Environment at a Glance: Czechia
Table of contents
The OECD Environment at a Glance Country Notes are designed to support transparent, evidence-based information. They provide concise and descriptive overview of progress across major environmental issues, including climate, air quality, freshwater resources, waste and the circular economy, and biodiversity conservation. They feature selected environmental indicators, building on harmonised datasets available on OECD Data Explorer. Differences with national data sources can occur due to delays in data treatment and publication, or due to different national definitions and measurement methods. See the Reader’s guide to the Environment at a Glance Country Notes for more information.
Czechia is a landlocked Central European country with a small trade-oriented economy that enjoyed strong economic growth after the 2008 financial crisis and rebounded well after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the level of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person remains below the OECD average. Czechia is among the most industrialised OECD countries, with a focus on metallurgy, engineering, automobiles, electronics, chemistry, food and beverage processing, as well as production of glass, medicines, textile and paper. Since 2000, the contribution of the automotive industry in value added has increased, while the share of more energy-intensive subsectors such as metal, wood and paper products, has decreased.
Although population density is above the OECD average, Czechia is among the least urbanised countries in the OECD, partly owing to suburbanisation over the last decades.
The Bohemian Massif (Česká vysočina) makes up much of the country’s area. The country’s mineral resources include black and brown coal, kaolin and other clays, and graphite. Czechia has favourable conditions for timber production, and forestry represents an important component of land use and the bioeconomy. Freshwater resources are less abundant than in other OECD countries.
The per person production-based (i.e. produced within the territory) and demand-based (or footprint, i.e. including emissions incorporated in imported goods) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are below the OECD averages, and have started to decline in recent years. The gap between production and demand-based emissions has narrowed: Czechia emits levels of GHGs close to those embodied in its final demand (i.e. demand for goods and services by all residents). Czechia has also decoupled energy supply and energy-related CO2 emissions from economic growth. The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and energy crisis led to further declines of GHG emissions since 2020.
Over the period 2000–2024, total GHG emissions (excluding the Land use; land-use change; forestry – LULUCF - sector) decreased by 35%. Despite a decrease in primary energy consumption, energy industries remain the main emitters, accounting for 33% of the total. These emissions derive from the combustion of fossil, biofuels and/or other fuels in stationary and mobile sources, mainly for electricity production and heat supply. The combustion of liquid fuels in the transport sector is the second largest source of emissions (22%). Industrial processes are the third largest emitter, accounting for 12% of total GHG emissions. Metal production emissions fell sharply thanks to the closure of one of the two largest steel plants. Lower demand in the construction sector led to a decreased production of cement and lime, resulting in decreased emissions. Other significant contributors are the residential sector for heating and agriculture, mainly due to livestock and the use of fertilisers. The LULUCF sector became a net sink in 2023, thanks to improved environmental conditions and forest management activities (Czechia, 2026).
With its reliance on heavy industry, Czechia is one of the most energy-intensive economies in the OECD. For decades, domestic coal helped the country to be less dependent on imported natural gas. Indigenous brown coal, of fairly low quality, was the main source of energy in the 1990s. Although nuclear power and renewable energy sources have gradually replaced coal in the energy mix, fossil fuels remain dominant, albeit less than the OECD average. Since 2000, renewables have grown three-fold in the energy supply and five-fold in electricity production. Energy intensity declined due to improved energy efficiency and to the industrial restructuring towards less energy-intensive industries.
Since 2000, emissions from most major air pollutants have decreased and decoupled from economic growth, mainly due to reduced production levels in power stations and in manufacturing during the 2008-10 economic crisis. Other factors that played a role were stricter regulations, the decline in fossil fuels in the electricity mix, desulphurisation of coal-fired power plants and the use of low-sulphur fuels. The reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from transport resulted from a gradual modernisation of the vehicle fleet. Carbon monoxide (CO) emission and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) intensities are above the OECD average, while the nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx) are well below.
Czechia reached its 2020 Gothenburg Protocol objectives for sulphur dioxide (SO2), NOx, NMVOC and ammonia (NH3) emissions.
