As a winter storm blankets much of the Czech Republic, a pattern has emerged among some political figures: the use of recent cold weather to publicly question the established science of climate change.this tactic, which gained momentum following the appointment of a new Surroundings Minister who dismissed the “climate crisis,” highlights a growing trend of leveraging short-term weather events to sow doubt about long-term climate trends [[2]]. The debate underscores the challenges of communicating complex scientific data in an era of readily shareable, and often misleading, social media content [[3]].
Czech politicians have increasingly turned to social media to highlight recent cold weather and snowfall, seemingly to question the reality of climate change. The trend underscores a growing political tactic of using short-term weather events to cast doubt on long-term climate trends.
The debate was ignited after Petr Macinka, the chairman of the Motorists party, was appointed Minister of the Environment in mid-December and stated that “the climate crisis is over.” Since then, several politicians have posted images and videos of winter conditions, appearing to suggest the recent cold snap disproves the concept of global warming.
Boris Šťastný, the Motorist party’s Minister for Sport, Prevention, and Health, shared a video on social media showing him clearing snow with a snow blower, ironically proclaiming, “Long live global warming!” The post drew criticism from Michaela Šebelová, a deputy and vice-chairwoman of the STAN movement, who responded, “It’s a shame you weren’t doing that by hand. It would be more fitting for a Minister of Sport, Prevention, and Health.”
Ondřej Prokop, the chairman of the ANO party’s Prague branch, also joined the conversation. On December 31, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) about being unable to reach his mountain chalet in the Krkonoše mountains due to the snow, requiring him to switch to a snowmobile. He questioned, “Has anyone been saying there’s no snow in the mountains? Has anyone heard anything about climate change?”
Někdo tu tvrdil, že na horách není sníh? Slyšel jsem něco o klimatické změně? 😀 tak hlásím, že dole ve Vrchlabí teď -9 a k chalupě se nedá dojet autem a musíme přesednout na rolbu 🛷😀 pohodový, mrazivý silvestr všem! 🥂❄️ pic.twitter.com/AoGOBp6HbX
— Ondřej Prokop (@oprokop) December 31, 2025
Experts at the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMU) have repeatedly explained the difference between weather and climate, emphasizing that while cold snaps will still occur, long-term data shows an increase in extreme heat events and a decrease in cold ones. “From long-term data, we see that warm extremes are becoming more frequent, while cold extremes are becoming less frequent. This does not mean that cold extremes will disappear completely,” ČHMU stated. “Cold periods will still occur, but they will become increasingly rare—as ski resort operators can already confirm.”
The trend highlights a deliberate attempt by some politicians to provoke debate and align with their party ideologies. However, those who live and work closely with the land—such as farmers and fishermen—have already observed the effects of climate change firsthand. South Bohemian fishermen, for example, report that shallow ponds are evaporating in the summer heat, while heavy rainfall causes sedimentation and chemical runoff from fields.
Winemakers in South Moravia and hop growers in North Bohemia are also facing challenges due to rising temperatures and increased drought. These conditions not only reduce yields but also affect the quality of their products, such as the alpha acid content in hops, which determines the flavor and bitterness of beer. This could serve as a relatable example for Czech citizens to understand the serious risks of global warming.
Experts anticipate a continuation of this pattern, with politicians likely to question climate change again when a period of drought is followed by heavy rainfall, potentially as early as August.
