Environment Archives – Prague Morning

Environment

World Cleanup Day Invites Volunteers to Help Beautify Their Local Area

This year’s World Cleanup Day takes place on Saturday, 20 September, following the addition to the UN Calendar of International Days. The event brings together citizens, governments, and organizations to confront the global waste crisis, promoting a vision of a sustainable, waste-free world. “We are excited to join this global initiative again this year,” says Miroslav Kubásek from Ukliďme Česko, representing the event organizers. “With its inclusion in the UN calendar, World Cleanup Day will now be held on the fixed date of September 20th. However, participants can still register their cleanups for the following weekend or later in the autumn. Thanks to our partners, we have provided organizers and volunteers with durable bags and gloves for waste collection, just as we did in the spring.” The Global World Cleanup Movement will be paying special attention to textile waste and textile reuse this year, according to a news release. According to World Cleanup data, approximately 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated in the world every year. If nothing changes, this number is expected to reach 134 million tons by 2030. “If you’re interested in organizing your own cleanup event on September 20th or later in the fall, simply register...

by Prague Morning Aug 01, 2025

Prague’s Air is Worse Than Ostrava’s – These Locations Exceed Safe Limits

Air pollution in Prague is worse than what the European Union (EU) allows and far beyond what the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends. According to data from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), several locations in the capital have alarmingly high nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels. Surprisingly, Prague performed worse in air quality measurements than Ostrava, a city traditionally associated with heavy industry. While Ostrava met the EU’s NO₂ limits, Prague failed in most of the measured locations. Out of 17 traffic-heavy areas, only six complied with the EU’s air pollution standards. Which Areas in Prague Have the Worst Air? The EU’s legal limit for nitrogen dioxide stands at 40 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) of air. However, many places in Prague exceeded this limit by nearly 50%. The WHO’s guidelines are even stricter, recommending no more than 10 µg/m³—a level that Prague’s air quality falls far short of. Some of the worst-affected locations include: Ječná Street – 58.0 µg/m³ Plzeňská Street – 57.2 µg/m³ Radlická and Klicperova – 50.7 µg/m³ Ječná and Štěpánská intersection – 50.0 µg/m³ Smetana Embankment near Novotný Bridge – 52.3 µg/m³ Other problematic locations include intersections at V Botanice (47.8 µg/m³), Želivského and Biskupcova (46.6 µg/m³), Spořilov...

by Prague Morning Mar 18, 2025

Czech Republic Wants to Phase Out Coal by 2033

The Czech government has committed to phasing out coal-fired power generation by 2033, a step in line with Europe’s broader push for cleaner energy. Some of the country’s oldest coal-fired power plants are already making the transition, with the Opatovice lignite power plant aiming to end coal use by 2030 at the latest. However, the chosen alternative—natural gas—has sparked debate. Although natural gas produces fewer emissions than coal, it remains a fossil fuel. Critics argue that relying on gas only prolongs dependency on carbon-based energy sources, contradicting the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union aims for climate neutrality by 2050, with a milestone of cutting emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The EU’s “Fit for 55” policy drives this transition, mainly through emissions trading, making coal power increasingly unprofitable. Funds generated from emissions trading are channeled into the EU’s Modernisation Fund, which supports lower-income member states in shifting towards cleaner energy. Since 2021, the fund has distributed €15.5 billion, with Czechia, Romania, and Poland receiving the largest shares. In December, the fund allocated another €130 million for Czechia’s coal phase-out, with much of the money going toward natural gas projects and waste-to-energy...

by Prague Morning Mar 13, 2025

Prague Will Darken Monuments for Earth Hour 2025

Czechs will join millions of people around the globe in turning off their lights for 60 minutes on March 22 starting at 8:30 pm local time in a symbolic show of support for the Earth Hour campaign against climate change. Earth Hour will dim some of Prague’s best-known landmarks including Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square or the Žižkov TV tower. Other fifty businesses and administrative buildings will turn off their lights in the capital. In addition, the illumination of some famous landmarks will be turned off Prague and other cities around the Czech Republic first marked Earth Hour in 2012. One hundred thirty cities and towns are expected to join the campaign this year. Everyone recognizes the importance of environmental protection in everyday life in order to ensure a brighter future. In this way, we may leave a healthy Earth to future generations. Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event organized by WWF and allies and has now grown to become one of the world’s largest environmental grassroots initiatives. Every year on the final Saturday in March, millions of people in over 180 nations and territories participate in Earth Hour by turning off...

by Prague Morning Mar 12, 2025

Prague City Introduces Its First Fully Electric Bus Line

As one of the world’s largest and greenest cities according to the HUGSI index, Prague is stepping up its responsibility to live up to its reputation. An entire fleet of electric buses is now connecting the Metro C Budějovická station with the Brumlovka bus stop in Kačerov, Prague 4. Czechia has struggled recently with meeting the WHO guidelines for air quality and pollution levels, so ushering in new efforts to go green in the country’s busiest city, can spark a difference that may go a long way in the future. Since 2016, two SOR electric buses have been in operation on this bus line, labeled under ‘BB1’ and ‘BB2,’ providing emission-free transport to one of Prague’s most active business districts. Now, a third bus has been in operation since September of this year, making the shuttle service between the two stops 100% electric. It is estimated that 4,500 passengers use the transport in Brumlovka each day. “94% of passengers are satisfied with the shuttle service, mainly due to its cleanliness, sufficient capacity, and connection intervals. Compared to the time before the introduction of electric buses, we have seen an increase in satisfaction by almost 20 percentage points,” said Martina Draper,...

by Jakob Weizman Oct 08, 2023

New Study: Prague Residents Breathe in Third Dirtiest Air in Europe

How far away is the airport? What are the hotel options? How much will a drink set you back? All things you might consider when we’re booking our next getaway. But here’s one factor that you might not think about: air pollution. Sure, for a quick trip your destination’s air quality might seem a bit irrelevant – you’re only going for a few days, right? Well, research shows that exposure to high levels of pollution, even just for short periods of time, can have a detrimental effect on our health, particularly our lungs and hearts. A new study has done some research into air pollution levels across popular cities in Europe, and the results might surprise you. Drawing on the World Health Organisation’s air quality guidelines, analysis was done to discover the levels of fine particulate matter: the pollutant which poses the highest risk to our health. The maximum level considered safe is a long-term average of no more than 5 μg/m3 (that’s micrograms per cubic metre). With levels almost four times the safe amount, at 19.7 μg/m3, it’s Milan that is the most polluted city in Europe. In fact, the top five cities all have a long-term average which is at least double the WHO’s recommendation. Athens ranks...

by Prague Morning Aug 25, 2023

Number of Vehicles in Prague Soars, Exceeding 1.25 Million

The number of vehicles in Prague has surged to 1.26 million, marking an annual increase of nearly 41,000, according to the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK). Throughout the city, vehicles covered a distance of 22.8 million kilometers, which was about 140,000 kilometers less than the previous year. Among the registered vehicles in Prague, passenger cars account for one million, with over 208,000 being added since 2016 alone. The most substantial growth occurred between 1990 and 2000, doubling during that time. Traffic patterns have undergone shifts in the past two years. In 2020, traffic decreased by eight percent compared to the previous year. In 2021, it rebounded to nearly match the pre-peak year of 2019, and it maintained a similar level in the subsequent year. While the downtown traffic intensity remained consistent year-on-year, some vehicles decreased within the outer cordon. Despite undergoing repairs and traffic restrictions during the summer, the Barrandov Bridge remained the busiest road last year, with approximately 139,000 vehicles crossing daily, which was around three thousand fewer compared to the previous year. The Jižní spojka section in Chodovská – V koryty followed as the second busiest, serving 129,000 vehicles, while the Jižní spojka between 5. května and Vídeňská...

by Prague Morning Aug 16, 2023

Czech Republic Planted Nearly 40,000 Hectares of Forests in 2022

In 2022, the Czech Republic planted almost 40,000 hectares of new forests, marking the second-highest count since 1964. This figure fell only 709 hectares short of the record established in 2020. Out of the total 225,928 saplings utilized for this afforestation effort, two-thirds were deciduous trees. Among the various regions, Vysočina took the lead in reforestation activities. Providing insight, Josef Kahuda, a statistician employed at the Czech Statistical Office, pointed out that the average sapling usage per hectare stood at 5,705. For deciduous trees, this number rose to 7,248, while for conifers, it was slightly lower at 4,205. Predominantly, the trees chosen for planting were beech and oak, accounting for 28% and 23% respectively. Notably, spruce saw a modest increase in its portion of all saplings, climbing from 19.7% in 2020 to 19.9%. Despite these statistics, spruce remained the most prevalent tree type, occupying nearly one-third of all newly reforested lands. Conifers emerged as the dominant presence among the freshly established wooded areas. The evolving climate poses a significant risk to forest soils. The strategy of tree planting is not the solitary means of fostering forests; natural regeneration, where new growth emerges from wind-borne or fallen seeds from parent trees,...

by Prague Morning Aug 11, 2023

Deputy Mayor for Transport Wants to Significantly Reduce Cars in Prague

The former Prague mayor and current Prague deputy mayor for transport Zdeněk Hřib (Piráti) is planning drastic changes for Prague’s car traffic. According to Hřib, citizens should prepare themselves for the fact that in Prague they will no longer be able to get to where they are going by car. “We are starting to tell people that it is perfectly normal not to stop your car right in front of the door of the building you are heading to,” Hřib says, outlining that Prague is planning to introduce charging for entering some streets. Hřib presented a reform of the parking system as part of the transport changes in the capital, which he said will lead to “traffic calming in the center” and will mean, among other things, that if a visitor arrives in the center of Prague by car, they will not park unless the locals buy “a credit for parking in the blue zone” in advance. “You can now park in blue zones for a more expensive parking fee even if you are not a resident. Going forward, this will no longer be an option, people can use underground car parks where capacity is not filled. This is part...

by Prague Morning Jul 18, 2023

European Cities are Slowing Down Their Street Traffic to 30km/h. What About Prague?

If you live in Prague, you may have found yourself stuck in traffic in recent weeks due to a series of ongoing protests campaigning for a 30 km/h speed limit in the city. The protesters say it would have numerous benefits for health, safety, and the environment, but the idea is facing opposition from motorists. The first European city to adopt the City 30 model was Graz, in Austria, which imposed a city-wide speed limit of 30 km/h in 1992. Today, the limit is still enforced on about 80% of the city’s road network. Brussels adopted the City 30 model in 2021. Paris, Grenoble, and Edinburgh also adopted the City 30 model, while other cities are considering the possibility, like Luxembourg and Milan. Despite pressure from climate activists, the Czech capital has no plans to introduce a 30 km/h limit. Districts can limit speeds to 30 km/h on a local level near schools, sports grounds, and other places with higher concentrations of pedestrians, but an across-the-board 30 km/h limit is only under discussion for now. According to a survey carried out for Czech Radio, most Czechs do not want to reduce the speed limit in big cities. Prague Mayor Bohuslav...

by Prague Morning Jul 10, 2023

Prague to Receive EU Funding to Install EV Charging Stations Across the City

Prague City is set to embark on a project to establish a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, with the aim of supporting the increasing number of EVs in the city. To finance this initiative, Prague intends to utilize European funds and subsidies. To kickstart this endeavor, Prague has allocated up to 500 million CZK, with the expectation that European funds will cover up to 85% of the total investment costs. The proposed approach involves constructing the charging infrastructure under a concession agreement that allows operation in public spaces. This project aligns with Prague’s larger strategy to encourage electric mobility by offering accessible and high-quality charging facilities. The city intends to initiate the installation of the first charging stations in the upcoming year. Prague envisions a future where electric vehicles become the standard mode of transportation. By 2030, it is estimated that up to 180,000 electric vehicles could be traversing the city’s streets. To facilitate this transition, Prague is fully committed to providing the necessary charging infrastructure. The construction of EV charging stations forms part of the city’s broader drive to promote sustainable transportation and reduce carbon emissions. The ultimate objective is to create a cleaner and more livable...

by Prague Morning Jul 02, 2023

New Park Will be Built on the Banks of the Vltava River in Prague 7

The U Vody park, which will be located between the Holešovice harbor and the Barikádníků bridge, will include seating, fitness machines, and an outdoor fountain, according to representatives of the city district. The construction of the park will cost the town hall approximately CZK 46.5 million and should be completed in the first half of next year. According to the mayor of Prague 7, Jan Čižinský (Praha Sobě), people associate the place more with the towing car park that used to be there in the past than with a place to spend time in a pleasant way. “We have cleaned up the whole area and replaced the unsightly concrete surfaces with grass,” he said. He added that once the improvements are completed, the residents of Holešovice will no longer have to make trips to Letná or Štvanice in search of greenery. For example, the park will have seating areas with a view of the river, paths with access to the water, and a so-called sensory walkway where people will be able to walk barefoot on different types of surfaces. “Based on suggestions from citizens, the project has focused on renewed and completely new entrances to the water and water features...

by Prague Morning Jul 02, 2023

Czechia to Push for Lower VAT on Recycled Products

The idea of a lower VAT rate on products made from recycled materials, which could be applied at the EU level, will be presented by Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladík at the meeting of EU environment ministers on Tuesday. Currently, EU law does not allow member states to reduce VAT on products made from recycled materials. However, the Czech Republic wants to introduce a reduced 12% VAT on these products as a part of a tax package aiming to consolidate public finances. The lower rate must be allowed at the EU level for such a move. According to the minister, the reduced VAT should be applied to all plastic products made from recycled materials, including toys, hygiene tools, daily necessities, snow rakes, flower pots, and even building materials. “These are also materials that today end up either in landfills or incinerators that we can recycle for use in the municipal sector, such as benches or urban furniture,” Hladík told Czech media on Monday. The minister said possibly including products made from secondary raw materials at a lower rate would encourage the development of a circular economy. At the same time, it would increase the motivation of end customers to use...

by Prague Morning Jun 21, 2023

Prague Plans to Acquire Up to 100 Electric Buses

The Prague Public Transport Authority (DPP) is set to acquire a fleet of up to 100 low-floor electric buses over the next few years. DPP has recently launched a public tender, with an estimated total value of CZK 1.5 billion, to identify the supplier for these buses. The winner of the tender is expected to be announced by the end of this year, after which the DPP will enter into a five-year framework contract. Zdeněk Hřib, Deputy Mayor of Prague Transport, emphasized the significance of this purchase. “By acquiring up to 100 new electric buses, we are not only fulfilling the Climate Plan of the Capital City of Prague, but also meeting our commitments at the national and European levels to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and noise pollution in public bus transport. If DPP would decommission an equal number of diesel buses, we would save approximately 2.4 million liters of diesel fuel per year and prevent the emission of around 6,438 tonnes of carbon dioxide in Prague.” Energy management will enable the control and adjustment of the charging speed based on the actual duration of the charging break. This will reduce the demands on the energy load of the charging...