The Czech population is among the most affected by outdoor air pollution in the OECD. Although mean population exposure to PM2.5 concentrations have declined since 2000, it remains above the guideline value of 5 µg/m3 recommended by the World Health Organisation in all regions.
Freshwater resources are less abundant than in other OECD countries. Vulnerability to drought is due to precipitations being the main source of freshwater resources and rising temperatures increasing evapotranspiration. However, water stress remains moderate thanks to below-average abstraction levels. Abstractions for public supply decreased due to the increase of the water price that led to lower water consumption by households, and to reduced water loss in the pipe network.
Public investment in the extension and renewal of wastewater collection systems and treatment plants helped increase the share of population connected to public sewage treatment plants. Most households (78.7%) are connected to plants with tertiary (“advanced”) treatment.
Municipal waste generation per person increased in line with GDP and is above the European Union and OECD averages1. Amounts sent to recovery (recycling, composting and incineration with energy recovery) increased considerably. However, landfilling remains one of the main waste treatment methods, accounting for more than 40% of municipal waste treated.
Czechia has relatively few natural resources apart from black and hard coal and some non-metallic minerals. It is therefore highly dependent on imports for many strategic raw materials and commodities. Other than biological resources, the material resource base is composed of industrial minerals (such as kaolin, feldspar, bentonite and glass sand) and construction materials. The main domestic energy resources are brown coal and, to a lesser extent, hard coal and natural gas. The country is highly dependent on imports of oil, natural gas and metallic minerals, and some industrial minerals. Domestic material consumption (DMC) per person decreased partly because of the 2008-10 financial crisis, which led to reduced economic output. Between 2013 and 2022, material consumption started to rise again with the economic recovery. In 2023 and 2024, DMC decreased due to reduced energy consumption and changes in the energy mix for electricity and heat generation, with increasing shares of renewables and nuclear energy. The material footprint (including raw materials embodied in international trade) is higher than DMC and has returned to pre-crisis levels.
Agricultural land covers almost half of the territory, and forests more than a third. Most (74%) of the forests are commercial. Forest health is negatively affected by climate change impacts such as drought, strong winds and the lengthening of the growing season. Czechia experienced its largest bark beetle outbreak in 2015 in northern Moravia, which gradually spread nationwide and peaked in 2020. Timber harvesting reached a record 35.8 million m³ (without bark) that year. Since then, production has steadily declined, returning to roughly 2016 levels by 2023, with 18.5 million m³ logged and salvage logging dropping to 59.7% (MZP, 2023). In 2024, the total timber harvest reached 17.8 million cubic metres, and the share of salvage logging decreased to 45% (Environment, 2024)
Czechia has a relatively wide range of animal and plant species and habitats thanks to its location at the intersection of four bio-geographical sub provinces (Hercynian, Polonian, Western Carpathian and North Pannonian), and to its geological diversity and traditional farming methods, which created a rich mosaic of habitats. The country is home to more than 5 100 plants species, 50 000 invertebrate species and about 390 vertebrate species. About one-third of species are categorised in the Czech red list as vulnerable and hundreds have disappeared. Species are increasingly threatened by intensive agriculture, introduction of invasive alien species and loss of semi-natural biotopes to landscape exploitation. The most endangered species are found in natural watercourses or tied to a mosaic of landscape elements (butterflies, amphibians and reptiles).
Protected areas cover 22% of the territory. This is above the OECD average and the 2020 Aichi targets (under the Convention on Biological Diversity) to protect at least 17% of land area. However, only a limited number of sites have strict management objectives (IUCN categories I and II). About 9.6% of the country’s land is covered by protected areas that have had management effectiveness assessments2. More efforts are needed to reach the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) target of protecting 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and of marine and coastal areas.
This section shows selected policy instruments based on data available for most OECD countries and does not provide a complete overview of countries’ policy mix to achieve their environment-related objectives. Interpretation should consider the country specific context.
The share of environmentally related tax revenue in GDP has steadily declined since 2010, from 2.6% to 1.7% in 2024, below the OECD-Europe average. Taxes on energy products account for the bulk of this revenue, while taxes related to transport (excluding fuels) generate relatively low revenues. Despite new taxes on energy products, the environmental tax burden in the economy has continued to decline.
