The Národní koalice pro boj se suchem (National Coalition for Combating Drought) is chaired by the prime minister. Its members are the ministers of the environment and of agriculture and representatives of climatologists and water-management experts. It was set up in 2018 by the then Minister of the Environment Richard Brabec (ANO), now governor of the Ústí nad Labem Region, who now represents the regions in it.[1]
Renewal in 2026
The government renewed the coalition in August 2026 after a wave of hot and dry weather that in places reduced river flows to historic lows. The opposition then criticised the government for an inadequate response to drought and called on it to take systemic measures under existing climate change adaptation plans.[1]
After the August meeting Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said that the ministries, together with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, were to compile a map of roughly 500 to 1,000 places from which water disappears fastest. According to Brabec, the coalition is to evaluate programmes against drought and decide which are worth continuing and financially supporting. Government representatives said the cabinet wants to allocate four billion crowns to the fight against drought.[1]
Babiš convened the next meeting of the coalition for 12 October 2026.[1]
An expert's view
Zdeněk Žalud, a researcher at the Global Change Research Institute (Ústav výzkumu globálních změn), described the coalition as an association of many experts who, unlike politically elected representatives, in his view pursue the right tendencies over the long term.[2]
Chronology
- — Prime Minister Andrej Babiš convened a further meeting of the Národní koalice pro boj se suchem for 12 October after the South Bohemian Husinec reservoir almost dried up. → ČTK / České noviny iROZHLAS
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 7 October 2026
- Ekonomický deník