site.bta Environment Minister: Bulgaria Finally Has a Government Paying Attention to Climate Change

Bulgaria finally has a Government that is paying attention to climate change, not only because a deputy prime minister has specifically been put in charge of the sector, but because all its actions elsewhere are so designed. This country is also engaged in even closer dialogue with its European Union partners,” Deputy Prime Minister and Environment and Water Minister Borislav Sandov said. He was speaking at Tuesday’s conference titled “Green Agenda: Net Zero Drive to Sustainable Future”.

Climate change, biodiversity loss and waste pollution are the three aspects on which to focus to reduce net emissions, Sandov pointed out, adding that Bulgaria still has a highly carbon intensive economy.

The Ministry was instrumental in the mounting of 10,000 new charging stations to step up electromobility, as well as in the move to plant 100 million trees. Sandov recalled that Bulgaria will apply to host the UN Climate Change Conference COP 29 in 2024. 

Bulgaria has a long way to travel to achieve a circular economy, civil platform MOVE.BG founder Sasha Bezuhanova said, addressing the forum. Only 2.8 per cent of the materials used (in production) are utilized again, she added, pointing out that the green transition has been outflanked by the covid crisis and the war in Ukraine. 

Cvetan Kyulanov, acting Head of the EC Representation in Bulgaria, expressed quite the contrary opinion. These crises will speed up transition, for this is the philosophy the Commission has decided to follow which will make Europe a better place to live in, he said. The recovery and resilience plans are the most direct way to work in that direction. The Bulgarian one in particular has ambitious green goals and, Kyulanov pointed out. Hopefully, the moment it is approved, the country will begin working actively on its implementation.

Restoring ecosystems and forests are among the decisions to reduce climate change impact, said WWF European Policy Office Director Ester Asin Martinez in turn. Restoring nature supports the development of local economy, employment, creates a healthy environment and will reduce wildfires and drought. 

European countries are already feeling the benefits of the NATURA 2000 programme. With 200 to 300 billion euro set aside annually to this end, some 4 million jobs depend directly on the maintenance of healthy eco-systems, Martinez added.

Romanian Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests Barna Tànczos, in turn, said his country has a programme uncouraging purchase of electric cars, as well as a rising number of charging stations. Another one is focused on households and photovoltaic installation, of which 50,000 households are expected to benefit, he added. 

Romania has the ambition to increase energy diversification, Tànczos said, as a large portion of its electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants. It is also investing in decarbonization by introducing green technologies.

The Romanian Environment Minister congratulated Bulgaria on applying to host the COP 24 Conference in 2024.

The conference is organized by the Green Restart coalition (MOVE.BG, WWF-Bulgaria, Greenpeace-Bulgaria and the Institute for Circular Economy) in partnership with the Representative Office of the European Commission in Bulgaria.