by Prague Morning May 29, 2023

Prague Ranks as the 10th Most Sustainable City in Europe

In a recent report by Re-thinking the Future, Prague has been recognized as the 10th most sustainable city in Europe, cementing its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. This prestigious ranking underscores Prague’s dedication to creating a greener, cleaner, and more livable urban environment for its residents and visitors alike. Prague’s dedication to sustainable urban development is evident in its strategic planning and policies, which encompass various aspects of sustainability. Energy efficiency stands as a crucial focus area, with the city implementing measures to reduce energy consumption and minimize its carbon footprint. Through investments in green technologies such as solar panels and efficient heating systems, Prague has made significant progress in adopting renewable energy sources and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. In addition to energy efficiency, Prague has also prioritized effective waste management and recycling programs. The city has implemented comprehensive waste management systems that encourage citizens to separate and recycle their waste responsibly. By doing so, Prague has not only reduced the amount of waste destined for landfills but has also fostered a culture of environmental responsibility among its residents. Prague’s commitment to sustainable transportation is evident in its efforts to enhance public transportation systems and promote eco-friendly mobility options. The city boasts a...

by Prague Morning May 28, 2023

Prague to Allocate Funds for 130 Projects to Improve Environment

An impressive sum of CZK 40 million has been earmarked for initiatives focused on public green spaces, environmental education, and the preservation of endangered animal species. “The program is a crucial pillar of support for initiatives that elevate the environmental well-being of our capital city, bolster its resilience against climate change, foster awareness and engagement with pertinent issues, and provide environmental education within Prague,” said Jana Komrsková, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Climate Plan Furthermore, the program actively encourages participation from diverse groups, civic organizations, associations, and other entities. The program facilitates individual applicants in securing grants for their environmental projects in Prague. The maximum amount granted is CZK 900,000 for educational endeavors, CZK 600,000 for climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and CZK 450,000 for other initiatives. A total of 130 projects, submitted by 81 applicants, are poised to receive approval, cumulating to CZK 40 million in funding. The program aims to bolster public green spaces, green classrooms, nature conservation, and environmental education. It also encompasses educational and training programs catered to schools, climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, as well as other specific projects. Prominent beneficiaries of the program include notable associations and organizations such as the Association of...

by Prague Morning May 22, 2023

Czech Government Plans to Ban Coal for Home Heating by 2025

The Ministry of the Environment has announced its intention to implement a ban on the sale of coal for home heating starting from January 2025. This move aims to encourage individuals who currently rely on coal as a heating source to evaluate the condition of their stoves and coal supplies and explore alternative options. Under the proposed amendment to the Air Protection Act, combustion appliances powered by solid fossil fuels with a capacity of up to 300 kilowatts will no longer be permitted to enter the market as of January 1, 2025. Lucie Ješátková, the spokesperson for the ministry, has confirmed the plans, stating, “The ban on introducing combustion sources using solid fossil fuels up to 300 kilowatts to the market will be implemented from January 1, 2025.” However, the sale of existing coal stockpiles will still be allowed after this date. It’s worth noting that the ban does not extend to certain types of coal, such as brown and black coal, anthracite, and coal briquettes. Czech manufacturers will still be permitted to produce coal-fired stoves for export. This measure is seen as a proactive step in preparation for the expected limited availability of coal and in line with the...

by Prague Morning May 18, 2023

Huge Public Park Will be Developed in the South of Prague

A huge public park will be developed in the south of Prague. It will cover an area equivalent to ten Stromovka. The river floodplain on the confluence of the Berounka River and Vltava River on the southern edge of Prague covers an area of over 1300 hectares, which is almost 300 x Wenceslas Square side-by-side. The area is divided between five Municipal Districts and the town of Černošice. An international landscape-architectural competition was held by the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) to select a design team for this project. The winning team consists of three studios from Catalonia, France and the Czech Republic: EMF, Norma and Pareto. IPR Prague has received funding from the Norwegian Funds grant call “Bergen” for the project “Periurban park – a Tool for Reducing the Impacts of Climate Change”. This initiative will contribute to the planning of the Confluence Periurban Park, which will be the first of its kind in the Czech Republic. “The whole area is quite unlucky as it squeezed in a vise between a motorway, a train line and the Prague ring road. At the same time, however, we believe that a big park is already there, we just needs a...

by Prague Morning May 02, 2023

Prague City to Invest Record Amount in Transportation Projects

In comparison to the previous year, the city of Prague boosted its investment spending by 6.4 billion CZK (about USD 295 million), bringing its total investment to 16.5 billion CZK (USD 761 million). Transportation projects received the lion’s share of the investment budget. Over 9 billion CZK (USD 416 million) will be invested in infrastructure, transportation projects, and increasing inhabitants’ quality of life. The city’s tram service was increased, and bus lines were modernized as well. Work on the construction of the D metro line has begun, while other transportation infrastructure projects, such as the renovation of the Barrandov Bridge and the construction of the Stvanice footbridge, have been completed. According to Zdenek Kovarik, the city’s financial councilor, the city was able to invest in significant initiatives that contributed to the city’s development and the improvement of the lives of its citizens. However, the extent of the city’s planned investments exceeds its annual investment spending budget, so there will be difficult negotiations over investment priorities in the future. In 2022, the city spent 1.1 billion CZK (USD 50.8 million) on purchasing land and renewing public lighting and urban furniture. These investments should quickly pay for themselves and help save money in...

by Prague Morning Apr 25, 2023

Coca-Cola Introduced to the Czech Market Bottles With Caps That Stay Attached

Coca-Cola introduced to the Czech Market packaging that keeps plastic lids tethered to bottles when opened to make it easier for consumers to recycle drinks packaging in its entirety. Plastic bottle caps can be recycled but are often lost, discarded or end up as litter, Coca-Cola said in a statement. The new design aims to reduce that, the company said. The design is part of Coca-Cola’s strategy to help create a “circular economy” for its plastic products amid regulation and calls to reduce the amount of its plastic packaging that ends up in landfills and elsewhere. By introducing the new obligation, the European Union promises that non-removable caps on bottles will keep all parts of beverage packaging together after consumption. This will make their collection and subsequent recycling much easier. “After arriving at the recycling centre, the bottles and their caps go into a shredder, which is a set of knives that shreds them into flakes of about 10 millimetres under a stream of water. The whole mass is then washed in hot water with detergents to get rid of impurities, then it goes into a cold wash where the PET flakes from the bottles are separated from the flakes from...

by Prague Morning Apr 13, 2023

Prague’s First Hydrogen Car Fuel Station

Although hydrogen powered cars are readily accessible in the Czech Republic, fuelling stations are far less prevalent. With the completion of Prague’s first hydrogen car fuel station, this is slowly starting to change. Over the course of the past several years, there has been a significant influx in the interest in hydrogen fuel cells, with automobile manufacturers starting to invest in this technology for both commercial and domestic usage. Currently, three models of hydrogen cars are available in the domestic market, manufactured by Toyota and Hyundai. Without further investment in more fuel stations, the growth of the market for hydrogen cars will be stunted in the Czech Republic. This problem has been addressed by the completion of the first publicly available hydrogen station with 24/7 operation in Barrandov. The hydrogen fuelling station is owned and operated by Orlen Unipetrol, a Czech chemical company owned by Polish oil company PKN Orlend. Currently, the cost for fuelling sits at CZK 278 per kilogram – which can power a hydrogen car for 100 kilometres. Director of Toyota and Lexus in the Czech Republic, Martin Peleška, believes that hydrogen cars could be adopted for use in fleets, Additionally, he maintains that the development of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure will accelerate in the near future, with the...

by Richard Golbeck Mar 15, 2023

Hydrogen-Powered Bus to be Tested in Prague in Spring

The CEO of the Prague Transport Company (DPP), Petr Witowski, has announced that the company will start testing a new hydrogen-powered bus this spring. The purpose of the test is to assess technical and operational parameters, and the bus will initially operate on line number 170, running from Jižní Město to Barrandov. DPP has been exploring alternative ways of powering public transport vehicles for several years, having gradually introduced electric cars and resumed trolleybus operations. According to a document approved by the city’s former leadership last year, current hydrogen technology technically allows buses to run on fuel, but it is the most expensive option so far. The fuel consumption per kilometre of travel for a hydrogen bus costs about three times more than a diesel bus, and repairs are also more expensive compared to diesel buses. The hydrogen bus will run on line 170 on a trial basis, which was chosen because of its length of about 40 kilometres, its hilly profile, and its proximity to the first public hydrogen filling station in Prague located on K Barrandov Street. The car will leave from the Kačerov garage. “We have completed preparations for testing, having recently visited the hydrogen bus prototype...

by Prague Morning Feb 27, 2023

First Gravity Power Plant in the World to be Built in the Czech Republic

Unused coal mines in Ostrava will be getting a new lease on life, transformed into massive electrical storage facilities within the next few years. Becoming the world’s first gravity power plant, the project is a joint venture between Czech State enterprise Diamo, the Ostrava University and Technology, and the British startup Gravitricity. Gravitricity chose to partner with the Czech Republic for this project due to the many underutilized coal mines in the East of the country. The exact location of the gravity power plant is undecided as of yet, but the company’s have highlighted some candidates, all in the Moravian-Silesian region. “We are currently considering several possible locations. At the moment, the most likely one is Darkov”, noted Gravitricity head Charlie Blair. With a projected cost of over 700 million crowns, the majority of the funding for this project will be provided by Gravitricity, it is intending to acquire additional funding from the European Union’s Innovation Fund. Blair provided a rough timeline for construction, stating that “Ideally, the plant should be up and running in 2026. If all goes well, we’d like to start up a few more in the country,” “Of course, the project also has a lot of...

by Prague Morning Feb 26, 2023

Czech Switch to E-Mobility Still ‘Completely Unimaginable’

Purchasing an e-car in the near future is completely unimaginable for most Czechs as the high cost of e-cars and misunderstandings on emissions rules ensure they remain skeptical about e-mobility, said Czech expert Helena Truchlá. According to Ekovozy.cz, which monitors the number of e-vehicles in the Czech Republic, around 12,000 electric cars were in the country by mid-2022. “The Czech public perception of electromobility is still negative. This is related to the fact that electric cars are still simply too expensive for a large part of the population, and a bit too sci-fi for everyday life,” added Truchlá, an analyst at sociologist agency STEM. “For more than a third of the (Czech) public, such a purchase is completely unimaginable,” Truchlá pointed out. The Czech public is also opposed to plans to restrict the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035. According to the expert, people’s attitude towards restricting the sale of conventional cars is often linked to a misunderstanding of the regulation. “Only 27% of people in our survey last year correctly said that after that date (2035), everyone can still drive whatever they want in Europe,” Truchlá said. Half of those surveyed also believed the change...

by Prague Morning Feb 16, 2023

Czech-Kaufland and Lidl to Launch Bottle Take-Back Test

On 23 February, Kaufland and Lidl retail chains will launch a test project for the take-back of beverage bottles and cans. Each chain will allow customers to return packaging in three of its stores. Spokespeople for both companies, which are part of the Schwarz Group, announced the news in a press release. In the Czech Republic, PET bottles and cans are not yet backed up. However, the Ministry of the Environment is preparing a legislative proposal for possible introduction. Customers who use the service will receive discount coupons for their purchases in shops. Lidl spokesman Tomáš Myler said that the pilot project in stores is intended to support the idea of introducing the backup of PET bottles and cans in the Czech Republic. “Since customers will primarily return beverage containers to retailers if the system is introduced, it is important for us that the setup of the entire system is as customer-friendly as possible,” he added. The chains have not yet indicated in which stores people will be able to try out returning bottles. According to David Surý, director of the environmental protection section of the Ministry of the Environment, the chains’ test project can verify whether people in the...

by Prague Morning Feb 09, 2023

Free Bikesharing Has Proven Its Success in Prague

Last year, over half a million free bike trips were made by the Lítačka subscribers of Prague, confirming that its citizens are getting used to pedaling around the city. Inspired by other world capitals, Prague wanted to expand its public transportation offers with another alternative – bikesharing. The 2021 pilot project proved to be successful, which is why last summer the decision was made to permanently integrate bikesharing in Prague’s public transport. “The pilot project of cooperation between shared bikes and Prague Integrated Transport has been running since October 2021, and during that time it has been used by over 23,000 people, who have made a total of 343,000 rentals. The record day was June 23, when we registered 3,239 loans,” said Adam Scheinherr, deputy mayor of Prague and councilor for transport, in July. Lítačka card holders are entitled to 15-minute free bike rides twice a day with shared bike operators Nextbike and Rekola. “The advantageous combination of Prague’s Lítačka and the shared bike service significantly improves the possibilities of moving around Prague. From the obtained data, it became clear that most often people rent bicycles precisely at metro stations or tram stops. Cycling is such a great way to get...

by Prague Morning Feb 06, 2023

Where to Throw Away the Christmas Tree in Prague?

According to Prague Services, people in Prague throw away about 300,000 Christmas trees every year. They usually do so on the 6th of January or later; that is why Christmas trees are collected by the garbage collection service until the end of February. According to Prague’s maintenance services spokesman, Radim Mana, people should not leave saplings near trash cans in courtyards, in locked cages, or near trash cans in family homes. “Trees should definitely not end up next to such containers, not even when the dustbin is placed in front of the building for regular collection. The right place for a retired tree is a separate bin with colored containers,” said Mana. He added that the current strong wind can move away the saplings placed by the garbage cans and therefore they recommend waiting for disposal until Sunday when the meteorological warning is supposed to pass. The collection of trees will be handled by smaller flatbed trucks and larger specially designated garbage trucks. The trees will be transported to the transhipment points in Průmyslová, Proboštská and Puchmajerova streets and from there they will go to composting plants where they will be used to produce wood chips and compost. Some of the dirty or...

by Prague Morning Jan 05, 2023

A Solar Array the Size of a Football Field is Being Built in the Centre of Prague

The construction of the largest solar array in the centre of Prague has commenced at the Prague Congress Centre. A total of 2,080 solar panels will be erected on an area of 7,000 square metres, which will save the Prague Congress Centre CZK 5.5 million a year in electricity costs. The solar power plant will be an addition to one of the largest energy savings projects in the Czech Republic, which is being implemented in the PCC by ENESA, a subsidiary of ČEZ ESCO. The project has already saved the centre CZK 32 million this year. “We have recently observed a clear trend in Czech companies and public institutions: reducing energy costs goes hand in hand with consistent decarbonisation and efforts to operate in a more sustainable fashion. Our task at ČEZ is to assist with this as much as possible. The largest solar array in the centre of Prague will add to one of the largest energy savings projects in the Czech Republic and will increase the annual savings of the Prague Congress Centre by more than 5 million,” said Daniel Beneš, CEO of ČEZ. Photovoltaics for CZK 1 PCC will use ČEZ ESCO’s innovative model called “Photovoltaics for CZK 1”. PCC will thus acquire a power plant with...

