The news in Czech
V České republice se snížily emise uhlíku, což je největší zlepšení za posledních třicet let. To je i přes rostoucí ceny energií. Premiér Petr Fiala vyjádřil obavy z evropských klimatických cílů a jejich vlivu na ekonomiku. Diskuze o Zelené dohodě trvá. Vláda hledá rovnováhu mezi ekologií a ekonomikou.
Translation
Carbon emissions have decreased in the Czech Republic, marking the most significant improvement in the last thirty years, despite rising energy prices. Prime Minister Petr Fiala has expressed concerns about European climate targets and their impact on the economy. The discussion about the Green Deal continues. The government is working to balance environmental commitments with economic considerations.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: What has happened to carbon emissions in the Czech Republic?
Carbon emissions have decreased in the Czech Republic.
Question 2: What is Prime Minister Petr Fiala concerned about?
Prime Minister Petr Fiala is concerned about the impact of European climate goals on the economy.
Exercise: Vocabulary
snížit - reduce
emise (f.) - emission
růst - growing
vyjádřit - expressed
obava (f.) - concern
rovnováha (f.) - balance
Read the full story
▌20/10/2024
Recent reports indicate a significant reduction in carbon emissions in Czechia, marking the largest improvement in over three decades. Last year saw emissions fall by nearly one tonne per capita, an eight percent decrease, hailed as a milestone comparable to the economic shifts seen in the early 1990s. This decline stands in contrast to global trends, where overall carbon footprints continue to rise.
Despite this achievement, the reduction partly stemmed from economic pressures, following sharp increases in electricity and gas prices. This led to energy conservation efforts and investments in self-production, benefiting emission levels but adversely affecting the country's economic stability.
Czech Carbon Emissions Drop Amid Green Deal Debate (Illustration)
In the political realm, the discussion has been overshadowed by the ongoing European Green Deal debates. Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed concerns over Europe's bureaucratic approach to climate goals, asserting that ambitious targets set by the Green Deal may be unrealistic. He called for a reassessment of policies like the planned ban on combustion engines by 2035, suggesting that current high energy prices undermine European competitiveness with markets like China and the USA.
Fiala's remarks contrasted with his earlier support for the Green Deal, prompting criticism from political opponents who accuse the administration of backtracking on commitments and increasing financial burdens on households.
Meanwhile, the Czech government continues to navigate the complexities of climate commitments and economic strategies, delaying deliberations on key energy and climate policies. This regulatory uncertainty raises concerns about further impacts on industries and consumer costs.
Info: 'Czech Learner News' is a service from 'Let's Learn Czech', a language school dedicated to teaching the Czech language. We offer a variety of online Czech course options for all skill levels.
