Micronesia Does Not Want to Be Sunk by Czech Power Plant

The representatives of The Federated States of Micronesia said at the Copenhagen climate summit they want to see a decrease of the global CO2 emissions to 350 parts per million, in order to limit the rise in temperatures to about 1.5 degrees.

Micronesia asked Czech authorities to prepare and provide an environmental impact assessment of the plans to extend Prunerov coal-fired power station, which emits ten million tones of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year. Micronesia believes that from this assessment it will be clear what impact the extended power plant will have on the global climate and specifically on the island in Western Pacific Ocean. Micronesia challenges the plan to extend the Czech Republic’s biggest coal-fired power plant on the basis that they would be endangered by its CO2 emissions. It is believed that it is the first action taken on behalf of future climate change victims. In very emotional speech a young female activist Maylin Sesse from the Solomon Islands said: “I have witnessed the washing away of my shoreline – my island is slowly sinking – and so have my Pacific island sisters and brothers.” The Czech Ministry of Environment publicly confirmed that it has received a request from the Federated States of Micronesia for a environmental impact assessment of its biggest coal-fired power plant, Prunerov. According to Greenpeace the plant´s operator CEZ wants to build new blocks of the coal-fired power plant Prunerov without accepting the EU efficiency standards. CEZ claims that the climate impacts of the Czech largest power plant are marginal and improvable. Greenpeace Czech Republic confirmed the support of small islands effort. Jan Rovensky said: Climate change is a global problem and communities whose lives are impacted by emissions from foreign industries have the right to push for a global solution. We support Micronesia’s request and demand a phase out of dirty coal plants in the Czech Republic and around the world.