In total, 74.6% of GHG emissions in Czechia were subject to a positive Net Effective Carbon Rate3 (ECR) in 2023. Explicit carbon prices in the Czech Republic consist of emissions trading system (ETS) permit prices, which cover 47.1% of GHG emissions in CO2 equivalent. Fuel excise taxes, an implicit form of carbon pricing, covered 31.2% of emissions in 2023. Direct fossil fuel subsidies cover 1.3% of emissions. About 62% of GHG emissions have a Net ECR above EUR 60 per tonne of CO2 equivalent, a mid-range estimate of current carbon costs. Net ECRs are highest in the road transport sector, which account for 15.6% of the country’s total GHG emissions. The Net ECR is on average positive in all sectors (OECD, 2024).
Czechia is an average eco-innovation performer. Since the mid-2000s, the share of public budget devoted to environment on the total government research and development (R&D) budget has fallen, to around 2.5% in the last few years. In terms of share of renewables in research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) on energy, it has been declining since 2007, and reached 7% in 2025.
The number of patent applications on climate change mitigation and environmental management, filed for protection in at least two jurisdictions by Czech inventors, remains below 100 per year, a relatively low number. The share of environmentally related patent applications in total patents is however in line with the OECD average, at around 10-15%.
Czechia’s development co-operation focuses on reducing global poverty, fragility and inequality while promoting its national interests, such as strengthened security and economic diplomacy through stronger political, trade and investment relations. However, sustainable management of natural resources is one of the five thematic priorities of its 2018-2030 Development Cooperation Strategy, and the country channels most of its aid through the European Union.
Although its total official development assistance (ODA) decreased in 2025, its share of bilateral ODA for climate change has increased over the last decade, with a focus on adaptation. By contrast, the shares for biodiversity and desertification have been declining since 2013, both below 5% in 2023-2024, in line with many other Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries (OECD, 2026).
References
Czechia. (2026). NATIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY DOCUMENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/CZE_NID_2024_2026_April.pdf
Environment, M. o. (2024). Czechia. Retrieved from https://www.cizp.gov.cz/sites/cizp.cz/files/2025-12/CEI%20annual%20report%202024.pdf
Hockings, M., & al, e. (2006). Evaluating Effectiveness. A framework for assessing management effectiveness of protected areas. 2nd Edition. IUCN. Retrieved from https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/PAG-014.pdf
MZP. (2023). Report on the Environment of the Czech Republic. Prague. Retrieved from https://mzp.gov.cz/system/files/2025-03/Report%20on%20the%20Environment%20of%20the%20Czech%20Republic%202023_0.pdf
OECD. (2024). Pricing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2024: Gearing Up to Bring Emissions Down. OECD Series on Carbon Pricing and Energy Taxation, OECD Publishing, Paris. doi:10.1787/b44c74e6-en
OECD. (2026). Development Co-operation Profiles. OECD Publishing, Paris. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/development-co-operation-profiles_04b376d7-en/czechia_c64d5518-en.html
Further readings
CBD (2022), Country profiles: Czech Republic, https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=cz
OECD (2018), OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Czech Republic 2018, OECD Environmental Performance Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264300958-en.
IEA (2021), Czech Republic 2021 Energy Policy Review, IEA Energy Policy Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/fd01b443-en.
UNEP-WCMC (2024), “Protected Area Profile for Czech Republic”, the World Database of Protected Areas, www.protectedplanet.net
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← 1. Break in time series due to changes in methodology in 2004 and 2017. Until 2016, only waste collected by municipalities was reported. From 2017 all waste from the European List of Waste, chapter 20, from enterprises and waste from citizens, which is not coming from municipal system of collection, is also included. This caused a significant increase in the total amounts generated and treated.
← 2. Protected Area Management Effectiveness evaluations, can be defined as: “the assessment of how well protected areas are being managed – primarily the extent to which management is protecting values and achieving goals and objectives" (Hockings & al, 2006).
← 3. Effective Carbon Rate (ECR) is the sum of fuel excise taxes, carbon taxes and tradeable permits that effectively put a price on carbon emissions. The Net ECR equals the ECR minus fossil fuel subsidies that decrease pre-tax fossil fuel prices.