The Czech Republic would seek to delay the EU’s new carbon pricing scheme for road and heating fuels, known as ETS2, until at least 2028, Prime Minister Petr Fiala declared.
We need to revise the environmental targets so that they do not have a negative impact on the whole economy.
The existing plan aims to expand carbon trading to cover road transport and heating of buildings. It is due to come into force in 2027. One of the government’s specific proposals will be to change a future emissions trading system.
We will persuade our counterparts in the EU to join our proposal to postpone the entry into force of the ETS 2 system until 2028, by which time we want to introduce stronger protection against the sharp rise in energy prices.
Fiala warned of the risk of increased costs for households, industry and business if the scheme was not revised. He said it was important for the Czech Republic to delay implementation for at least one year.
We could imagine a longer postponement, for example until energy prices in Europe are really competitive, but we are realistic, and we are trying to find the broadest possible consensus.
The country also rejected the European Commission’s new proposal to cut emissions by 2040.
