Despite pouring billions into environmental protection, the Czech Republic struggles to meet its green targets, according to a comprehensive report by the National Audit Office (NKÚ). The country invested nearly 130 billion crowns in 2023 alone, yet remains among the EU’s poorest environmental performers.
The environmental funding, including 72 billion crowns from the Environmental Operational Programme between 2014-2020, targeted crucial areas such as energy efficiency, water management, waste management, nature protection, and air quality improvements. However, the impact falls short of expectations, with the Czech Republic ranking as the sixth-worst among 27 EU countries in environmental performance as of 2024.
One of the most pressing concerns is waste management. The country recycles only 38.3% of its waste, far below the 2030 target of 60%. Nearly half of all waste still ends up in landfills, placing the Czech Republic 12th in EU recycling rankings. Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions remain high at 10.16 tons of CO2 per capita, putting the country in sixth place for emissions in the EU.
However, it’s not all bad news. Since the 1990s, sulfur dioxide emissions have dropped by almost 95%. Water quality has also improved significantly since 2000, with the percentage of households connected to sewage systems rising from 56% in 1995 to nearly 87% in 2023.
The NKÚ attributes the limited progress to poor management, slow administration, legislative barriers, and inadequate enforcement of regulations. Inter-departmental disputes further complicate the situation.