Greenhouse gas emissions fell by 33 percent between 1990 and 2012

Emissions of greenhouse gases decreased by 33 percent in the Czech Republic from 1990 - 2012 as the result of industry upgrades and is fulfilling Kyoto Protocol commitments, experts maintain. Climatologist Radim Tolasz told The Czech News Agency that almost all of the whole former eastern Bloc has met commitments without difficulty thanks to the restructuring of industries after the fall of communist regimes. But critics point out the environment in the country is still burdened by a prevalent dependence on fossil fuels and that excessive road traffic had also contributed strongly as an air pollutant. Vratislav Vozńik, the spokesman for the NGO Arnika criticised measures to save energy as inefficient and called the pace of decreasing greenhouse gases "slow". More than 80 percent of the gases come from energy, transport and industry, the rest from wastes and agriculture. The Environment Ministry is now preparing two new strategic documents aimed to further cut emissions and adapt the country to climate change. It is to submit them to the government in the latter half of the year.