The climate crisis and the war in Ukraine's common denominator: fossil fuels dependence Published: 14 April 2022 Commentary The consequences of the war in Ukraine are palpable even in Bratislava, over a thousand kilometres from the border. Ukrainian is heard more often on the streets, cars with Ukrainian number plates are appearing on the roads, the windows of shops and apartments are festooned with Ukrainian flags, and the city is alive with marches and initiatives in support of Ukraine. The only thing that has remained unaffected is the flow of oil and gas from Russia to Slovakia, and our payments for it. By Dorota Osvaldová
Growing protests against priority investments in Hungary Published: 29 December 2021 Commentary The Hungarian Government has classified more than 3000 investments as priority projects, which means that for these projects, both public participation and control by experts who are independent are practically non-existent. By András Lukács
The tragic consequences of EU funding on the environment in Hungary Published: 5 November 2021 Commentary To avoid further environmental damages due to the use of EU money, the European Commission should suspend funding to the Hungarian government. By András Lukács
A society between climate transformation and austerity policy Published: 1 November 2021 Article Environmental and climate policies are not in the spotlight of the winners of last weekend’s elections in Czechia. As right-wing coalitions are going to form a new government, rising energy prices and the starting climate transformation, combined with austerity policies, could cause social conflict and open the way for the renewal of progressive movements and parties. Socially sensitive modernisation should be one of the key points for their new agenda. By Anna Kárníková
Climate, justice and citizens’ participation Published: 1 November 2021 Summary Summary of the panel 'People's power vs Climate crisis' at the Budapest Forum on the 16th September 2021. The conference was co-organized by the Municipality of Budapest, Political Capital Institute and CEU Democracy Institute. Heinrich Böll Foundation was a strategic partner at the conference. The panel was moderated by Benedek Jávor, former MEP of The Greens/EFA, currently the Head of Representation of Budapest to Brussels. The keynote was delivered by Ellen Ueberschär, co-president of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. By Benedek Jávor
Plan for completion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant continues to pose a security threat Published: 14 June 2021 Analysis Czech Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček refused to exclude Russia’s Rosatom from the tender until it was revealed that operatives from Russian military intelligence, the GRU, were behind the 2014 explosions at munitions warehouses in Vrbětice. Even now, however, the Russian candidate is not out of play entirely. How is that possible, and what does it mean for Czech security? By František Marčík
Texas Power Grid Failure: Causes, Lessons Learned and Implications for EU Energy Market Transformation Published: 19 March 2021 Analysis In mid-February 2021, the US state of Texas, much like the rest of the country, was hit by a series of three severe winter storms. The resulting near-arctic weather conditions have laid bare the long-standing weaknesses and inefficiencies of the Texas energy system. By Matěj Jungwirth
Behind a Climate Smokescreen: Czech Support for Nuclear Energy Published: 7 February 2021 Analysis At first glance, it might seem that the Czech climate movement can put the flags out. A government bill on measures for the Czech Republic’s transition to a low-carbon energy industry has been submitted to the Chamber of Deputies and is being debated rapidly in extraordinary sessions. The title of the bill may evoke the anti-fossil law which was urged by Czech environmental organizations in the “Great Challenge” (“Velká výzva”) campaign for years. Nevertheless, as we learn in one of the bill’s introductory articles, the Definition of Terms, a low-carbon electricity generating plant for the purpose of this law means one with a nuclear reactor. The rapid reduction of risks related to global climate change is obviously not the real goal of this bill. By Karel Polanecký
Joe Biden and Climate: Cause for Cautious Optimism Published: 3 December 2020 Analysis The victory of the Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, in the American presidential elections is the most important development in global climate policies since the Paris climate agreement was drafted in late 2015. Who steers the US climate agenda and how matters a great deal to the rest of the world, and not just because the US is currently the planet’s second-largest polluter in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. By Matěj Jungwirth
Europe needs a Real Green Deal! Published: 20 July 2020 Commentary On 1 July, Germany takes over the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The coronavirus and economic crises are still raging, but the climate crisis cannot afford any delay. For this reason, the German government must fight for a Real Green Deal for Europe that combines economy and ecology and sets the course for a socio-ecological market economy. By Dr. Ellen Ueberschär