There is perhaps no better illustration of the absurd system we live in than the Arctic region. While climate experts point to catastrophic events and the rapid acceleration of climate change due to melting ice, others see emerging business opportunities in shipping and potential access to rich deposits of oil, gas, and rare earth metals – driven by demand from the manufacturing of military equipment, electric cars, and wind turbines. The paradox of climate change is that as the planet heats up, more money can be made from these opportunities – but for how long? This book aims to help us understand how we reached this point and what alternatives exist from a Central European perspective. Central Europe’s journey – from the struggles of industrialisation to the political shifts of the 1990s and its subsequent integration into the European Union – serves as a lens through which we can better comprehend both global and local climate change challenges.

The point of departure is that if we want to address adverse climate trends, we need to understand the world we have built. This book critically assesses the intersection of geopolitics, capitalism, and environmental policy, offering a nuanced discussion of the contradictions inherent in the current system. It explores key issues such as the tension between the systemic need for economic growth – often pursued regardless of ecological limits – the imbalance between public and private interests, and the geopolitical challenges of achieving climate neutrality. The role of the European Union’s Green Deal and its impact on Central Europe are discussed in depth, particularly regarding competitiveness, security, and the socio-economic consequences of decarbonisation. A recurring question in this book – perhaps an idealistic one – is this: Is it possible, and at what cost, to shift away from a system based on competition, overproduction, and overconsumption toward one grounded in sustainability and capable of addressing climate change? Or is the more realistic scenario one of growing inequalities, insecurity, and a relentless march toward climate catastrophe?