Public attitudes

In the Czech Republic climate change is not at the top of the political agenda. The vast majority of Czechs (70% in the most recent Eurobarometer survey) believe that climate change has been affected by the actions of man and is an issue which needs to be addressed. However, other issues such as energy security, scarcity of drinking water, loss of biodiversity and waste management are higher up their worry-list. The challenge for those countries such as the UK who are seeking urgent action on climate change is to convince the public and politicians that these issues are directly connected with climate change.

 

Working within the EU
 

The Czech Government worked hard and performed well during its Presidency of the EU (January-June 2009). It sought to build consensus within the EU on climate change ahead of December’s important UN meeting in Copenhagen, and succeeded in moving the EU’s preparations forward. The UK hopes that the Czech Republic will continue to seek an ambitious, comprehensive, forward-looking deal in Copenhagen.

 

Moving to a low carbon economy
 

In October 2008, McKinsey and Company published a useful report which analysed the options (and associated costs) available to the Czech Republic in its bid to move to a low carbon economy. Options include:

• making energy usage more efficient,
• increased use of renewable energy,
• increased use of nuclear energy,
• use of carbon capture and storage.

The Czech Environment Ministry has built on this research, and in May 2009 submitted a forward-looking draft Climate Protection Policy to the Government. It is now for the Government to decide which options are most appropriate for the Czech Republic.

 

Impact of climate change

Studies by the Czech Ministry of Environment show that climate change is likely to impact the Czech Republic in the following ways:

• Precipitation patterns will change. There will be a higher risk of floods and longer dry periods. Water management will become more difficult.
• Crops will fail more often and there will be a risk to forest ecosystems, especially spruce forests (due to extreme temperatures).
• Tropical diseases such as malaria may become prevalent in warmer parts of the country e.g. southern Moravia.