Deník Referendum | The 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold has been crossed. Now it’s time to turn the crisis into an opportunity.

In 2024, we experienced the hottest year on record, both in Europe and globally. For the first time, the planet was 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than in the pre-industrial era — not only within a single calendar year but also looking at twelve consecutive months. This pivotal moment, which was supposed to serve as a warning, has become reality. Quietly, without sirens, but with impacts on our daily lives and the economy.

Now we have a unique opportunity to strengthen the Czech economy, increase its resilience, address regional inequalities, and modernize it towards higher added value. It’s not about whether we can afford the transformation, but whether we can still afford to postpone it. In the future, it will undoubtedly be more painful and costly — and above all, we will pay for it out of our own pockets.

Read the full commentary here.