by Prague Morning Dec 06, 2022

Three Nuclear Engineers in Race to Build Czech Nuclear Plant

France’s EDF, South Korea’s KHNP, and U.S.-Canadian group Westinghouse Electric have made initial bids to build a new unit at the Czech Republic’s Dukovany nuclear power plant, Czech utility CEZ said on Wednesday. The Czech Republic has been a strong backer of nuclear energy as a carbon-free power source for the future, unlike European Union neighbours Germany and Austria. Majority of state-owned CEZ, which launched the Dukovany expansion tender in March, said final bids would come in by the end of September 2023. “We expect the contracts to be finalized in 2024,” board member Tomas Pleskac said in a statement. The 1,200 megawatt-unit should be completed in 2036 and help the country replace current Soviet-designed units at Dukovany that will eventually be decommissioned. CEZ plans to build three more nuclear units – on top of the one now planned – at its Dukovany and Temelin nuclear sites, as the country diversifies away from coal. It is also planning to build smaller modular nuclear power plants. Nuclear made up 36% of Czech electricity output in 2021. Candidates from China and Russia were excluded on security grounds, in contrast to Hungary which has chosen Russia’s Rosatom for its nuclear project. Poland picked Westinghouse last month to...

by Prague Morning Dec 01, 2022

Giant Clock Installed Letna Hill is Counting Down to Climate Disaster

Climate campaigners unveiled in Prague a huge countdown clock on Tuesday evening, showing how little time is left before global temperatures hit a critical high. The electronic clock has been installed on Letna Hill, next to the famous metronome as part of the Freedom Festival. The clock is 8 meters high and 35 meters wide. It will remain on the hill for just two weeks, until December 12. The left side of the clock shows the number of years and days, while the right side shows the hours, minutes, and seconds remaining until “mankind passes the point of no return, when climate change will become irreversible and catastrophic for the planet.” A report by the United Nations issued in 2018, said global warming was likely to reach 1.5°C over preindustrial levels between 2030 and 2052 if it continues at the current rate. That level of warming is projected to increase damage to many ecosystems and cause an estimated $54 trillion in damage, the report said. The digital installation shows six years and 235 days remaining before average global temperatures, at current emission rates, reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The organizers of the Freedom Festival in Prague have also...

by Prague Morning Nov 29, 2022

Treated Sewage Could Heat One-Third of Prague

After all, this is one energy resource that is literally inexhaustible and domestically produced. The City of Prague has plans to develop a new residential district for 25,000 people on a hundred-hectare brownfield in Bubny-Zátory. This time around though, urban planning is taking into account current crises, such as fossil fuel dependency and energy security, to offer an innovative solution – using treated sewage surplus heat to keep homes warm in winter. For this purpose, a new energy centre will be built next to the wastewater treatment plant on Císařský island and near the planned district. The idea behind it is simple, install 12 heat pumps and channel the heat where it can be of benefit – 200,000 households. Don’t let heat go to waste, let waste go for heating “The (energy centre) project has been in the making for about two years. It uses the heat of wastewater that is treated on Císařsky island. Every second, three cubic meters of treated wastewater leave the treatment plant, which even in the coldest months has a temperature higher than ten degrees. We have a huge opportunity to use this water to obtain heat for up to a third of Prague. It has been working successfully for decades in Denmark...

by Prague Morning Nov 24, 2022

First-Ever Hydrogen Bus to be Tested on Prague Roads

In the first quarter of 2023, the Prague Transport Company will launch a test program for the city’s first-ever hydrogen-powered bus. The pilot project will last for two years. The authorities have already signed an agreement with the Czech manufacturer Škoda Transportation to lease its latest hydrogen bus Škoda H’CITY, which was presented on Tuesday, 22 November. Under this project, the company will deploy the bus on line 170, connecting Jižní město and Barrandov, in the second half of 2022 for a period of 2 years. In a press release, the Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib praised the trial, noting that it is an important step in ensuring sustainable urban mobility. What is more, he revealed that about 50% of the capital’s population currently relies on public transport to move around the city. The hydrobus has a range of about 350 kilometres. This is three times as much as the electric bus, which needs several refuellings during the working day. In addition, it takes 10 minutes to refuel with hydrogen, whereas it takes several hours for an electric bus to fully charge its battery. Although the hydrogen-powered bus will be emission-free and sustainable, its operations will be costly. On its website, the...

by Prague Morning Nov 22, 2022

High Energy Prices Lead to Coal Revival in Czech Republic

In Ostrava, huge piles of coal are stacked up ready to sell to eager buyers and smoke belches from coal-fired plants that are ramping up instead of winding down. The city has been working for decades to end its legacy as the most polluted area of the country, transitioning from an industrial working-class stronghold to a modern city with tourist sights. But Russia’s war in Ukraine has triggered an energy crisis in Europe that as paved the way for coal´s comeback, endangering climate goals and threatening health from increased pollution. Households and businesses are turning to the fuel once considered obsolete as they seek a cheaper option than natural gas, whose prices have surged as Russia slashed supplies to Europe. Demand for brown coal – the cheapest and most energy-inefficient form – used by Czech households jumped by almost 35% in the first nine months of 2022 over a year earlier. In the same period, production rose more than 20%, the first increase after an almost continuous, decadeslong decline, the Czech Industry and Trade Ministry said. Coal-fired power is not only disastrous for climate, it´s also a health hazard, releasing heavy particle emissions, nitrogen oxides and mercury, which contaminates fish in lakes and rivers. A 2021...

by Prague Morning Nov 18, 2022

Prague Airport Honey Wins Gold Medal for Ninth Time in Row

Prague Airport has won the ninth gold medal in a row for its blossom honey, competing in the Czech Honey contest, held annually by the Czech Beekeepers Association. Once again, the airport honey samples received a 100% rating in parameters such as water content, sucrose, electrical conductivity, correctness of information on the labels, and the overall aesthetic impression of the honey packaging. Prague Airport has been submitting its honey samples to the competition since 2013. “Beekeeping was established at the airport in November 2011, primarily as a means of air quality biomonitoring, to assess the air transport impact on the quality of the environment. The collected honey and pollen samples are subjected to analyses by the accredited laboratory of the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague,” Soňa Hykyšová, Prague Airport Environment, Sustainability, and ESG Director, said. “Biomonitoring using bees is only a small part of the overall environmental monitoring, where the airport monitors about 40 parameters above the scope of legal requirements,” added Hykyšová. Since 2019, the airport has also been monitoring its bees using a system for electronic monitoring of bee colonies – ProBee. Using this system, we monitor the weight of the hives, the temperature, and the acoustic behavior...

by Prague Morning Nov 07, 2022

This New Shop at Prague Airport Supports Czech and Slovak Brands

Future is Local is the name of a new shop at in the Terminal 2 building, which purposely promotes almost thirty Czech and Slovak brands. All offered local goods are produced from quality materials, in a sustainable manner, and with respect to the environment. The concept and design of the shop, located directly in the Terminal 2 building, also bear the same elements. “We are happy that, together with Lagardère Travel Retail Czech Republic, we have opened a purely local shop, which is the first of its kind at the airport and promotes a concept unique even on a global scale. We have long been advocating the topic of sustainability. Therefore, the concept fits right into the entire company strategy. Further expansion of airport services with a similar approach has our full support,” Jakub Puchalský, Member of the Prague Airport Board of Directors, said. The Future is Local shop features not only established companies with a long tradition, but also small starting businesses, and includes products from a protected workshop. Passengers can find there fashion and gift items, alongside natural cosmetics products from brands such as Klara Rott, KAMA, Studio Malíská, Havlík’s Natural Pharmacy, Chrpa protected workshop, ABRAKA, Reparáda, and others. “The idea on which...

by Prague Morning Nov 03, 2022

The First Climate-Neutral District to be Built in Prague

A climate-neutral urban district that will not depend on gas or coal should be created in Bubny-Zátory. According to the study, it will use heat and cold from the planned Energocenter in Bubenč. The study on the technical infrastructure of the future new urban district in Bubny-Zatory was approved by the city council. A detailed plan for the location of supply networks was also needed for the 100-hectare area. According to information on Prague 7’s website, one of the largest brownfields inside the city would use heat and cold from the planned Energy Centre at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bubenec. It will generate heat using wastewater with the help of high-capacity pumps. “The Energocentre project uses the heat of wastewater that is treated on Císařský ostrov. Every second, three cubic metres of treated wastewater leaves the treatment plant, which is at a temperature of more than 10 degrees even in the coldest months. We have a huge opportunity to use this water to provide heat for up to a third of Prague. It has worked successfully for decades in Denmark and Sweden, and there is no reason why it should not work here too.” said Prague Deputy Mayor...

by Prague Morning Oct 10, 2022

Prague Launches Pilot Project of Refundable Cups at Selected Events

The City of Prague, in cooperation with Prague City Tourism launches a pilot project of refundable cups for events held on Prague’s embankments and at the Exhibition Grounds. The aim is to promote the use of sustainable dishware instead of disposable consumer plastics. The city has allocated CZK 2.4 million for the project. After the test phase, the system will operate on a fully commercial basis, without any city support. The City of Prague initiated the reusable cups project with the aim of strengthening the city’s ecology. Prague City Tourism was commissioned by the city to implement the test phase of the project and distribute the cups at events. This will run from September 2022 to February 2024. “At the moment, we have established cooperation with the Prague embankments and the Prague Exhibition Centre. We live in a time when we need to think sustainably, therefore we are launching a pilot operation and providing a sustainable and environmentally friendly version of refundable cups for selected Prague events,” says František Cipro, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague City Tourism. During the project, which will last 19 months, 50,000 refundable cups will be available. Throughout this trial period, event organisers can use the cups free of charge. After the roll-out phase, in early 2024, the city will evaluate the project...

by Prague Morning Sep 25, 2022

Half of Czechs Fear Support For Green Measures Will Harm Economy

Czechs want to protect the climate but are worried about the economy as slightly more than half of them (52%) believe the EU Green Deal will harm it, according to a survey presented by the STEM agency on Tuesday (20 September). But Czech citizens also have limited knowledge of the Green Deal, as just 12% of those surveyed knew its targets. Among everyone surveyed, a third said they wanted a strengthened Green Deal, while a third said they wanted it completely abolished or at least limited. Another third said they had no opinion. The survey also pointed to half the respondents associating the Green Deal with air and landscape quality improvements. “But they do not associate it with an improvement in their economic situation. And that, especially today, is a serious deficiency,” the survey’s authors said. Czech citizens also want the state to invest more in sustainable measures, such as renewable energy sources, according to the study called “Czech (non)transformation 2022”. Meanwhile, Environment Minister Anna Hubáčková said that all social groups, including low-income households, must have access to financial support for renewables or energy-saving measures. She added that few possibilities exist for low-income households to improve their heating or electricity...

by Prague Morning Sep 21, 2022

Like in Singapore: First “Green Lamps” Installed in Prague

Two benches with LED lamps and climbing plants have already been installed in Prague 6 (Dejvická and Hradčanská stops). Such lamp benches will help green the city, illuminate it, save electricity and become a place of rest for local residents. Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore are an engineering marvel. They are equipped with solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems that are used for irrigation. The trunks are vertical gardens, and at the top of the trees, you can dine in a restaurant. Singapore’s Supertrees inspired Prague authorities to create the first green lamps in the city. The production of two five-meter structures cost about half a million crowns. The lamps will be tested for three years. “The Czech University of Agriculture asked us if it would be possible to test this lamp in an urban environment. Moreover, we already have several strategic projects regarding how the city should respond to future climate change, and one of these topics is greening,” says Ondřej Kolář, Mayor of Prague 6. “This supertree is also unique in the fact that it is inspired by foreign countries, namely Singapore, where there are illuminated lamps resembling a tree,” added deputy chairman Tomáš Novotný....

by Angelina Nikonova Sep 13, 2022

Czech’s First Electric Garbage Truck: No Need to Wake the Neighborhood!

If you live in a city, you’ve probably had the experience of waking up at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. to the sound of a garbage truck rumbling outside your apartment, pumping diesel exhaust through your window. If you live in Brno, however, that experience may soon change: the city now has the country’s first electric garbage truck, which runs on a nearly silent motor, and plans to slowly phase electric vehicles into its full fleet. The technological Volvo FE Electric truck battery is charged in 2 hours. A full charge is enough for 200 km, and at -10°C – for 70 km. But even this reserve of power will suffice for a standard eight-hour shift. The electric truck can transport up to 13 tons of garbage per day. At the moment, it is in operation in the areas of Židenice, Slatina and Černovice. Mayor’s Office plans is to buy several more trucks (one unit costs CZK 12 million). “A typical garbage truck drives about 2,000 kilometers a month and burns 450 litres of diesel fuel. The electric garbage truck does not produce emissions at all, which means it does not cause discomfort for passers-by or its crew,” said Deputy Mayor...

by Prague Morning Aug 22, 2022

Which Part of Prague is the Greenest and Which is the Noisiest?

Which part of Prague is the greenest and which is the noisiest? Find out through Prague’s Institute of Planning and Development Prague’s most population-dense area is Prague 2. Prague 10 leads in the number of homes for the elderly in the capital. People will find the most job opportunities in Prague 1, and as far as kindergartens are concerned, Prague 6 has the fewest. How do we know this information? All of this and more can be found in the Catalog of urban areas from the workshop of the Institute of Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague (IPR). It displays various information about all 57 city districts and about Prague as a whole. “The database contains statistical data from various areas, such as the economy, public amenities or the environment. IPR has now completely redesigned the six-year-old application and added new functions and data,” says IPR spokesperson Marek Vácha. The catalog of city districts displays IPR data processed for the purposes of Territorial Analytical Documents, which are related to a specific city district. The range of information that the catalog offers is vast — in addition to the basic things, like area, population density or the age...

by Prague Morning Aug 03, 2022

Picture From Space Shows a Red-Hot Holešovice. ‘Solar Panels Could Help,’ Suggests Expert

Holešovice, the surroundings of the O2 Arena, and the industrial zone in Šterboholy. These spots glow red in the temperature image from June 18th taken from the International Space Station. The sun heats surfaces to more than 45 degrees. What exactly does the picture show? What are its pitfalls? How can photovoltaic panels improve the situation? Landscape planning specialist Michael Pondelíček from the Prague Institute of Planning and Development answered all this and more. Could you describe what the June 18 image taken from the International Space Station shows? It shows what the temperature conditions are in Prague in instantaneous temperatures. So it shows the current temperatures in the given places. Since it was a warm day, we can therefore conclude that the image shows us an instantaneous temperature map. It is a simple idea of how the city is doing thermally on a normal day. We can also see white or dark red places on it where the temperature is around 50 degrees Celsius. And also the blue or green areas which are cooler and where the temperature drops to 30 degrees Celsius. Yes. The main one is the cooling corridor in Prague, which is the Vltava and its...

