CZECH: Energy tax should be approved by the end of the year

A 0.01 Czech crown levy on electricity use has been proposed as a method of raising money for energy conservation and renewable energy projects. “All consumers will pay this levy,” Miroslav Hájek, director of Czech’s Environmental Economy department told edie. “Collected money will be used only for support of energy saving and renewable [energy] sources.”

The law also contains measures to promote energy conservation through energy audits. All those who receive state support with their energy bills, as well as companies and public sector offices, will be required to conduct energy audits. So, too, will companies that consume energy above a specific level.

On another subject, Vaclav Havel, Czech’s leader, chose to criticise the negative environmental impact of globalisation in his 1 January 2000 television broadcast. Havel stated that globalisation is resulting in the “reckless destruction of the planet”.