Czech Republic Czech Republic

The Czech Republic ranks 52nd in this year’s CCPI, down seven spots and among the countries with a low performance.

It receives low ratings in the GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, and Climate Policy categories, and a very low in Energy Use. As a European Union member, the Czech Republic has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero by 2050.

Complicated permit procedures hamper renewable energy projects

The CCPI country experts criticise the government’s energy policy. In 2022, the Czech Republic set a date of 2033 for phasing out coal energy, but the slow introduction of renewable energy sources to replace coal and lignite power plants is challenging. The experts attribute this to a lack of investment by energy companies (partly due to the previous year’s energy market uncertainties) and the government’s failure to create a stable environment for necessary investment. Complicated permit procedures also hamper the development of renewable energy projects. The experts would like to see the permit process shortened. They suggest the government should use all support possibilities that the EU offers.

However, there are plans to end support for gas boilers. Another positive development is the increased support for rooftop solar projects. Thanks to the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package, the Czech Republic has started preparing key legislation, such as an energy law enabling the sharing of electricity from decentralised sources. The experts welcome the country’s strong energy efficiency policies and good support for low-income households. Unfortunately, this support will end at the end of 2023. At that point, the highest energy prices in the EU, including the extra cost of renewables, will be fully charged to all households and businesses, leading to sharply increased military spending (up 40% year-on-year in 2024), according to the experts. Such spending negatively impacts greenhouse gas emissions, both in producing weapons and in their use.

Progress in industrial decarbonisation

The country has made some progress in industrial decarbonisation, but not enough, especially in the historically strong steel sector. The CCPI experts note that industry is in many ways more ambitious than the state. There is still general support for the automotive industry (the Czech Republic has the world’s second-highest per capita automobile production). There are no efforts to reduce individual transport and prioritise mass multimodal transport systems, although Prague’s system was recently rated the world’s second best (after Berlin). High-speed rail is not yet being built and the legal limit for train speeds is still 160 km/h. There is a hydrogen strategy, but implementation is lagging.

Key Outcomes

  • The Czech Republic ranks 52nd in this year’s CCPI
  • In 2022, the Czech Republic set a date of 2033 for phasing out coal energy, but the slow introduction of renewable energy sources to replace coal and lignite power plants is challenging
  • Key demands: shortening of permit procedures for renewable energy projects

CCPI experts

The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:

Key Indicators

CCPI 2024: Target comparison