by Prague Morning Jul 18, 2022

IN PICTURES: Letná Park to Have New Pond by Autumn

The water reservoir being built in Letenské sady should be ready this fall. However, the seven-hectare pond with an island will not be used for swimming or fishing, but rather will mainly function as a water reservoir. It should also help improve air quality. The reservoir stands between the Hanavian pavilion, the bastion of St.Tomáš and the Prague metronome. Some of its banks are vertical with railings, while others are gradual for easy access to the surface. Through the wooden jetty, visitors can reach the island. But the water in the pond will be used mainly for watering the greenery in Letenské sady. “Letenský rybník will not be intended for active recreation, people will only be able to swim in it at their own risk. Bathing of dogs will be prohibited, as will the movement of boats, the pond will not even be used for fishing,” reads the website of the city of Prague. Once completed, they want to plant wetland plants in the pond, and in the future, they are also planning two fountains and another water feature. Water with a volume of around 13.5 thousand cubic meters will be pumped into it from the Vltava through the Rudolph...

by Prague Morning Jul 07, 2022

Pražská Energetika Opened the Largest Charging Hub for Electric Vehicles in Prague

Pražská energetika has opened a set of eight public charging stations in the parking lot of the Prague Congress Centre, which will allow up to 15 electric cars to be charged at the same time. This is the largest charging point in Prague. Owners of electric cars can use one Hypercharger Alpitronic station with a capacity of 75 kW and 7 other so-called AC stations with a capacity of 22 kW. This new urban charging hub was created thanks to the support of the Ministry of Transport. It was co-funded by the Operational Programme Transport – Metropolitan Network II project. A set of seven AC charging stations with a capacity of 2 x 22 kW will allow charging of up to 14 electric vehicles at the same time. They are also complemented by a fast DC charging station with a capacity of 75 kW, which will enable fast charging. “Electromobility, especially in the capital city of Prague and in urban agglomerations in general, contributes to a better environment. Pražská energetika has been investing in the construction of charging infrastructure for 10 years. We have already commissioned nearly 380 charging stations not only in Prague, but we are also building a backbone network throughout the Czech Republic,” says Pavel Elis,...

by Prague Morning Jul 06, 2022

Prague to Have 100 New Fast Chargers for Electric Cars by 2025

By 2025, 100 new high-speed chargers for electric cars will be built in Prague. Pražská energetika and Škoda Auto are jointly working to build them, following a memorandum of cooperation signed on Monday. In the Czech Republic, there are already more than 15,000 battery-powered or hybrid-electric cars, mainly concentrated in Prague. There are already around 2,000 recharge points available throughout the Czech Republic. Both parties to the memorandum have nominated representatives to a working group that will identify the locations where the construction of charging stations will have the greatest effect. By the end of 2025, approximately 200 charging points should each be built in the capital within a hundred HPC racks, each with an output of at least 150 kW. There are expectations that there could be as many as half a million electric cars in the country by 2030. The switch to electric vehicles will come with a larger government push to diversify its energy sources, and to move away from dependence on fossil fuels and towards renewable sources. Crunch time Major carmakers in Germany, South Korea and Japan — known as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs — are now making decisions about which production hubs to convert into...

by Prague Morning Jun 22, 2022

Share, Hop-In, and Support Sustainability! The Real Future of Transportation

What factors will influence transportation in the future? Some believe that ride- and car-sharing will assist in determining the answer. Shared mobility is a cutting-edge transportation approach that allows consumers to receive on-demand, short-term access to various forms of transportation. It can encompass car-sharing, bike-sharing, carpooling, and platform-based travel services, among other modes of transportation. Historically, people could move throughout an urban region in a variety of methods; but new travel options made possible by modern technologies and commercial models have given people even more options. Car-sharing has risen to the forefront of the sharing economy thanks to the convenience of requesting a car from our mobile phones. We spoke on various topics with Mr. Švaříček, the CEO of HoppyGo, a Czech based peer-to-peer P2P car-sharing company. Q: What is the vision of the HoppyGo, and how do you incorporate it into your daily activities? The vision is to offer an affordable, convenient and flexible mobility solution in a few clicks that is environmentally friendly and helps local communities. We fulfill our vision via connecting the owners and drivers via our platform, offering a very flexible mobility offering (starting on one-day rentals all the way up to a year, starting...

by Izabela D. May 31, 2022

Czech Startup Mewery Receive Millions to Grow Pork in Lab

The Czech startup Mewery holds the claim of being the first European food-tech startup developing cultivated pork on a proprietary microalgae base.

by Prague Morning May 11, 2022

Prague Is Reaching Its Goal of Planting Million Trees in Eight Years

In 2019, the Czech capital set a goal of planting a million new trees on its territory within eight years. Since the adoption of this plan, 370,000 new trees have been planted in Prague to date. These appear in emerging forest parks, city parks, orchards, and in the streets of the city. Trees play an irreplaceable role in adapting the city to climate change. “We also add trees to parks in the city centre, and plant them along brooks and ponds. City trees can also bear fruits, that is why we revitalize and set up orchards. Last year we planted a new and unique chestnut tree alley in Prague. Our goal is to add trees to the city streets. An integral part of our activities is the care of newly planted trees, which is essential especially in the first five years,” says the Deputy Mayor of Prague for the Environment Petr Hlubuček. In addition to new forests and forest parks, the city planted new trees in existing parks in the city centre, especially in two major green areas of Stromovka and Petřín in 2020. The aim of the Prague municipality is to plant trees even in the streets of the city. “Every tree in our city is very valuable...

by Prague Morning May 08, 2022

Prague Goes All in for Modern and Green Public Transport

Prague City plans to invest billions in new metro lines, electric buses and other sustainable forms of public transport in the coming years. The construction of metro line D, which connects the north of the city with the south, officially started last week. It will be a fully automated metro line, without drivers, with an estimated cost of 2 billion euros, a necessary step if Prague “wants to meet its climate targets”, says Adam Scheinherr, chair of the supervisory board at the DPP public transport company and responsible for the transport portfolio at city hall. Metro Line D is part of a multi-faceted climate plan in which public transport plays a key role. In addition to metro line D, for example, plans are already in place for another line around the center. This ‘O’ circle line will have a capacity of 150,000 passengers per day, according to the latest draft proposal. It would become Prague’s fifth metro line with a length of 36 kilometers and 23 stations. Circle line This will no doubt be another expensive project, which Europe could help with. This can be done through the corona recovery fund, but also through one of the other EU funds...

by Prague Morning Apr 29, 2022

Prague Continues to Develop Sustainable Mobility

Sustainability is a topic of great significance for Prague, including the city’s transportation system. If the Czech capital wants to be perceived as a modern destination, it is also necessary to consider the current climate situation, and to prevent, to a maximum possible extent, any influences that negatively affect it before they grow to dangerous proportions. By promoting sustainable mobility, Prague also strives to meet the expectations of those event organizers who prefer destinations that focus on sustainable development, when choosing locations for their events. Prague has been working on a sustainable mobility plan for a long time seeking to mitigate exhaust gases as much as possible by using electric power or by supporting bicycle transport. As a result, the number of Prague cyclists has also increased dramatically since 2019, by about 73%. It was the great leap in the popularity of cycling that led the representatives of the capital city of Prague to decide to expand the network of cycle paths even further. The development of electromobility in the Czech capital is supported as well. A good example is the signed memorandum regarding the cooperation of the City of Prague, Pražská energetika (Prague Energies Company) and ŠKODA AUTO. The main goal of this cooperation is clear: to fill in the white areas on the map of the capital city,...

by Prague Morning Apr 14, 2022

April 2: Let’s Clean Up the Czech Republic

On Saturday, 2 April, will take place the Czech Republic’s largest volunteer event, Ukliďme Česko (“Let’s Clean Up the Czech Republic”), focusing on cleaning up illegal garbage dumps and other litter from natural areas, towns and villages. Let’s Clean Up The Czech Republic’s purpose is to clean up illegal black dumps and mess. “First, we select places that should be cleaned up, then we manage the whole event and we also actively take part in the cleaning,” said Miroslav Kubásek, from the Ukliďme Česko association. Currently, nearly 2,000 volunteers are registered. For those who are interested in joining the event, registration is still available on the official website. Those who sign up before 15 March will not only receive useful advice on planning and promoting their clean-ups, but can also apply for clean-up supplies (bags and gloves), a T-shirt, stickers for participants, and a limited edition figure of the legendary Igráček. In addition to the clean-up itself, a new waste app has been created, and its designers hope to reduce the amount of illegal dumping and litter lying around in the countryside. “Our goal is not to endlessly clean up other people’s mess. That’s why we developed the KAMsNIM.cz application,...

by Prague Morning Mar 07, 2022

Chargers for Electric Cars to Be Installed in 82 Prague Streetlights

Prague city will install new chargers for electric cars in 82 streetlights during this year, said the councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09). According to the city’s plan, their number is to increase gradually in the future, which is why the municipality plans to replace and modernize more than 600 lamps this year. There are about 135,000 public lighting lamps in Prague. The municipality cooperates with Pražská energetika (PRE) in locating the chargers. “Through this project, we will get chargers for Prague lamps during the year. Electromobility is now the preferred option in the European car market and it is necessary to prepare the charging infrastructure in the public space. Not everyone can use their own garage for charging,” said Chabr. It is necessary to bring new bands to the lamps, which will be able to supply energy for both the lamp and the charger. The city, therefore, cooperates with PRE and when replacing the cables, it also inserts the cable for the charger into the sidewalk. This year, 654 lamps will be replaced and chargers can be connected to 189 of them. The lamps will be replaced by the Municipal Society of Technology of the Capital City of Prague (THMP)in ten city districts. According to earlier...

by Prague Morning Feb 22, 2022

Prague’s Korunovační Street is About to Undergo a Major Transformation

In recent years, Prague has been renewing itself with the reconstruction of certain streets in an attempt to make the city more ecological. This includes the construction of wider pavements, planting more trees, building new footbridges. The City of Prague, the Municipal District of Prague 7, the Institute for Planning and Development (IPR Prague), are jointly preparing the transformation of the public space between Letenské sady and Stromovka. The Korunovační and Nad Štolou streets as well as the Letenský Museum area, i.e. the area near the National Technical Museum and the National Agricultural Museum, will undergo some major changes. The shape of the district will emerge from a competition to be announced in the spring. So far, Prague 7 has presented the concept study for Korunovační Street by the studio edit! Architects. “The conceptual study will help us to coordinate individual projects that will change the character of this essential avenue in Letná. The aim is to coordinate the renewal of public infrastructure and other planned improvements. The study is to ensure the coherence of these activities and not to prevent the implementation of one project by another,” said Lenka Burgerová, Deputy Mayor of Prague 7. The study provides for...

by Mailys David Feb 18, 2022

The Growing Popularity of Car-Sharing in Prague

There are now almost 1200 shared cars in the city. According to the operator of the world’s largest network of these cars, the market for car sharing in the Czech Republic is three times higher than what it used to be. Due to the pandemic, they have boosted their popularity. The Czech Republic’s biggest car-sharing company HoppyGo reported an 80 percent increase in the number of car rentals last year, while the number of registered users increased by 50 percent to over 100,000. “Part of our clients stopped using our services because they are working from home, but other clients started using the services to avoid overcrowded public transport,” said the technical director of HoppyGo. According to company estimates, the potential for car-sharing is up to three times higher than at present. Milan Beutl, director of the Czech representation of Anytime says: “Awareness of the service is expanding significantly, and carsharing in Prague is still growing and evolving.” He adds “there is still room for further development of carsharing in Prague and we expect that shared cars will experience further growth in interest in 2022.” According to experts, carsharing services, along with well-functioning public transport and taxis, can make part...

by Prague Morning Feb 07, 2022

Prague Made Their Bike Sharing Free for Everyone

There is some big news in the Prague public transport infrastructure. People can now have free access to short-term bike rides in the Czech city. What began as a pilot project has now been made permanent, Prague Integrated Transport announced on Sunday. How it works If you have a Lítačka public transport pass in Prague, you now will as well have access to use the shared bicycles for up to 15 minutes, four times a day, and at zero cost. The idea began as a way to use bicycles to help with the city’s transport system. Its aim was to alleviate congestion as well as offer people an alternative to the bus or streetcar stops, which are sometimes too far away to access. Popular program The pilot ran for three months and began in October. The project went well, with almost 8,000 people using the bikes, despite Prague’s cold winter. Following the positive response, the city of Prague has decided to make the free bike shares a permanent part of their transport system. The project also published some of the most popular times that the bike share program was used. It was mostly used during rush hours before and after...

by Prague Morning Jan 20, 2022

The First Electric Bus is Running on the Streets of Prague

On Monday 17th January, the new Skoda E’ City electric bus from the Skoda Transportation Group went on its first test drive with passengers in Prague. The electric bus will now take test drives mainly on lines 154 and 213 and during weekends also on line 124. Prague is the first city where this new Czech electric bus is in service. Passengers and residents of the capital will appreciate this novelty, as it does not produce carbon dioxide emissions and other harmful substances. The total value of the contract including possible options is CZK 207 million. The Transport Company of the Capital City of Prague (DPP) has ordered a fleet of 14 vehicles and will deploy them mainly on lines 154 (Strašnická – Koleje Jižní Město) and 213 (Želivského – Nádraží Uhříněves) and during weekends also on line 124 (Želivského – Zelený pruh). 14 new Skoda E’ CITY electric buses will operate on two lines in Prague, replacing older diesel buses. Each electric bus will cover an average of 60,000 km per year. Each year, the buses together will save about 252,000 litres of diesel fuel and produce 714 tonnes less CO2 in the air. This is the first delivery of electric buses by Skoda Transportation Group...

by Prague Morning Jan 18, 2022

Prague Will Keep the Free Bikesharing Option for Lítačka Holders

Since last October 11, when Prague City launched a free bike-sharing pilot project in cooperation with Rekola and Nextbike, more than 13,000 citizens have activated this option on Lítačka and more than half are active users. “People most often rent bicycles during peak hours, around 7 am in the morning and between 2 pm and 5 pm in the afternoon. Praguers also rent bikes at night, when we register an average of about 40 loans a day,” said Drápal. “After three months, despite the winter period, we can confirm that the combination of shared bicycles and public transport works. Therefore, we decided to permanently integrate it into the PID system,” said Adam Scheinherr, Deputy Mayor and Transport Councilor (Praha Sobě). Prague residents have the opportunity to use a shared bike (by Rekola and Nextbike) for free for 15 minutes and up to 4 times a day. Residents must, however, be owners of valid electronic subscription tickets in order to use the service. To rent a bike, one must first download the mobile application of the shared bike service provider. Then, they must link it to their regional transport system (Lítačka) account. Once this is done successfully, the bike-sharing system will allow...

by Prague Morning Jan 15, 2022

Czech Republic to End Coal Use by 2033, Boost Nuclear Power

The new Czech government aims to phase out coal in energy production by 2033.

by Prague Morning Jan 08, 2022

Smart Solution in Waste Collection to Be Extended to 6,000 Prague Containers

Prague City approved a new agreement with the Operátor ICT on ensuring the administration and development of a sensor network for monitoring the occupancy level of sorted waste containers.

