{"id":25007,"date":"2025-09-22T14:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T12:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/?p=25007"},"modified":"2025-10-17T09:13:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T07:13:23","slug":"czechs-skeptical-attitudes-toward-climate-change-have-strengthened-since-2020-knowledge-of-ets2-is-shallow-and-the-public-mostly-associates-it-with-rising-costs-and-more-bureaucracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/czechs-skeptical-attitudes-toward-climate-change-have-strengthened-since-2020-knowledge-of-ets2-is-shallow-and-the-public-mostly-associates-it-with-rising-costs-and-more-bureaucracy\/","title":{"rendered":"Czechs\u2019 Skeptical Attitudes Toward Climate Change Have Strengthened Since 2020. Knowledge of ETS2 Is Shallow, and the Public Mostly Associates It with Rising Costs and More Bureaucracy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

STEM has long focused on public attitudes towards climate change and broader environmental issues and topics. To analyze these attitudes, we use a typology that divides the public into five groups[1]<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As of August 2025, about 43% of the population belonged to groups emphasizing climate change. More than one-third (38%) expressed skeptical attitudes, while one-fifth remained uncertain. Since 2020, skepticism has gradually risen: the share of the \u201cConvinced\u201d dropped from 34% to 28%, and the \u201cConcerned\u201d from 22% to 15%. In contrast, the skeptical and critical segments have grown. The \u201cUncertain\u201d group has remained steady at around 17\u201319%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201eWe interpret this trend as a result of growing politicization. Debate has shifted from broad goals to specific policies. A portion of the public rejecting these measures also tends to downplay the problem itself \u2013 with lower conviction that climate change is human-driven, or the belief that the issue should be dealt with later,\u201d explains STEM analyst Martin Philipp.<\/em><\/em> Distribution of attitudes varies significantly across the political spectrum. Among Pirate (with Greens) supporters, 58% are \u201cConvinced\u201d and another 12% \u201cConcerned\u201d \u2014 together making up 70%. STAN voters are less one-sided, but still lean majority pro-climate, as do SPOLU supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Among ANO supporters, attitudes are more evenly spread. Pro-climate groups make up 38% \u2014 slightly below the national average \u2014 while only 14% are \u201cCritical,\u201d showing no strong polarization. In contrast, STA\u010cILO! (SOCDEM) voters lean more skeptical, with 31% \u201cCritical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPD supporters (together with Svobodn\u00ed, PRO, and Trikolora) are strongly skeptical: one-third (34%) are \u201cCritical\u201d and 23% are \u201cSkeptical.\u201d Among Motorist\u00e9 sob\u011b supporters, negative views are even stronger \u2014 two-thirds are<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Czech publics\u2018 knowledge<\/a> of the currently implemented system of emission allowances ETS2 is still limited. Only 15% declare they have a clear understanding, while 33% have some general awareness. On the other side of the spectrum, there is approximately 29% of those who have never heard of the ETS2 and almost a quarter of the population admits it has vague knowledge of what exactly the ETS2 is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are Emissions Allowances?<\/em><\/strong>
The EU ETS is a market-based system in which the European Union sets a declining cap on total emissions and issues a limited number of allowances (1 allowance = the right to emit 1 ton of CO\u2082). Companies must cover their emissions with allowances. Those that can reduce emissions at lower cost save allowances and sell them, while others must purchase additional ones. Because the total number of allowances decreases every year, overall emissions are reduced as well.<\/em>

What Is ETS2?<\/em><\/strong>
The new ETS2 system covers emissions from fuel use in buildings and road transport. The obligation to purchase allowances falls on fuel suppliers (gas, coal, gasoline, diesel), not directly on households. The costs are passed on to final prices of fossil fuels and heating, which is intended to encourage a faster transition to cleaner heating and transport. Revenues from allowances are returned to small businesses and households in the form of subsidies and contributions through the Social Climate Fund.<\/em>

