PRAGUE - While the People's Republic of China puts people at the centre of its environmental policy, the European Union is moving in the opposite direction, according to Czech MP Tomáš Doležal. „In the European Union it has been the other way around for years - ideology comes first, some lofty, mostly meaningless and unrealistic goal, and the person is completely sidelined,“ says Doležal in an interview.

Ideology instead of facts

The MEP criticises that when facts contradict EU ideology, the EU simply puts the facts aside. He believes this is most evident in the energy sector. „Arbitrarily, the European Union leadership is telling member states what share of so-called renewables they should have in the energy mix,“ uvádí.

Thanks to the ETS 1 emission allowance system, Doležal said, electricity production from coal is virtually impossible. Coal mines and power plants are closing down not because they are unprofitable, but because they are economically unsustainable, burdened by emission allowances.

Criticism of the EU approach: instead of a revision, a hardening

Doležal is concerned that the response to the negative effects of these policies is not to repeal or revise them, but to tighten them further. He mentioned the climate targets, according to which the EU should be completely climate neutral and emission-free by 2050. „We're supposed to be putting more money into wind generation, not because it's worthwhile, but because it's a huge subsidy business,“ říká.

China: national access and conservation

Unlike the EU, Doležal said China is acting nationally and with a long-term view. „Of course they protect nature - we want that too,“ acknowledges the Member. However, the fundamental difference is in the tools used.

„In order to protect nature and the environment, we need to be a wealthy society above all. And we will only be that if citizens and businesses have cheap mandated spending - and that includes paying for energy in the first place.“ uzavírá Doležal.

CMG