by Prague Morning Jan 03, 2022

Prague Makes Further Steps Towards Sustainable Development

This year, among other things, one of the world’s biggest topics is climate change. The forecasts are not very attractive and the threat needs to be addressed globally. That is the reason why the Cities Race to Zero initiative was created with a goal to reduce the number of emissions of individual member cities by half. Prague – also joined the initiative. Prague’s commitment is clear: it must halve its emissions by 2030. In the spring of 2021, the Prague City Council approved the 2030 Climate Plan of the City of Prague, which is supposed to significantly help in this effort. The same goal have other 720 cities around the world, which have also joined the initiative. The capital of the Czech Republic also had its representatives attending the UN Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, where the fight against climate change was discussed. “This year, Prague was represented at the UN climate conference for the first time, and it intends to establish international cooperation following this participation. Among the cities represented, we intend to find like-minded partners with whom we can be of mutual inspiration. This is another essential step in the implementation of the Climate Plan, of which some projects are already being implemented. We started with the construction of...

by Prague Morning Dec 08, 2021

Lidl Starts to Sell Ugly Fruit and Vegetables Boxes at 25 CZK

Lidl officially launched today its special vegetables and fruit boxes. It wanted to prove that unattractive produce is just as edible. These special boxes are put on the shelves every day, with various “ugly” – but still edible – vegetables and fruits. The weight of one box is about three kilograms. Vegetables and fruit have been selected from farmers’ crops because they are misshapen, have growth cracks or are smaller or larger than average. The produce is washed but the discount reflects the fact that customers may need to spend extra time peeling it or they might not be able to use the whole vegetable. “The positive feedback that we have received off the back of our trial has been incredible; from our colleagues who are showing so much passion for them, to our customers who were getting in touch from the get-go asking where they could get one,” Eliška Froschová Stehlíková, head of CSR projects at Lidl, commented. The average Czech throws away about 40 kilograms of food a year. People in housing estates waste the most food, while in rural areas, waste is less, which is related, among other things, to the fact that in these localities there...

by Prague Morning Nov 15, 2021

Goodbye High Energy Prices: Prague to Become Energy Self-Sufficient

In a mission to fight the sharp rise in energy prices and strengthen Prague’s energy self-sufficiency, there are new plans in place for the municipality to help with the installation of solar panels and subsidies in the capital. According to the approved climate strategy, the city’s goal is to install panels on 20,000 Prague buildings by 2030 and gain hundreds of megawatts of power- which will be made possible through the introduction of new initiatives. Soon, a new city company called the Prague Renewable Energy Community (PSOE) will be offering a subsidy for the installation of a solar panel on their roof, and another city company – Technology of the Capital City of Prague (THMP) – will also help with the installation under advantageous conditions. Residents in Prague can start applying from 1 December. “In the case of private individuals, they will use the Green Savings grant program, and public organizations will then be able to use money from the newly established Modernization Fund,” explained the director of the newly established organization, Jaroslav Klusák. The Prague City Council has also announced the creation of a new organization for renewable energy already in its climate commitments, which should help significantly reduce...

by Prague Morning Nov 11, 2021

Czech Republic Among The Worst In Europe For New Car Emissions

The Czech Republic is one of the worst in Europe in terms of carbon dioxide emissions from new cars. With emissions of 120.9 grams per kilometer, it is the sixth-worst in the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) ranking. Arval pointed this out. The main reason for this situation is the conservative approach of companies and people to alternative drives. In Europe, emissions from new cars fell by an average of 11 percent. The average is around 108.2 g / km. According to ACEA, Norway, Iceland and the Netherlands have the lowest emissions from new cars. At the other end of the scale are the countries of Eastern and Central Europe, the worst result being Bulgaria with 133 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. “Czech companies still mostly buy cars with internal combustion engines, although the situation is gradually changing and 22 percent of domestic companies already have vehicles with alternative drives in their fleets,” said Tomáš Kadeřábek, a consultant for Arval, which provides operating leases. The share of companies with electric vehicles in their fleet has increased significantly, compared to last year to eight percent. “However, if there is no significant tax advantage for cars with alternative drives, a greater...

by Prague Morning Nov 04, 2021

Škoda Plants Its One Millionth Tree

Skoda’s ‘One car, one tree’ initiative, which sees one sapling planted for every car delivered in the Czech Republic, has reached its one-millionth tree. Skoda Auto is planting its one-millionth tree as part of its ‘One car, one tree’ initiative launched in 2007, which plants a sapling for every vehicle delivered to a customer in the Czech Republic. Representatives of Skoda Auto, the city of Mlada Boleslav, as well as the partnership foundation Nadace partnerstvi were present when the millionth tree – an English oak – was planted in the Three Emperors Park in Mlada Boleslav. Over the coming days, further trees will be planted at the carmaker’s Czech sites: A Ginkgo biloba will be the initiative’s 1,000,001st tree, taking root in the Palace Garden in Vrchlabi, and horse chestnut will be the 1,000,002nd tree, to be planted in Solnice not far from the Kvasiny factory. By the end of this year, the number of trees planted across more than 170 locations amounts to 1,093,000. They cover an area the size of 347 football pitches, which is the same as 227 hectares of new forest. The project involves a total of 190 partners from all over the Czech Republic. Since 2016,...

by Prague Morning Oct 25, 2021

Could Electric Cars Soon be the Future for the Czech Republic?

By 2025, there are plans for 3,000 charging points for electric cars to be created in the Czech Republic. According to the National Action Plan, net mobility also expects up to 500,000 fully electric vehicles to run in the country by 2030. The Deputy Minister of Industry, Eduard Muřický, said that the automotive industry is the basic pillar of industry and the economy in the Czech Republic, accounting for about one tenth of GDP and 20 percent of exports. “By 2030, 35,000 charging points should also be generated, especially fast ones,” he added. The new charging port plans follow from the Memorandum on Cooperation in the Development of Electromobility in the Czech Republic, signed by representatives of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, infrastructure managers, ČEZ and Škoda Auto. According to Škoda Auto, the charging stations are to be set up at railway stations and along the main roads and powered by carbon-neutral electricity from ČEZ to significantly accelerate the transition to electromobility. Among other things, decisions will be made based on data on the busiest road routes. The country is working on decarbonization and one of the possible ways to do this, and to support...

by Prague Morning Oct 14, 2021

Czech Politicians Show Support for Nuclear Energy

Representatives of the main political parties running in the forthcoming Czech parliamentary elections agreed the country needs nuclear energy in its future energy mix. Tomáš Ehler, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade for Nuclear Power, stated the construction of a single new nuclear unit at Dukovany will not be sufficient to meet the Czech commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even if the share of renewables in the energy mix continues to grow after the decommissioning of the country’s coal-fired power stations. It will be necessary to build at least one more nuclear unit at Dukovany and two further units at Temelín, he said. However, the question is whether the government, which is the majority owner of ČEZ, will be able to assert its will and persuade the company’s board of directors to approve the preparation for these additional new nuclear units. Tomáš Pleskač, a member of ČEZ’s board of directors, said in the long-run ČEZ plans to commission only one new nuclear unit at Dukovany and to commission 6000 MW in solar plants to replace the output from the decommissioned coal-fired stations. The company will analyse the possible deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and, after they become commercially...

by Prague Morning Oct 01, 2021

Žižkov Welcomes First Art Re Use Warehouse in Prague

A warehouse of second-hand items material was opened in Žižkov which will have an ecological, environmental, and educational function. The non-profit project was created with the support of the city district of Prague 3 and the municipality. The Skutek association is behind the idea of creating art re use and the operator Jan Vincenec, the ArtMap association and the project coordinator, took care of the implementation. Art re use functions in the premises as a “bank” of art material, which offers artists, students, non-profit projects and galleries material and instrumental background for creation, including “know-how” support and inspiration. It will also help cultural institutions, companies, and art schools with a meaningful redistribution of used and currently unnecessary material, which they themselves can no longer store. The basic benefit is to concentrate the efforts of individuals and institutions striving for responsible access to raw materials. In the future, it will also offer workshops for the public and various educational activities focused on the topic of recycling. “There is a huge demand for objects and materials that the warehouse of art material mediates for transportation, which proves that such a project belongs in the capital,” said Hana Třeštíková, Prague City Councilor for...

by Prague Morning Sep 30, 2021

Babiš Demands Big Changes to EU Green Deal Over Cars

The Czech Republic will demand major changes to the European Union’s plan to cut carbon emissions because the current proposal would damage its key automotive industry, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said. A proposed ban on combustion engines by 2035 is “nonsense” and the leaders of member states will have a difficult debate about the climate package, Babis said in an online debate with opposition leaders before elections next month. “I am convinced that it needs to be significantly changed,” Babis said. “It’s destroying car producers, and we are against this proposal. The next government will have to deal with it because we cannot dictate to people what kind of cars they should buy.” The proposal to ban combustion-engine cars next decade is part of the ambitious climate plan the EU rolled out in June to transform every corner of its economy. Now years of tough negotiations are expected before the bloc’s 27 members can turn the plan into reality. The fight over electric vehicles has become a worry for the country, where auto production makes up for more than a quarter of industrial output and employs almost 700,000 people directly and indirectly. The Czech Republic is home to Volkswagen Group’s...

by Prague Morning Sep 22, 2021

Emissions in Prague Exceed European Limits and Are Harmful to Health, Warn Experts

With an enormous number of cars in Prague, experts worry about the impact it will have not only on transport but also on the climate and human health. With the issue of health and safety is at the forefront of public debate, experts are now looking for solutions to reduce emissions and improve the current unsatisfactory situation where it exceeds the limits. A new study by Atmosphere magazine warns that the number of emissions in Prague exceeds the limits recommended by the WHO and the European Union. Miroslav Šuta, a doctor and expert from the Center for the Environment and Health, told Czech Radio Plus that the measurements took place in various places in Prague, and he considers the surroundings of the Blanka tunnel or the busy V Holešovičkách Street to be the most problematic places in the city. For Dr. Radim Šrám, Chairman of the Commission for the Environment of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the danger persists even with concentrations below the applicable European limits or below the WHO recommended values. He points out that analysis from Spain and Scandinavia show that even lower concentrations can affect the development of the nervous system in children....

by Prague Morning Sep 22, 2021

“Czech Republic Can’t Handle EU Emissions Targets,” Says PM Babiš

The Czech Republic has joined a growing number of countries and manufacturers that oppose the EU Commission’s climate package. The Fit for 55 plan effectively bans the sale of combustion engine cars in Europe from 2035 – an unwelcomed move for some. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced his opposition to Fit for 55 climate plan. “We will not agree to the sales ban on fossil fuel cars. We cannot implement here what green fanatics in the European Parliament have come up with,” Babiš rumbled. As reported, the Italian government also wants to soften the planned ban on internal combustion cars – in favour of domestic sports car manufacturers. On a larger scale than potential sales of Ferrari or Maserati, Renault is also rebelling against the EU plans. The French carmaker fears for the future of brands like Dacia, which aims to bank on hybrid technology for some time. According to the non-profit organization Ember, Czech plans for green energy are still one of the least ambitious in the EU. In 2030, coal could still account for at least a third of total electricity production. The current Czech government plans to add very limited wind and solar capacities and the country is expected to be well...

by Prague Morning Sep 16, 2021

Tomorrow Starts the “European Mobility Week” in Prague

“Safe and Healthy with Sustainable Mobility” — this is the motto of this year’s mobility week, which begins on September 16 and ends with the International Car Free Day on Friday 22 September. In 2021, the European Mobility Week annual theme is ‘Safe and Healthy with Sustainable Mobility‘, in line with the wishes of local campaigners to contribute to mental and physical health and the overall well-being of residents. The aim is to encourage Prague’s residents to think more about what mode of transport to choose, to try something new and to change how they get around in the city for a week. During the event, Prague residents and visitors to the Czech capital can look forward to trying out historical trains, buses, and trams, visit the Museum of Public Transport, and avail of a free mobile bicycle service, which will take place in two different places every day. “I would like to invite all Praguers to the European Mobility Week, which is full of activities and an interesting program. This campaign has been organized with the aim of promoting environmentally-friendly forms of transport and thus contributing not only to a more pleasant environment in the city but also to the...

by Prague Morning Sep 15, 2021

Manifesto Will be Hosting Sustainability Festival at the Newly Opened Anděl Market

Manifesto is revamping the Sustainability Festival from September 10-12 to continue the momentum built from last year’s event at Smíchov. Manifesto Anděl’s 3-day Sustainability Festival will boast a rich array of twenty panelists, including leaders from Reknihy + Knihobot, Yord, GreeenTech, Noseno, Kokoza, who will discuss how visitors can integrate sustainability into their everyday lives. The festival will be moderated by eco-ambassador and NOSENE founder Katarína Hutyrová, who was recently featured in Forbes’ “30 under 30” ranking. The festival is free to attend and will provide diverse cultural experiences for visitors to enjoy; including yoga, a film screening, pop-ups, workshops, and DJs throughout the three-day event. “We are all constantly searching for new ways we can position our lifestyle towards more sustainability. Thus, we decided to bring some of the most inspiring examples from the Czech community across diverse disciplines and professions to inspire each other towards brighter, more sustainable ways of living and doing business,” said Šárka Tošnarová, Marketing Director, Manifesto. What to expect “Sustainability is the sum of our day-to-day decisions. Decisions made by brands, manufacturers, suppliers and consumers. It’s a collective responsibility.” – Katarína Hutyrová, Nosene. Visitors attending the Sustainability festival on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th...

by Prague Morning Sep 09, 2021

Prague Will Convert Waste Into Raw Construction Material

Earlier this year, the City of Prague approved the 2030 Climate Plan submitted by Deputy Mayor for the Environment Petr Hlubuček. As TheMayor.eu reports, this plan outlines the capital’s goals to achieve a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Moreover, it stresses the significance of sustainability and circular economies, among others. With these objectives in mind, Prague recently launched various initiatives to become a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable city. Taking a case in point, it established various reuse centres where individuals can deposit unwanted items rather than discarding them. In addition, it reused last year’s Christmas tree, transforming it into furniture for an elderly home. Now, it has taken one more step towards achieving the goals of the 2030 Climate Plan. The City of Prague has recently reported that it is preparing to convert slag produced from the incineration of waste into building materials. According to Hlubuček, the incinerator produces 65 to 70 thousand tons of slag annually. What is more, the city pays approximately CZK 40 million a year for landfilling. Thanks to research and technological innovations, this waste can now be converted into raw materials and used in the construction industry. More specifically, clean slag reportedly has various useful properties which...

by Prague Morning Sep 03, 2021

Survey: Prague Named “City With the Best Parks” in the World

Which of the world’s cities have the best parks? abcFlora.com carried out a study gathering data relating to the parks in 60 of the world’s best-known cities, allowing them to discover how busy each city’s parks are, as well as how highly rated they are on Google. This in turn gave them the means to generate a comprehensive ranking based on general park quality. At the top of the ranking is Prague. The 13th largest city in the EU and home to over 1.3 million people, Prague’s parks have an impressively high average review score of 4.59 out of 5. While there are plenty of great choices throughout the city, some of Prague’s most well-known parks include Havlíčkovy Sady and Letná park. In 2nd and 3rd are Moscow (4.67) and London (4.56) respectively. Although these two cities are far more densely populated than Prague (Moscow with 12.5 million residents and London with 9.4 million residents) both of them maintained very high scores, with the Czech capital not far ahead of them. Now let’s take a look at the other end of the spectrum – of the cities we analysed, which ones have the lowest scores? The lowest ranking city on the list is...

by Prague Morning Sep 02, 2021

Czech Republic, Late in Banning Single-Use Plastics

Disposable plastic plates and cutlery, straws or q-tips are among the products that will no longer be sold in EU member states from July 3, according to a European directive on limiting the environmental impact of plastics. In the case of the Czech Republic, the EU Directive 2019/904, adopted two years ago by the European Parliament, has not yet been transposed into national legislation. Which products are banned? Products to be banned under the regulation include plastic cutlery, plates and straws as well as ear swabs, except for those used in health facilities. Also prohibited are plastic stir sticks and balloon sticks with the exception of those intended for purely industrial use. The regulation also bans expanded polystyrene food and drink packaging and items made of oxo-degradable plastics. Labelling and packaging The regulation also prescribes labelling of certain disposable plastic products and their packaging to inform consumers on how to handle the resulting waste. The items that should be labelled include pads, tampons and applicators, wet wipes, tobacco products with filters, filters marketed in combination with tobacco products, and cups. The ban will take effect fifteen days after the regulation is published in the Official Gazette. Non-compliance will be punishable...

by Prague Morning Aug 24, 2021

Our Planet is on Fire, What are We Going to do About it? Signal Festival is Looking for Plan C!

