Achieving carbon neutrality will cost the Czech Republic 675 billion crowns, says PM Andrej Babiš

Prague, Dec 11 (CTK) – The costs of reaching carbon neutrality in the Czech Republic will amount to 675 billion crowns and the EU should take this into account in the next EU budget period, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš tweeted today.

Babiš had a meeting with Environment Minister Richard Brabec (both ANO), the general director of the CEZ national power company, Daniel Benes, and the state secretary for European affairs, Milena Hrdinkova.

He said they had agreed on a strategy for the meeting of the European Council that would start in Brussels on Thursday.

“The Czech Republic also wants to achieve carbon neutrality, but it is impossible without nuclear energy. The EU must recognise it as an emissions-free source. Some countries are still against this. We must convince them, with the help of the European Commission,” Babiš said.

Carbon neutrality means that each country neutralises as many emissions as it produces.

“Moreover, the costs of carbon neutrality will be prohibitive. We have already estimated them at 675 billion crowns. We want the EU to take this into account in the next budget period,” Babiš said.

The commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 will be the main topic of the EU summit.

Hrdinkova said on Tuesday that so far, the Czech Republic could not accede to it.

Among other countries, too, one can also see a strong will to comply with the demands of the countries, which, like the Czech Republic, have a problem with financing a transition towards an environment-friendly economy.

This June, the Czech Republic, mainly along with Poland, blocked a plan to achieve EU carbon neutrality.

Along with financial support for the regions dependent on fossil fuels, the sceptical EU countries, such as Poland and the Czech Republic, would like to be assured that due to the new obligation, living standards will not fall steeply.