Source: EU ETS2 \u2013 Emissions trading in the buildings, road transport, and other sectors, available <\/em>here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Supporters of STAN and SPOLU show somewhat higher baseline awareness \u2013 about half report at least some knowledge, though detailed understanding remains rare. Pirate (with Greens) voters, despite their strong pro-climate orientation, also hover mostly around the basic-awareness level. Paradoxically, those who claim the greatest familiarity with ETS2 are often supporters of parties with skeptical attitudes \u2013 Motorist\u00e9 sob\u011b, SPD, and STA\u010cILO! (SOCDEM). Between one-quarter and one-third of these voters say they are \u201cwell-informed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe link this higher awareness to the fact that these parties often highlight ETS2 in their communications, usually in a negative context. This shapes the public debate, so ETS2 in the Czech Republic is framed predominantly critically,\u201d<\/em> explains STEM analyst Doris Borovcov\u00e1. \u201cAs a result, some voters appear more informed than others, but their knowledge is often based on the critical framing of party campaigns, focusing mostly on price increases \u2014 especially fuel prices.\u201d<\/em>
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The negative framing of ETS2 reaches the public more often than positive communication. About half of the population has encountered the message that ETS2 will drive up prices. Many also connect ETS2 more with the current government than with the former government of Prime Minister Babi\u0161. In contrast, messages about ecological benefits or economic compensation are much less widespread \u2013 only about one-third of the population has heard them. \u201cOnly one in five has heard about how ETS2 might affect low-income households, and even then, without clear details,\u201d<\/em> notes Borovcov\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When asked about their opinion of ETS2, about two-thirds of Czechs believe the system will bring more bureaucracy and opportunities for corruption. One in three expects<\/a> a significant hit to their household budget and most also agree the situation is confusing and unclear. Skepticism about potential benefits is widespread: about one-third believe in ecological improvements, but only weakly; around 17% see potential in energy independence or subsidies for savings; and almost no one expects to personally benefit from ETS2 revenues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Negative expectations are especially strong among SPD,<\/a> STA\u010cILO! (SOCDEM), and Motorist\u00e9 sob\u011b supporters, four out of five of whom fear more bureaucracy or corruption, with similar numbers concerned about household budgets. ANO voters are somewhat less critical, but three in five still expect higher bureaucracy or financial strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporters of SPOLU and STAN are more open to positive outcomes: about half see potential in cleaner heating and transport, or in applying a fairer \u201cpolluter pays\u201d principle. Pirate (with Greens\u2019) voters are the most optimistic, mentioning negative impacts far less frequently. This correlates with the higher share of pro-climate voters in their base. \u201cNevertheless, confidence in compensation and personal benefit from ETS2 revenues remains low, and across the political spectrum people continue to feel the overall situation is unclear,\u201d<\/em> concludes Borovcov\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dataset for the above analysis was generated as part of a survey conducted by STEM for CNN Prima NEWS. The survey took place in August 2025 (three waves in the second half of August) using the CAWI method on a sample of N = 1,548 respondents.
The survey is based on quota sampling to represent the Czech adult population (quota criteria: gender, age, education, region, and size of municipality). Additional attention was given to ensuring the dataset also reflects voting behavior in the 2021 parliamentary elections. The data were weighted by socio-occupational status, past voting behavior in the 2021 parliamentary elections, and in the second round of the 2023 presidential election.
A detailed description of the research methodology is available on STEM\u2019s website here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[1]<\/a>Rozd\u011bleni klimatem 2021, available from: https:\/\/www.irozhlas.cz\/zivotni-styl\/spolecnost\/zmena-klimatu-sucho-migrace-vyzkum-rozdeleni-svobodou-datova-zurnalistika-cesky_2105120534_nkr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since 2020, there has been a gradual increase in climate-skeptical attitudes among the Czech public. According to the latest data, 43% of citizens now hold pro-climate views, 38% are skeptical, and about 19% remain uncertain. One key factor is the growing politicization of the issue, especially in connection with new emissions measures currently under discussion and in the legislative process. This is particularly evident in the debate over ETS2. Only 15% of the population know exactly what this emissions trading system entails. Supporters of Motorist\u00e9 sob\u011b, SPD (together with Svobodn\u00ed, PRO, and Trikolora), and STA\u010cILO! (SOCDEM) report above-average awareness of ETS2, reflecting the fact that these parties frequently highlight the issue in their campaigns. Overall, however, expectations of ETS2 are mostly negative: about half of the population associates it with higher costs or increased bureaucracy. Potential benefits such as cleaner heating and transport or the \u201cpolluter pays\u201d principle resonate much less strongly. These positive aspects are more often acknowledged among supporters of SPOLU, STAN, and the Pirates (with the Greens), where pro-climate voters are more prevalent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":24808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[553],"tags":[578,757,758],"class_list":["post-25007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other","tag-climate-change","tag-ets2","tag-green-transformation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}