances and increased production (consumption and export) of electricity from coal-powered plants. In the non-EU sector it is the constant growth of the transport industry. Future emission increases depend very much on the final form of the climate package and on the national climate strategy developed by the end of 2008.

Public attitude towards Climate Change (CC)

The latest Eurobarometer poll shows that concern about climate change is lower within the Czech population than it is anywhere else in the EU.

Is the public concerned about changing weather and/or is there interest in UN CC policies?

No opinion data are available on this topic. Our estimations are that there is some concern about weather (disasters) and almost no interest in UN policies.

Does the public generally consider weather extremes (droughts, floods) as the result of human caused CC or as the natural weather cycles?

No opinion data are available on this topic. We estimate that the last big floods have made people more sensitive to this topic and that the public is thinking more about weather extremes.

According to your view what share of population is considering global warming as beneficial for your country?

There are some voices in the public emphasising the benefits of CC in the Czech Republic including the Czech president.

Does the public know about Kyoto and its implication for the country?

No opinion data are available on this topic. We estimate a very low awareness.

Would the general public be willing to make sacrifices voluntarily like paying more for energy or investing in energy efficiency in exchange for reductions of GHG emissions?

The latest Czech polls by CVVM (http://www.cvvm.cas.cz/upl/zpravy/100806s_oe80625a.pdf)

shows no change in public considering CC as a global problem (75% in 2002, 75% in 2008; respondents ranked it as the 4^th least important problem out of 12 listed problems – first is drinking water with 95%, last nuclear with 33%).

Which measures have the best chances to be introduced quickly in order to reduce GHG emissions?

Approve a strong national climate-change strategy which would consist of a combination of measures and funds dedicated for such activities. A new climate law as in the UK.

What is the public attitude towards US rejection of Kyoto Protocol?

Mainly saying that the US and China do nothing, so why shouldn’t we do the same?

CC "hot topics" being discussed in 2008?

President Klaus’s skepticism is the most visible feature of the Czech climate debate. Since the end of 2006 he has been very active in commenting on CC-related issues and opposing any action to save the climate. He consistently says that climate change is ‘a myth’, claiming that it is nothing more than ‘hysteria’. He wrote a book about this topic (‘Blue, Not Green Planet’), published in April 2007, recently available in the German language, in English (printed in US), in Russian and in Dutch.

NGOs are criticising each of his actions. This showed up as a successful strategy since it was easy to argue and the media was listening. During this time, also, journalists found out that the Czech president is a bit lonely, and they did not take him so seriously. The Czech president’s position is not imbued with strong executive powers; however, he has a strong informal influence on policy and politics. He is trying to do his own foreign policy which is quite often not consistent with the governmental one. Another “hot topic” is that of the Czech presidency of the EU in the first half of 2009. CC will be the priority of our EU government, but the specific implications of this statement is a big topic in the governmental coalition, in general with Greens pushing this agenda and with conservatives restricting it.

NGOs activities

Are the NGOs in your country visible in CC debate?

On the expert and political level, yes. Not in the public debate. Firstly, there is no public debate, and secondly, NGOs do not get much space in the media.

Do the NGOs serve as the partners for the government in CC debate (shaping of policies)?

NGOs are regularly in contact with the ministries.

Is the IPCC 4^th Report used by the NGOs as the source of information?

Yes, it is the main source.

What are the main measures considered by the NGOs to fight CC (RE, energy savings, others)?

Renewables, efficiency, energy savings, green procurement, switch from coal to gas.

Media coverage of CC

Are the media (journalists) interested in CC except of natural disasters like flooding?

Not much.

Did you found in media any information on future targets (post Kyoto)? Is the information about EU CC matters (burden-sharing, ETS) interesting enough for the media?

They mainly translate the headline news from Reuters. On the Czech level, they cover activities of president Klaus.

What is the best domestic source of information on CC (in national language)?

Environmental ministry: www.env.cz

Czech climate coalition: www.zmenaklimatu.cz

Czech Hydrometeorological Institute: www.chmu.cz

Did the media informed about the IPCC 4^th Report outcomes?

Yes, we have Czech translations of the summaries.

Policies and Measures

Has the government started a public discussion on post 2012 targets?

Some members of the government (unfortunately from the most powerful political party) prefer to question the need for further emission reductions rather than seriously discuss their scope. There is no substantial informed public debate about a Post-2012 climate regime.

EU effort sharing: Some countries (Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia) are questioning the reference year 2005 chosen by the EC to calculate how each of the 27 EU member states will contribute to the EU's 20% greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions by 2020. What is the position of your country?

The Czech Republic so far supports 2005 as a base year for calculation of 2020 targets and thus is not likely to join the group of the new member states that are questioning this base year.

Will the NGOs support the EC proposal of higher or lower targets?

The NGOs would like to see reduction of GHG emissions by 30 by 2020 for the EU domestically, as only such reduction would fairly and equitably contribute to the 2^oC target according to latest science.

Will public (including media, independent voices) support the EC proposal of higher or lower targets?

