Index: Czech Republic Rises from 22nd to 19th Position Compared to EU Environment

Prague – The environmental situation in the Czech Republic is showing improvement compared to other EU nations. In the recent assessment, the Czech Republic has moved up from 22nd place in 2023 and 2024 to 19th in the current year. This information comes from the Prosperity and Financial Health Index, which was shared with ČTK by Česká spořitelna and the Europe in Data project. Sweden continues to lead as the country with the best environmental status, while Ireland, Cyprus, and Greece occupy the bottom three positions.

Despite a steady decline in total greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the Czech Republic, the nation still ranks poorly in this category. It remains the sixth largest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the EU, although emissions have decreased from 10.16 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to 9.25 tons over the years, according to data from Eurostat.

“The most significant drop in emissions has been observed in the energy sector, largely due to the gradual phase-out of coal-fired power plants and a shift toward renewable energy sources,” stated Barbora Kočí from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ). In manufacturing, a reduction in carbon emissions is evident thanks to the adoption of more efficient technologies. Data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) indicates that the Czech Republic has made substantial improvements in emissions related to forests and soils as a result of human activity. While it historically ranked the lowest in this category within the EU, the country has now improved to 22nd place.

In specific sectors contributing to emissions, the Czech Republic performs well, particularly in transport and storage. According to Eurostat, it ranks third best in the EU for emissions per capita, with nearly 1,287 kilograms. Only Romania and Slovakia have lower emissions per person. Conversely, industrial emissions continue to show a negative trend. Although pollutant levels released into the air are gradually decreasing, the Czech Republic remains in 19th place, reflecting longstanding challenges in this area.

In 1999, the socioeconomic costs of air pollution in the Czech Republic exceeded 13 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP); however, the latest figures indicate these costs have fallen to six percent of GDP. “Despite this progress, we still rank among the countries with the highest costs associated with air pollution,” noted analyst from Česká spořitelna, Tereza Hrtúsová. (April 16)