Sustainable development is the intersection between realities and dreams, human needs and ideals in the environmental context. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Atanas Kostadinov, who participated in the Bulgarian-Czech expert seminar for the exchange of experience on the Voluntary National Reviews for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, which was held today.

“The paradox is that throughout its history, humanity has gone through many periods – such as the one of exploiting natural resources to survive. If we remain only within this context, there is no way to preserve ourselves. There are stages in human development in which it is believed that every activity damages nature, therefore limiting every industry and human intervention is made a priority. If we remain only within this context, there is also no particular future for our development and for the planet,” added Atanas Kostadinov.

According to him, sustainable development is the key, because it shows us that on the basis of the three pillars – social, economic, and ecological, we can preserve the principle of justice, freedom, and development, but with care for the environment and nature. “This is also the great challenge, the framework in which we must make political and expert decisions,” said the Deputy Minister in firm conviction.

The process of preparing the second voluntary national review of the Sustainable Development Goals began in 2024 and is already making progress, so Bulgaria and the Czech Republic show that together they are successfully moving forward towards the implementation of these goals. “Sustainable development is not a theory, on the contrary – it is related to our practice and we see its manifestation in different parts of our lives. An example is climate change, which will not wait for us to take measures, it is happening. As well as the alternating major droughts, rains, and floods,” said the Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic Petr Hladik. The event was hosted today by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Bulgaria Miroslav Toman.