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michael_bgood t1_j9ioj02 wrote

Reply to comment by MTFHammerDown in Russian President Vladimir Putin unwittingly accelerated the European Union’s green transition with his war in Ukraine, with the 27-nation bloc reducing its dependency on Russian fossil fuels and increasing its renewable energy use over the past year, the EU’s climate czar said Tuesday. by MrGuttFeeling

Yeah that's kinda like saying the EU "fuhrer of human rights" or something

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vasya349 t1_j9j3jz5 wrote

It’s just a very old shorthand term in American politics for an official who coordinates policy on a certain issue. This can be seen in how the word is the archaic spelling of tsar instead of the new one.

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Bloodsucker_ t1_j9jbsds wrote

I find it highly sarcastic and in a way insulting.

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kdmccormick t1_j9kk48w wrote

I think it's purposefully intended to have an autocratic ring to it. Wikipedia:

> Advantages cited for the creation of czar type posts include the ability to go outside of formal channels and find creative solutions for ad hoc problems, and an ability to involve a lot of government players in big issue decision-making, ultimately enabling a huge bureaucracy to begin moving in a new direction.

Maybe something like "Special Climate Overseer" would have the same effect with less historical baggage? Idk. I think in the end what's important is that people listen to them so they can fix things that the existing bureaucracy won't.

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