Media probably will not support higher targets. Some of the media could advocate for lower targets, mainly as a result of lobbying by industry.

Is the ETS as the way to GHG reductions openly supported by the government and industry?

The EU ETS at its first stage (allocation plans 1 and 2) was perceived as an opportunity to subsidize Czech industry with excess allowances, since the country is well below its Kyoto target and so there was no need for any GHG reductions. This was the major problem of this instrument. With the proposed changes in its design, the usual fears are prevailing: concerns about competitiveness, energy prices, and unemployment.

Do you know about companies participating in the ETS that earned huge profits in your country? Is this publicly known?

The table below clearly shows the winners of the first trading period (2005-2007). Apart from the power sector, it is mainly the chemical industry that benefited most from huge overallocations. Power company ČEZ, a.s. (the biggest power producer in Czech Rep., majority state-owned) was broadly and well reported to gain profits of almost 1 billion Czech crowns (41 million EUR) in 2005.

Sectors	Allocation for 2005 (NAP 1)	CO2 emissions in 2005	Difference between allocation for 2005 and real CO2 emissions in 2005 (%)
Public Energy Production	63 485 493	55 962 324	13
Corporate Energy Production	3 766 771	2 527 031	49
Refineries	1 370 498	996 971	37
Chemical Production	5 574 288	4 684 701	19
Coke	249 827	238 046	5
Production and Processing of Metals	15 455 479	12 225 291	26
Cement	3 047 260	2 553 038	19
Lime	1 341 085	1 008 137	33
Glass	827 848	782 407	6
Ceramics	808 166	717 173	13
Cellulose	251 899	140 557	79
Paper	948 384	618 051	53
Total	97 448 020	82 453 727	18

According to the IPCC Annex I Parties will need to reduce GHG emissions “between 25 and 40 percent below 1990 levels for the period beyond 2012. Do you see this as a realistic target for your country?

Since Czech Republic already has reduced its emissions by around 23% (2006) and the potential for further reduction is – 40% by 2020, the real emissions depend on EU and national legislation as well as on business commitments.

What is the government doing to inform the public on how to reduce GHG emissions: how to save energy, which and how renewable energy (RE) can be introduced? Is it enough what they do?

There is no big public campaign about this.

What are the measures in force for promoting RE like feed-in tariffs for RE?

Feed-in tariffs, subventions.

What are the measures in force for promoting energy savings?

There are and were many different governmental measures aiming to reduce energy use and to promote energy efficiency. The governmental strategies are listed in the National Program to Abate the Climate Change Impacts in the Czech Republic (English: http://www.env.cz/AIS/web-pub-en.nsf/$pid/MZPOBFKFL7JL) and in the State Energy Policy (English: http://www.mpo.cz/dokument12265.html). They consist mainly of subsidies for different public or private sectors. The impacts are (were) not significant due to inadequate amounts of finances earmarked for this purpose.

What is the main progress in energy savings and RE introduction that is visible in the last years?

Feed-in-tariffs from 2004, and recently, EU structural funds.

How do you see chances of RE and energy savings against the fossil fuels in your country?

RE potentially could rise to 17% of final energy consumption, and EE has even greater potential. The heat consumption in the housing sector can be reduced at a reasonable price by 60%. Fulfillment of the indicative target of electricity production from renewable sources:

http://www.mpo.cz/dokument12942.html

Which new fossil fuel power plants are under construction?

One block under construction: Ledvice, done by CEZ, new block 660 MW, 47% effectiveness. Two old blocks (2x110MW) are slated to be closed there by the end of 2010.

Which new fossil fuel power plants are planned?

There are plans for two new natural-gas power plants. One in Pocerady is planned by CEZ, 2x 440MW, to be finished by 2013. The second one at Uzin is also planned by CEZ (220MW). Nevertheless, there is a strong opposition from local residents.

Is the clean coal burning being proposed as the option (incl. Carbon Capture and Storage) and how should it be financed?

The biggest Czech energy company, CEZ, is assessing two places in which it might build CCS and is trying to find some subsidies for doing so. The last unsuccessful attempt was to get part of the revenues from Kyoto credits. At the end, all of the money will go to energy efficiency.

Is the nuclear power considered by the government as the option for GHG emission reduction?

There is a split within the government (and parliament). The Greens do not want new NPPs, the rest of the parties want them. The official position of the government is not to promote or plan new NPPs.

Other information

Who are the main stakeholders and governmental bodies responsible for CC process in your country?

The Ministry of Environment, Minister of Environment, Prime Minister, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Czech Hydro Meteorological Institute.

Domestic web address where relevant can be found?

Environmental ministry: www.env.cz

Czech climate coalition: www.zmenaklimatu.cz

Czech Hydrometeorological Institute: www.chmu.cz

Czech public polls in the last 7 years show no improvement in perceiving CC as a global threat. However, there is a significant change in the national debate. Since 2007, CC gets more place in the media as well as in politics. The attitude of national opinion-formers is slowly changing. A recent sign of positive development is the fact that CC is a priority of the Czech EU presidency.