Stakeholders from the public and business sectors were involved in the preparation of the Climate Action Plan

The Energy, Adaptation - Landscape, Adaptation - Settlements, Transport and Implementation working groups are now involved in the development of the plan. The circular economy is being developed as a cross-cutting theme. Representatives of universities, research institutions, key public authorities and other experts are involved in the different groups. In the first phase, data from the Czech Statistical Office and the Institute of Global Change Research of the Czech Academy of Sciences were analysed.

The Climate Plan will include measures and specific tasks to reduce emissions, increase energy self-sufficiency and strengthen the region's ability to adapt to climate change, deadlines for their implementation and sources of funding.

The aim of the meeting was to find out what challenges the participants are facing in the context of a changing climate and what kind of future they would like for their business, work and life. Their needs, experiences and visions for the future will serve as a basis for the further work of the Climate Action Plan developers.

"I am glad that our region will be the first in the Czech Republic to have such a comprehensive plan. It is great to see how key players from the public and private sectors - mayors of cities and municipalities, large employers, innovative companies, universities and other institutions, civic initiatives and non-profit organizations - are actively involved in its preparation. Their experience and visions are indispensable for the creation of this fundamental document," says Jan Grolich, the Governor of the South Moravian Region.

 "All of the meeting participants are addressing very similar challenges that are closely related. For example, universities are tackling sustainability strategies, mayors of cities and municipalities are calling for energy savings, and large companies are gearing up to meet ESG targets. Therefore, it is only natural to link these sectors together and share examples of good practice," says JINAG Director Patrik Reichl.

"The Climate Action Plan is not meant to be just another strategy that does not concern the residents of the region very much. It will seek answers to important questions: what energy is best for heating, how much water will be in wells in the future, whether it will be possible to survive the summer heat in towns and villages. The South Moravian Region has a difficult starting position - it is one of the hottest and driest parts of the Czech Republic. At the same time, it has a huge potential for finding innovative and meaningful solutions - the concentration of universities, research institutions, innovative companies is absolutely exceptional in South Moravia," explains Magdaléna Maceková, coordinator of the expert group focused on the adaptation of settlements. "Thanks to this plan, the region will know how to support municipalities, companies, schools and others to participate in the solution," she adds.

"I feel daily how climate change is negatively affecting our region. I was therefore pleasantly surprised at how many people, companies and institutions have the energy to do something about it. This event gave me confidence that with a strong vision we will have the capacity and determination to make the county a more pleasant place to live for all, despite climate change. As a region with strong innovation and human potential, we are best placed to do this," says Jan Labohý, CEO of World from Space, in response to the meeting. The company specialises in developing applications based on satellite data, particularly from the Copernicus programme. Its employees analyse data in various fields such as agriculture, air quality, the environment and urban areas.

The South Moravian Region is one of the regions in the Czech Republic most affected by the impacts of climate change. Energy prices, droughts, heat waves or torrential rains affect without exaggeration every inhabitant of the region. It will affect farming, business, health, education and many other parts of everyone's daily life.

The measures reflected in the Climate Action Plan, based on the demands of the various stakeholders, should also help stabilise energy prices, which are currently dependent on the availability of fossil fuels and the unstable price of emission allowances. The South Moravian Region has a high potential in renewable sources, the use of which will increase energy independence and also ensure a sufficient share of green energy in the market.

See JMK press release - https://www.jmk.cz/content/29199