At the last minute, we are expanding this year’s program. We are also looking for the last festival location. We have also announced a competition for university students called the Neon Award. If you have someone nearby, or it’s you, sign in, tell your friends. Signal Festival will take place from October 14 to 17. We are also working on something completely new, which we will talk about a lot during September. Signal AR is a new permanent project to which we at Signal devote a lot of time and care. This is our new experiment. We will soon introduce you to several art installations in augmented reality. And what about the festival theme? What will this year’s Signal be about? The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a new report on the state of our planet. It unequivocally states that human activity is causing climate change. It is high time to wake up. We’ve been guessing this in Signal for some time. This is another factor that shows that the choice of the Plan C theme for this year is more than timeless. As has been said several times, in 2020 we wanted to open a debate in public space through art about the state...

by Prague Morning Aug 19, 2021

The Florenc Cycle Depot named as a Finalist in the 2021 EUROCITIES Awards

In November 2020, a pilot project for the first cycle depot designed for the delivery of parcels around Prague’s city center by electric cargo bike was launched in the Florenc section of the city. This project has been chosen as a finalist for the 2021 EUROCITIES Awards in the Zero Pollution category, competing for the top spot with the De Energiecentrale project in Ghent, Belgium, and the Recyclerie des moulins project in Nice, France. The winner of the competition will be announced in November of this year. In the nine months since the depot opened, couriers on cargo bikes have delivered over 50,000 parcels and covered more than 23,000 km. Following on the pilot’s success, Prague is planning another bike depot in Anděl, which will start operating this September. The Florenc depot will continue operating indefinitely. Adam Scheinherr, Deputy Mayor for Transport, says: “Our experience in Prague thus far shows that micro-depots in city centers can contribute to the streamlining of logistics so that goods arrive from the shortest possible distance. In other words, the more depots we have, the better the entire system will work. We are working with the biggest logistics players in the market at both depots. These...

by Prague Morning Aug 07, 2021

Prague City Will Invest CZK 168.5 Million to Improve the Environment

Prague City Hall plans to distribute CZK 168.5 million to the city districts for the expansion of urban greenery and other projects reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The subsidies were approved by the city councilors, and the money will be used to renovate several parks, planting, and restoration of alleys or projects designed to retain rainwater. In 2019, Prague approved a commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 45 percent by 2030, and recently approved a climate strategy. Among the projects to be supported, the revitalization of Riegrovy sady above Vozová Street. Prague 2 is to receive CZK 8 million. The same amount is to be received by Prague 5 for the renovation of Chaplinova náměstí, Prague 9 for the further extension of Přátelství Park and Prague 11 for the revitalization of the housing estate courtyard. The town hall in Uhříněves is to receive CZK 6 million for the renovation of Cukrovarský Park, while Vinoř will receive the same amount for the conversion of the chateau forecourt. Additional money will be invested at Dolina Park in Lysolajy, two parks in Prague 13, Solidarita Park in Prague 10, construction of a park along Českobrodská in Prague 14, reconstruction of a fountain on...

by Prague Morning Jun 28, 2021

Škoda Auto to Focus on Electrification

The goal of Škoda Auto’s new strategy is to develop internationalization, electrification, and digitization. The company plans to transform the Czech Republic into a centre of electromobility development and thus ensure existing jobs and create new ones. The company aims to be one of the five best-selling brands in Europe by 2030 and plans to become the leading European brand in the growth regions of India, Russia and North Africa. Moreover, Škoda’s portfolio will be expanded by at least three purely electric models. “Models like Rapid in Russia and Kushaq in India are helping us to achieve this. It is tailored to suit the needs of the customers in the region and will become the best sellers in many other emerging markets,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO, Škoda Auto. At the beginning of 2022, the production of battery systems for the group’s MEB platform will be launched in Mladá Boleslav. The carmaker is also expanding its virtual-showroom concept and wants to sell 20% of its vehicles online in 2025. Compared to 2020, it plans to lower fleet emissions by 50% and switch to carbon-neutral production in all its Czech and Indian production plants by 2030. In addition, between 2022 and 2030,...

by Prague Morning Jun 26, 2021

The Czech Company Siko Teaches the World to Save Water

The Czech bathroom empire Siko has invested CZK 150 million in the purchase of an 80% stake in the innovator Swiss Aqua Technologies, a company based in Cham, Switzerland. It consists of a team of engineers and scientists involved in nearly two decades of product development in order to improve water quality, to save water with an emphasis on health effects and environmental impacts. Siko has been supplying some novelties to foreign markets since last year. The first innovation with which it entered world markets last year was the anti-scale pipes called KalyxX. The company sold last year tens of thousands of pieces of this special equipment, for example, to China, the USA, Brazil, Israel for CZK 150 million. However, the main trump card of the company is the toilet of the new generation OptimFlush. It will save the average household up to CZK 4,000, as the most environmentally-friendly toilet in the world uses half the normal water consumption, ie 1.5 liters or three liters for each flush. The technology works on the principle of pressurization from the water supply system without the use of additional energy. Siko plans to sell ten thousand toilets in Europe this year. The certification...

by Prague Morning Jun 05, 2021

Ban on Single-Use Plastics to Come Into Effect on 3 July 2021

On 3 July 2021, the EU ban on disposable plastics comes into effect. We are talking straws, cups, cutlery, plates, but also balloon rods. Find out what changes and when. In December 2018, representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the EU countries jointly agreed upon a directive to combat the ‘plastic soup’. To reduce plastic litter and the overabundant use of plastic, a number of single-use plastic products (cutlery, stirrers) will be banned. Other products (cigarette filters, wet wipes) will contain labels stating that plastic is bad for the environment. Manufacturers of other products such as food packaging will have to contribute financially to cleaning up and educate the people. Member states will have to achieve a 90% collection target for plastic bottles by 2029, and plastic bottles will have to contain at least 25% of recycled content by 2025 and 30% by 2030. On 3 July 2024, an additional measure takes effect: loose caps on bottles will no longer be allowed. Caps have to be affixed to the bottle. The European Commission is planning more measures. For example: from 2025 onwards, 25% of all soda and water bottles must be made from recycled materials. That percentage...

by Prague Morning Jun 04, 2021

Czech Republic to Invest 4.4 Billion CZK to Improve Recycling

The Czech Republic is among the top five EU countries in waste sorting. Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček said that the government cabinet is launching a massive promotion of recycling by changing legislation, incentives, and financial support for investment. CZK 4.4bn has been allocated for recycling in the National Recovery Plan (NRP). The NPO also includes funding for recycling infrastructure and circular solutions in companies. The country already is one of the lowest generators of waste in the EU and this initiative should help strengthen its position among states that aim to produce as little waste as possible and recycle majority of the rest. Every year, more than 6,000 kilotons of waste are produced in Prague. With regard to the environment, the capital strives for its thorough processing in the system of waste management, which serves citizens and companies. Waste in Prague is collected using container posts, curbside collection, and permanent drop-off centres. About 99% of households use the system of container posts with recycling stations where you bring and separate your waste. The collection is provided by four specialized companies. The frequency of pick-up ranges from once every 14 days to 7 times a week. Since 2020, Prague...

by Prague Morning Jun 03, 2021

Prague Invites the Public to Adopt a Tree

Over and over again, the Czech City of Prague has proven its commitment to the environment. The capital has not only vowed to plant 1 million trees in 8 years but it has also received the European Forest City Award 2021 for its environmental efforts. Now, it has launched a new project: “Adopt a Tree”. Residents can choose a tree to care for The municipality is involving citizens, urging them to help the city achieve its green goals. With the launch of its latest green project, it invites residents to choose, adopt, and care for a tree from Prague 14. In a press release by the City of Prague, the municipality notes that “Adopt a Tree” is part of a bigger project: “Build Prague”. This larger initiative seeks to raise awareness of how important it is to care for and protect the greenery in the capital. Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib commented on the city’s efforts and goals: “We promised that we would plant a million trees in Prague in eight years and that we will succeed in fulfilling our plan. So far, we have planted 370,000 trees. […] But the care of planted trees is also important. The city is our shared public space,...

by Prague Morning May 26, 2021

EU Court Tells Poland to Halt Lignite Mine on Czech Border

The European Union´s top court on Friday ordered Poland to immediately stop mining brown coal at the Turow mine, on the border with the Czech Republic and Germany. The Czech Republic filed in March for an injunction, saying the open-cast lignite mine in Poland drains ground water away from inhabited areas and has other negative effects on Czech residents. The decision by the EU´s Court of Justice is a temporary measure pending the court´s final judgement on Prague’s complaint. Poland is heavily reliant on coal and had argued against the decision, which was praised by environmental campaigners. “This ruling is a welcome reprieve for people living on the front line of this crisis, who have been forced to live with the mine gulping their drinking water and undercutting their houses,” said Kathrin Gutmann, campaign director for the Europe Beyond Coal group. “The message for polluters like PGE is clear: The rules are the same for everyone, and they are there to protect everyone.” In January, the German city of Zittau, just across the border from Turow, also took Poland to the EU’s court, saying the mine was harming the city and was draining away groundwaters. Poland´s state PGE energy group,...

by Prague Morning May 22, 2021

prague Most Sustainable Cities in the World

Prague Named Among Top #10 Most Sustainable Cities in the World

A new study by Uswitch reveals which cities around the world are the most sustainable. The study analyzed cities based on several factors which contributed to them being the most sustainable: Energy, transportation infrastructure, affordability, pollution, air quality, CO2 emissions, percentage of green space available. Prague scores highly for the percentage of green space available Prague has one of the highest scores for green space on the index (88.9%). Since 2018, Prague has implemented the Tree Planting Action Plan, an eight-year scheme to plant 1 million new trees. This helps the quality of existing wooded areas and reduce traffic noise in residential areas. The city puts a lot of effort into their recycling as less than 10% of waste is sent to landfills. Other initiatives include citywide bio-waste collection and plan to reduce the total production of mixed city waste by at least half by 2030. Prague is known for its cheap and easy-to-use public transport, and scores moderately on the index’s transport infrastructure (48%), the city has approved a Sustainable Mobility Plan that will ensure more sustainable transport in the city up to 2030. This includes electric buses, refurbishments of trams, construction of park & rides, safer cycler routes in the...

by Prague Morning May 20, 2021

How the Czech Republic Plans to Ditch Coal

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says all OECED countries must phase out coal by 2030 at the latest in order to comply with the Paris Agreement on climate change. The European Union’s objective, agreed by EU leaders in December 2019, is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. That means the Czech Republic – among the top three coal burners in Europe together with Germany and Poland – is coming under growing pressure to transition to clean energy. A recent report by think tank Agora Energiewende found most lignite units in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic will become permanently unprofitable in the second half of the 2020s. “The time of coal-fired power plants are coming to an end, and many units are no longer profitable. These market trends need to be reflected in national strategies and coordinated in the countries of the coal triangle,” the report says. Thirty years ago, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic were all highly dependent on coal. Up until a few years ago, none wanted to be the first mover, but increasing environmental and economic pressure, combined with dwindling resources, has forced them to move, said Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk, co-author of the report at Forum Energii, a Polish...

by Prague Morning May 09, 2021

This Mural on Tesla Building in Holešovice Can Clean the Air

According to Blesk.cz, large-scale paintings are starting to appear more often in the streets of Prague. However, V Háji Street, in Holešovice, is now wholly unique. The Tesla building is decorated with a giant mural with a girl’s face, which has an unusual feature. Thanks to striking colors, the mural can clean the surrounding air with the same intensity as an equally large forest area. Such paintings may be a suitable form of improving the air in the future, especially in cities where there is a problem with planting greenery and no place for it. Mural, large-scale paintings, graffiti – all of the instances are referred to as street art. Recently, paintings by modern artists have started to appear more often in the streets of Prague. Undoubtedly, we are talking about those legal, thoughtful, and processed by the masters of their craft, pieces of art. No one wants to have ugly scribbles on the building’s facades that can remind some people of the plague of past decades. In recent times, large-scale paintings decorate gray walls around the metropolis. For example, at the Opatov and Vltavská metro stations, new murals are now being prepared. A few days ago, the Vychovatelna mural...

by Sofia C. Apr 28, 2021

An Ambitious Plan: Thousands of Chargers for Electric Cars and Solar Panels Roofs

Biogas stations, solar panels on Prague roofs, heat supply from wastewater treatment plants, chargers for electric cars, and replacement of city buses with low-emission ones. As Pražský deník reports, these are the five significant projects with which the metropolis wants to meet its energy commitment, signed two years ago. The document commits the capital to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030, compared to 2010, and by 2050 to turn Prague into a completely carbon-free city. Specific projects for the implementation of the plan will cost hundreds of billions of crowns. “There is an opportunity to revive the economy after COVID-19; the essence is an investment in new technologies,” said Deputy Minister for the Environment Petr Hlubuček (STAN). He also underlined that the EU supports the fulfillment of commitments, and European sources will be financing individual projects. The magistrate’s commission for sustainable energy and climate, headed by former Minister of the Environment, Martin Bursík, has taken on to ensure the fulfillment of grand plans. The accomplishment of the declared goals is to be ensured by a supporter of concrete measures. However, ridding Prague’s dependence on fossil fuels will be extremely expensive; the commission has calculated the total cost at...

by Sofia C. Apr 27, 2021

Prague Airport Has Big Plans to Become More Sustainable

Carbon neutrality, green electricity, protection of biodiversity alongside reduction of disposable plastics. This is but a shortlist of steps through which Prague Airport pursues sustainability and green urbanism. The long-term development projects embedded in the airport’s agenda are to adhere to the principles of sustainability, too. Prague Airport has been actively reducing CO2 emissions for over ten years. Compared to 2009, it achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions of 76% last year and thus saved the equivalent of 41,000 tons of CO2. At the same time, together with other airports, airlines and aircraft manufacturers, the airport has committed itself to reduce the environmental impact of aviation in the pan-European Destination 2050 initiative and introduced a commitment to reach carbon neutrality on all flights across Europe and beyond by 2050. “Airlines are phasing out older aircraft and replacing them with new, much greener and more environmentally-friendly models. In about the next ten years, Prague Airport plans to execute several long-term development and sustainable projects, which include, for example, the expansion of the Terminal 2 building. In the preparatory phase of the terminal capacity increase project, very close coordination with Správa železnic (The Railway Administration) is pursued regarding a train connection to Václav...

by Prague Morning Apr 22, 2021

Prague 2 Disagrees with the Proposal of the City Hall to Impose Traffic Restrictions on Smetanovo Nábřeží

Prague 2 Municipal District disagrees with a Prague City Hall’s proposal which includes adjustments to the traffic regime in the area of Smetanovo Nábřeží and Malá Strana. According to Prague 2, if the adjustments are implemented, the traffic load in the municipality will increase drastically as a result of moving the transit of up to thirty thousand cars a day. Prague City Hall has previously announced that it wants to allow passage through Smetanovo Nábřeží and Malá Strana only to locals, whereas other drivers will have to return in the same direction whence they came. Particularly, the regional office of Prague seeks to impose restrictions which will prohibit the passage of motor vehicles through the intersection of Letenská and Tomášská streets on Malostranské Náměstí and parts of Křižovnická street in the section Novotného Lávka – Platněřská street. According to Adam Scheinherr, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, the ban will not affect residents of districts Prague 1, Prague 2, and Prague 5. It will only apply to drivers who pass through the area. They will be able to enter the center of the city as before, but thoroughfares will be forbidden – drivers will have to return the same way from where...

by Timur I. Apr 13, 2021

“Off to Work by Bike!” Competition to Start in May

Do Prace Na Kole is a friendly competition that aims to motivate as many people as possible to use a bike as a regular urban means of transportation. The ‘competition’ will place during the month of May and is organized by the independent NGO, Auto*Mat. You don’t need to be a biker to participate: walking, running, and skating to work are also welcome. The main point is to ditch cars and other motorized vehicles. Due to the state of emergency, the organizers decided to adjust the rules of the competition, so it is possible to count trips not only to the workplace. People can compete with others from across the Czech Republic either as an individual or as part of a team in categories such as frequency of travel by bike/foot, total distance covered, longest commute, and others. Teams can compete in the following categories: regularity, performance, cyclo-employer of the year, cyclo-measure, and creativity. The regularity category is self-explanatory; it’s about the frequency of going to work on a bike. If you go by bike every day, you have a great chance of winning! Performance is a distance competition for individuals so if you live close to work but still want...

by Prague Morning Apr 08, 2021

Bitcoin Mining Will Soon Pump Out More Carbon Than the Whole Czech Republic

A new study estimates that the energy-hungry process of bitcoin mining in China could soon generate 130.50 million metric tons of carbon emission each year – that’s more than the annual output of the Czech Republic in 2016. As reported in the journal Nature Communications today, researchers from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences predicted that the annual energy consumption of the Bitcoin blockchain in China is expected to peak in 2024. At this point, bitcoin mining will require around 297 terawatt-hours of energy and will pump out around 130.50 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually. This emission output beats the total greenhouse gas emission output of whole medium-sized countries, including the Czech Republic or Qatar. To wind back a little, bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that allows peer-to-peer transfers without the need of a centralized authority, such as a bank. The transactions are mediated and recorded on a digital ledger, known as the blockchain, shared by everyone participating in the system. Bitcoin mining is the process of verifying bitcoin transactions in the network and recording them in the public blockchain. To do this, a computer must solve complex math problems. As a reward for contributing their computing resources to the network, the “miner” is...

by Prague Morning Apr 06, 2021

Prague Continues to Promote Electromobility and Sustainable Means of Transport

Already in mid-2019, Prague City Assembly approved the Sustainable Mobility Plan for Prague and surrounding areas with a view to 2030, which, among other issues, addresses the development of electric cars, the overall reduction of Prague transportation traffic and, last but not least, the increase in safety. Prague now takes further steps to promote electromobility, transportation sustainability and the overall modernization of transportation systems. 14 New Electric Buses for Prague Public Transportation The purchase of new electric buses fulfills two objectives set by the Prague City Council in the past as part of the Prague Climate Commitment, by reducing emissions by a fifth by 2024 and replacing a third of existing buses with electric buses by 2030. 14 new silent electric buses worth more than CZK 200 million with a transportation capacity of 69 people each, a driving range of 100 km, and a maximum speed of up to 80 kph will drive out in the city streets at the turn of this and next year. The buses, the first-ever of the standard 12-meter length, will be 100% low-floor and equipped with a kneeling system that can lower the boarding edge at the door to facilitate the exit and boarding...

by Prague Morning Mar 25, 2021

Czech Students Have Invented an Edible Cup to Reduce Waste

The Edible Cup is made from 100% natural ingredients and can hold a hot drink for 12 hours. Zuzana Zvěřová and Miroslav Myrončuk, two university students from the Czech Republic, invented the Edible Cup to help save our planet. Upon noticing how many plastic and paper cups they use, Zvěřová and Myrončuk felt inspired to find a solution that can reduce pollution. After much thought and research, the students chose to create edible cups as they realised that everyone enjoys having a biscuit with their drink. Speaking to Novinky, Zvěřová commented on the creation process: “We had a lot of trial and error, we created all possible dough combinations at home. We tried candy dough, muffin dough, pancake dough, everything possible.” Characteristics Finally, with the help of the Food Research Institute Prague and the Czech Technical University in Prague, the students found the perfect recipe. As explained on the website of the Edible Cup project (Jedlý Kelímek), the cup is made from 100% natural ingredients and only contains 56 kcal. Moreover, it is vegan and does not contain any artificial sugars or colours. Many might doubt the endurance of such a cup, believing that it must become soggy when it is filled with hot liquid....

by Prague Morning Mar 18, 2021

Kaufland Introduces New Environmentally Friendly Receipt

Starting with this month, Kaufland Czech Republic will gradually introduce in its stores a new type of shopping receipts, more resistant and more environmentally friendly. Thus, the company reaffirms its commitment to sustainability. The new receipt is made of an innovative, blue thermal paper, without chemical dyes. Thus, it is resistant to sunlight, water and grease and does not lose its legibility or other physical properties over time. In addition, the paper from which it is made is FSC certified, coming from sustainable forestry. The receipt is recyclable and when customers no longer need it, they can safely collect it along with other paper waste. Together with the transition to the new shopping receipt, the packaging of paper rolls for cash registers was also optimized – the company gave up the use of plastic for grouping rolls. The new receipts have already been tested at two stores in Olomouc and Prostějov, and there have been positive feedback from customers. From March, Kaufland will gradually introduce them to other stores across the country. Within July this year, there should be eco-receipts at all cash desks of 135 Kaufland stores in the Czech Republic. This change contributes to the objectives of the...

by Prague Morning Mar 08, 2021

Blinkee.city is Entering Second Season With Faster Electric Mopeds

Acceleration of a substantial part of the mopeds, establishing cooperation with a group of couriers, or adding charging phone holders. The company E-sharing s.r.o., which provides shared electric mopeds under the brand blinkee.city, has not been idle during the winter break. Their customers can rely on a disinfectant in the trunk of each vehicle. Polish franchise blinkee.city has entered the domestic market only last June but its shared electric mopeds have quickly become popular in Prague. In order to offer enhanced comfort to drivers in the second season, the team worked forward technical and practical improvements. “We have gathered feedback from our customers for the past months and based on that our team added improvements to our mopeds which will move eco-driving to a new level. Shared mobility is getting more opportunities in Prague and that motivates us a lot,” says Jan Kanta, the CEO of E-sharing. Over 50% of mopeds got faster Both new and regular users of blinkee.city can look forward to faster mopeds as the company equipped more than half of the vehicles with new regulators that have a considerable impact on the speed. The users will recognize the accelerated mopeds by seeing a lightning emoji in...

by Prague Morning Mar 01, 2021

Prague Plans to Install Over 750 Charging Stations for Electric Cars

On Monday, Prague City approved a plan to implement over 750 charging stations for electric vehicles within the next four years. The charging stations will be placed strategically throughout the metropolis and in the following five years there will be several thousand more charging stations installed. The legislation approved was titled General Development of the Charging Infrastructure in the Capital City of Prague until 2030 and city management also approved a plan for the construction of charging infrastructure. Prague’s Mayor Zdeněk Hřib believes this initiative will help Prague catch up to other modern European metropolis’ in terms of electromobility, “As part of the analysis of the environment, technical solutions and trends in the field of public charging for General, Prague was inspired, among other things, by experience from other European capitals with a comparable population. In Vienna, Hamburg, or Rotterdam, electromobility is already in a much more advanced stage of development, so Prague is happy to learn from them, said Hřib. Prague city councilors approved the legislation on Monday with the goal of increasing the air quality within the city. Real-time metrics of Prague’s air quality can be tracked using Accuweather’s Air Quality Index and currently shows the city at...

by Jason S. Feb 23, 2021

Prague is Among the 10 Greenest Cities in Europe

Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI) has named Lithuanian capital Vilnius the greenest city in Europe. Prague ranks 9th. By applying computer vision and deep learning techniques on satellite images, HUGSI unveiled that 56% of Prague territory is greenery and by this measure, the city ranks 13th in the world. HUGSI-index was announced for the second year running. In total, satellite images of 155 cities across 60 different countries were analyzed in order to evaluate their greenness and provide valuable insights about the size, proportion, distribution, and health of green space in urban areas. The research revealed that 28% of all Prague territory consists of trees, and 27% of grass areas. HUGSI is a digital innovation initiative developed by Husqvarna in collaboration with 20tree.ai. The ambition is to help safeguard and improve the maintenance of green spaces in urban areas. Husquarna created HUGSI to raise awareness about the value of urban green space among citizens, support city officials and politicians to make data-informed decisions, and facilitate the collaboration across industries and organizations to together make a “smart and sustainable city” a reality. “Since last year we have received a lot of interest and enquires about HUGSI and this year we...

by Prague Morning Feb 13, 2021

Czech Republic is Moving Towards Cleaner Energy

In the next ten years, the Czech energy sector will undergo a fundamental transformation towards greater use of clean ecological resources, reduction of energy consumption, and decentralization. Investments in the heating industry sector, building new renewable sources, but also investments into transportation systems or modernization of industry and business will lead the new way. The anticipated result will be a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a positive impact on the climate and environment. To meet these goals, a total of nine programs and 150 billion CZK Modernization Fund will be available. Czech Government has recently approved a strategy document of the Modernization Fund; the Czech Republic thus continues to deliver its commitment to protect the climate and reduce CO2 emissions. A similar step was taken by the capital city of Prague already in 2019 when the City Council made a commitment to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions in the capital city by 45% by the year 2030 and to eliminate them entirely by the year 2050. “We have been working with the Modernization Fund very intensively since the last year and we are ahead of other European countries with preparations. If the European Investment Bank and European Commission manage to finalize all the...

by Prague Morning Feb 08, 2021

New 14 Škoda Electric Buses Are Heading to Prague

Škoda has won a contract for fourteen new electric buses for the Prague Transportation Company. The capital will acquire a fleet of modern environmentally friendly vehicles that do not produce carbon dioxide emissions and thus contribute to cleaner air and a more harmonious environment in the city. The value of the contract, including possible options, is worth up to 207 million crowns, and this will be the first delivery of electric buses carried out by Škoda in cooperation with its Turkish affiliate Temsa. “We will supply vehicles to our capital that do not burden the environment in any way, that operate quietly, and, in addition, have low operating costs, making their operation sustainable in the long run. It will be a new 12-meter completely low-floor bus with comfortable equipment like full-vehicle air conditioning, comfortable seats, a sophisticated information system, and advanced energy management of the entire vehicle fleet,” says Chairman of the Board and President of Škoda Transportation Petr Brzezina. The delivery also includes a possible option for technical support for the future development of other information system and energy management functions (e.g. remote monitoring of consumption or checking battery status) or battery replacements during the projected life of the buses. Škoda...

by Prague Morning Feb 02, 2021

Prague: The Circular European Capital

The main goal is to minimize the generation of waste, and once waste is generated, to turn it into new resources. The circular economy, with its suite of strategies suitable for urban policymakers, can deliver substantial climate mitigation opportunities, social benefits and economic opportunities. The focus of the strategic plan approved by the City Council was on recycling of construction and household waste, greater use of rainwater and development of urban agriculture. A second life for the city’s bulky waste Each year, Prague households consume approximately 307,000 tonnes of non-food products. Of this, nearly 10% is bulky waste – materials or items too large for household waste, such as electrical goods, appliances and furniture – which are destined for landfill. And as the average household income has risen, so has the level of tossed bulky waste. Potentially, 70% of this can be reused, giving furniture and appliances a second life and reducing the overall demands for brand new products. Prague is also building a growing network of Re-Use Points throughout the city: cashing in on the value this ‘waste’ provides when the circular strategies of reuse, refurbish and repair are utilised. In only half a year of the pilot being...

by Prague Morning Jan 28, 2021

Prague Will Invest 122 Million CZK on Cycling

Around the world, the number of people walking and cycling has risen to unprecedented levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government leaders are now taking steps to encourage this development through new infrastructure projects and funding, such as the Prague new 122 million CZK plan to improve and expand pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. The money will be invested in the construction of new paths, stands, and shelters for bicycles. “The plan is to build bike paths and new trails in the capital. The aim is to separate bicycle transport from other types of transport as much as possible,” technical Road Administration (TSK) spokesperson Barbora Liskova said. Prague administration plans to use part of the budget for the construction of a cycle path from Komořany to Lahovice, in Staroklánovická Street (Prague 21), while the route leading to Kunratice will be extended. Moreover, the municipality will invest to innovate and enlarge sheltering facilities at train stations and speed up the process of laying the bike tracks, as well as new bicycle parking lots, where people can keep their bikes and continue by public transport. The aim of all this activity is to increase the use of bicycles in the city and thereby reduce...

by Prague Morning Jan 27, 2021

Official: Czech Republic to Ban Plastic Straws, Cutlery and Plates

Czech lawmakers approved legislation Monday (25 January) banning disposable plastic products such as straws, cutlery, plastic plates, and plastic cotton swabs that are polluting the world’s oceans. The move brings the Czech Republic in line with its European commitments after the EU last year agreed to place tough new restrictions on certain plastic items. The ban should apply to selected disposable plastic products, including those made of bioplastic as well as all oxo-degradable plastic products. According to the EU Commission, the products prohibited under the law represent 70% of the waste that pours into oceans, posing a threat to wildlife and fisheries. “Oxo-degradable plastics have proven to be a dead end as their microparticles enter the food chain. It is not yet clear what effect this can have on human health,” says Minister of the Environment Richard Brabec. According to the ministry’s estimates, approximately 300 million plastic straws, 20 million plates, 60 million cutlery, 40 million food containers, and 40 million polystyrene cups are sold annually in the Czech Republic. Moreover, starting on 3 July 2024, certain beverage containers that have lids and caps made of plastic are only allowed to be placed on the market if the former remain...

by Prague Morning Jan 25, 2021

Prague to Create New Department for Greenery and Water Management

The City of Prague is aware of the importance of greenery in the urban area and at the same time, the representatives of the city want to support sustainable rainwater management and other adaptive measures within various investment projects of the Czech capital. Thus, the Prague City Hall will launch a brand-new department of Blue-Green Infrastructure. Its manager will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the city investments in terms of blue-green infrastructure support. From the long-term perspective, Prague is perceived as one of the greenest cities in the world and tirelessly continues planting new trees, having finalized its two separate stages in 2020, even during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Prague City Council’s Program Statement for the years 2018–2022 includes a commitment to plant 1,000,000 new trees in the capital. In 2019 alone, over 350,000 forest tree seedlings were planted. More data on the Prague greenery and environment can be found on the new data website of the city – Pragozor.cz – in the Czech language. In recent years, Prague Council approved several conceptual documents (some of them available for download in English here) relating to the protection and care of urban greenery or generally to the green-blue infrastructure development. Prague already introduced the Principles of...

by Prague Morning Jan 22, 2021

Prague Christmas Trees to Become Furniture in Social Facilities

Prague City have will use the woods of its Christmas trees to make furniture for social facilities.

by Prague Morning Jan 11, 2021

Prague Goes Green With Grass Tram Lines

Prague is planning to grass over some of its tram lines as part of a program to make the city greener. Green tram rails are becoming more and more popular in Europe, and Prague wants to follow this trend. As part of the project Gene Funds for Cities and Landscapes, the Prague Public Transport Company is testing new unique mixtures of plants for evergreen tram tracks. Not only are grass tracks aesthetically pleasing, but they also go some way to supporting town landscapes that lack green space. This can have significant benefits for health and well-being, making cities more attractive. Moreover, grass tracks can reduce traffic noise, improve air quality, and cool the summer heat. “Embedding rails in grass acts as a better absorber of sound and vibration than traditional light rail embedment materials such as concrete and other hard surfaces,” said Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Mobility Adam Scheinherr One more benefit is the fact that the repair of the tram line on the grassy surface can be carried out faster than the repair of the paved line, which takes significantly more time, is more expensive, noisier, and duster. The researchers, in cooperation with the transport company, sowed the first three test...

by Prague Morning Jan 02, 2021

UK to Ban Gasoline Car Sales by 2030

The United Kingdom will ban the sale of new cars that run only on fossil fuels in 2030

by Prague Morning Nov 18, 2020

Czech Republic’s Green Energy Commitment is Worst in the EU, Report Finds

The Czech Republic will use more fossil fuels as a power source over the next decade than the majority of the EU, a new report has revealed. Think Tank Ember has analysed energy plans submitted by all 27 European Union member states. These documents, which were submitted to the European Commission for approval, detailed how the country expected to produce electricity by 2030. The Czech Republic submitted theirs in January 2020 after the material was approved by the government. The results don’t look good – Poland is the only country that uses more coal than Czechia. In 2030, coal, the fossil fuel which emits the most CO 2, will still account for at least a third of total electricity production in Bulgaria, Czechia and Poland (considerably more in Poland). The 2020’s is a crucial time for climate change action. To meet the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement — which aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C — all EU countries need to phase out coal by 2030. However, the report shows that Czechia is far from achieving these goals. Approximately 90% of the remaining electricity generation from coal is expected to be from just three countries, Germany, Poland,...

by Sian Bradley Nov 12, 2020

Karlínské náměstí Has New Environment-Friendly Public Lighting

Karlínské náměstí and the adjacent streets received 59 new public lighting poles, 91 LED luminaires.

by Prague Morning Oct 31, 2020

Prague Foresters Launch Autumn Tree Planting

Similarly to the spring months, when Prague foresters carried out planned tree planting during the state of emergency declared by the Czech government, they are launching the autumn planting in various areas of the city under the same conditions. Spring and autumn are the seasons guaranteeing optimal climatic conditions for planting, foresters in Prague can thus plan to plant 130 thousand new trees before winter 2020 begins. Thanks to their intense seasonal activities the foresters planted over 107 thousand tree plants this spring. Plan of the Forests of the Capital City of Prague, a municipal company, includes planting new beeches, oaks, firs, pines, and larches to replace ceased forests, or to give life to their new projects. Planting new trees is essential for maintaining the quality of existing wooded areas, for reinforcing the land surrounding bodies of water, or for preventing the residential areas from noise generated by traffic. Prague City plans to invest several millions of crowns in greening the city over a period of eight years. The target number was set to a million of new trees. For this purpose, the town is now preparing an action plan for tree-planting for the next eight-year period, implemented jointly with municipalities as well as companies....

by Prague Morning Oct 29, 2020

Almost 130,000 Trees to be Planted in Prague Following Beetle Infestation

Prague’s forestry service has announced they will be planting 128,000 tree saplings during autumn, after bark beetles devastated the population. Despite the cold temperatures of the spring, the pests were not deterred, and around 70,000 diseased trees had to be felled. In other words; almost a third of the wood that was harvested this year was done so due to the infestation. Petra Fišerová, of the forestry organization Lesy města Prahy, explains: “In the spring of this year, we planted more than 107,000 trees in the Prague forests; during the autumn, we plan to plant another almost 130,000 seedlings. Almost 70,000 of them will be filled with loose clearings, which remain in the forests mainly after diseased trees felled due to bark beetle infestation. We will plant the remaining 60,000 young trees in newly afforested areas.” Due to the bark beetle, conifers are being withdrawn from the projects. The exact species of the seedlings will depend on the immediate suitability of the habitat but it will not be spruce, which hasn’t been planted in Prague forests for some time. Petr Hlubuček, the deputy mayor for safety and the environment, discussed Prague’s green spaces: “In the last 20 years, 250 hectares of...

by Sian Bradley Oct 08, 2020

Prague Celebrates European Mobility Week

European Mobility Week 2020 offers numerous events focusing on active and more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, will take place.

by Prague Morning Sep 18, 2020

Příbram Wants to Make Public Transport Free

If the bus was free, would you take it more often? That’s the question at the heart of the discussion around fare-free public transport. Příbram (Central Bohemia) is considering making public transport free, to solve the problem with parking in the center. “We are now very strongly considering this option. We want to have a debate on this topic not only in the council, but also with transport experts, citizens, and representatives of the non-profit sector,” says Deputy Mayor Martin Buršík. “We have been working for a long time to improve parking in the city. In recent years, several hundred new parking spaces have been created in Příbram, and other car parks are planned. In the city center, however, there are not many opportunities to expand parking,” added Buršík. “We have modern buses, one of the densest public transport networks compared to similar cities in the Czech Republic, and fares that are definitely at an acceptable price. Nevertheless, the center is still full of cars.” Opponents of free fare transport policy frequently point to its high financial costs which, in their view, outweighs its impact. According to preliminary calculations, free public transport shouldn’t affect significantly the city’s budget. “It will...

by Prague Morning Aug 20, 2020

The Czech Republic Among the Most Polluted Countries in Europe

While Poland has the highest levels of air pollution in Europe, according to the newly released Air Quality Life Index – an international ranking that charts air quality around the world – it also had the most to gain if pollution levels were reduced. According to the study, the most polluted countries on the continent are generally in Eastern and Central Europe, with Belarus, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania, and Latvia also high up the index. When it comes to individual regions, the report finds that the most polluted are Moravskoslezský in the Czech Republic, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén in Hungary, Košický in Slovakia, and Warsaw in Poland. The index shows it is not only Eastern Europe that has had life expectancy affected by air pollution. “Though the threat of coronavirus is grave and deserves every bit of the attention it is receiving—perhaps more in some places—embracing the seriousness of air pollution with a similar vigor would allow billions of people around the world to lead longer and healthier lives,” says Michael Greenstone, a professor in economics at the University of Chicago and the director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). Areas of northern Italy, particularly the Po Valley,...

by Prague Morning Aug 12, 2020

How To Recycle in Prague: Bring Your Recycling Routine to the Next Level

Everyday life creates a lot of waste, and while it would be ideal if our waste could be kept to a minimum, oftentimes it is simply inevitable. The vast majority of products come in packaging, and that packaging often gets disposed of unsustainably because we lack the information on how and where to recycle the various items and materials that can’t be placed into the usual yellow, blue and green recycling bins. This guide will help you learn exactly how to recycle in Prague. The color-coded Bins The color-coded bins are the basics of recycling. Although most of us are familiar with them, they are still often filled with items that do not belong there. To recycle efficiently, we should avoid filling them with items that belong elsewhere. Here is a reminder of what belongs where. The Yellow Plastic Bin Is suitable for plastic bottles and bags, plastic containers from cosmetics and cleaning products, CD cases, polystyrene, plastic foil such as cling film, and other plastics. When disposing of plastic bottles, be sure to crush them beforehand to save valuable space. The materials that do not belong into the yellow plastic bin include PVC, rubber, textiles made of plastic fibers,...

by Prague Morning Aug 03, 2020

Hungarian Car-Sharing Company GreenGo Launches Service in Prague

Hungarian car-sharing company GreenGo has started operating in Prague with 100 all-electric VW e-up! cars

by Prague Morning Feb 24, 2020

Prague City to Plant 25,000 Trees This Autumn

Prague City will plant 25,718 trees in autumn. Most of them will be added in Běchovice and Jinonice areas.

by Shelsea D. Oct 25, 2019

E-Carsharing Company GreenGo to Launch in Prague

Hungarian electric carsharing company GreenGo is set to expand abroad for the first time, setting up an operation in Prague. Three years ago, GreenGo was the first company to introduce a fleet composed solely of environmentally friendly EVs in Central and Eastern Europe with its launch in Budapest. The company grew quickly, expanding its fleet from an initial 45 vehicles to 300 by 2019, and says it is still maintaining steady growth, despite other major service providers joining the Budapest market. People in Prague can already meet GreenGoʼs Volkswagen eUP cars as they are currently conducting test drives around the city. “After securing GreenGo’s Budapest operations, we wanted to expand to a Central European city that offers great business opportunities, has a high affinity for the culture of carsharing, shares some similarities with Budapest in terms of size, and is close to our hometown,” GreenGoʼs managing partner, Bálint Michaletzky comments. Q4 launch The company will be officially launching its EV fleet service in Prague during Q4 2019. The company says that more details on the service will be available following the test period. Czech operations will be headed by Šimon Čapek. “Drawing upon decades of management experience in European and...

by Prague Morning Aug 28, 2019

Czech Republic to Invest 3.8 Billion CZK in Environmental Research

The Czech Republic will invest 3.8 billion crowns in environmental research and innovations between 2020 and 2026, the Environment Ministry said here Monday. The Czech government approved a program brought by the ministry named “Environment for Life”, in an effort to better protect environment. Half of the money will be devoted to fighting drought and climate change impacts. “We expect the program to bring new solutions, for example, using climate models for long-term drought forecasts or pilot projects for landscape adaptation,” Minister of Environment Richard Brabec said. Research projects can also focus on topics such as air quality, waste management, countryside and nature resources protection as well as economic tools for environmental protection and education, according to the ministry. Not only research organizations, universities, the Czech Academy of Sciences and other public institutions but also individuals and companies can apply for the fundig. Author: red xosotin chelseathông tin chuyển nhượngcâu lạc bộ bóng đá arsenalbóng đá atalantabundesligacầu thủ haalandUEFAevertonfutebol ao vivofutemaxmulticanaisonbetbóng đá world cupbóng đá inter milantin juventusbenzemala ligaclb leicester cityMUman citymessi lionelsalahnapolineymarpsgronaldoserie atottenhamvalenciaAS ROMALeverkusenac milanmbappenapolinewcastleaston villaliverpoolfa cupreal madridpremier leagueAjaxbao bong da247EPLbarcelonabournemouthaff cupasean footballbên lề sân cỏbáo bóng đá mớibóng đá cúp thế giớitin bóng đá ViệtUEFAbáo bóng đá việt...

by Prague Morning Mar 26, 2019

Prague Seeks More Green Space

The greenery in Prague – forests and parks – will be increased through planting, and replacing old and diseased trees, which will be recycled into benches or wood for fireplaces and boilers. One of the most popular and largest green areas of the capital, Stromovka, will get 142 new trees in the spring. The planting will be held in two stages. “We finished the first part in the autumn of last year, during which 105 new trees went to the largest park in Prague. Another 37 trees will be added during the spring months this year,” said Petra Fišerová from the company Lesy of the City of Prague (LHMP), which takes care of greenery in the city. New trees, according to forestry projects, create a continuous collection that surrounds Rudolfův pond. “Some trees are planted as substitute trees for the surviving skeleton trees or for the ones that have had mushroom diseases after the floods in 2013 and had to be removed from the park. Some of the trees were planted in the Old Park to expand the collection of domestic and exotic trees,” explained LHMP representatives. In the range of trees planted, the largest item is the oak tree,...

by Prague Morning Feb 11, 2019

Metro to Become Greener

Prague has given a green light to more projects to promote energy savings in urban structures. City Hall approved a subsidy to modernize the main air ventilation in the shafts of the Metro A, B and C lines and an upgrade of the escalators at the Palmovka station. The Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) will replace obsolete facilities for safer and more economical ones that are energy efficient. DPP is asking for a total of Kč 109.6 million for both projects. The costs of the modernization will be co-financed from the Operational Program Prague — the Pole of Growth of the Czech Republic (OP PPR). DPP applied for a subsidy for the modernization of air-conditioning equipment and lighting in metro stations. Read the full article here (Prague.tv) xosotin chelseathông tin chuyển nhượngcâu lạc bộ bóng đá arsenalbóng đá atalantabundesligacầu thủ haalandUEFAevertonfutebol ao vivofutemaxmulticanaisonbetbóng đá world cupbóng đá inter milantin juventusbenzemala ligaclb leicester cityMUman citymessi lionelsalahnapolineymarpsgronaldoserie atottenhamvalenciaAS ROMALeverkusenac milanmbappenapolinewcastleaston villaliverpoolfa cupreal madridpremier leagueAjaxbao bong da247EPLbarcelonabournemouthaff cupasean footballbên lề sân cỏbáo bóng đá mớibóng đá cúp thế giớitin bóng đá ViệtUEFAbáo bóng đá việt namHuyền thoại bóng đágiải ngoại hạng anhSeagametap chi bong da the gioitin bong da lutrận đấu hôm nayviệt...

by Prague Morning Mar 28, 2018