“Each priority in the Strategic Vision for Sustainable Development of Bulgaria’s Electricity Sector until 2053, including the deployment of new capacities of renewable energy sources, is related to investment intentions that will abide by environmental legislation to ensure  emissions reduction and environmental protection.” This was said by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva at the forum “Together for less CO2 emissions” in Sofia Tech Park, organized by the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce under the auspices of the mayor of the capital city of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova.

The vision and course of European policy sets new incentives and offers a wide range of opportunities to make sustainability a reality in all sectors of our economy and our development and common future. All member states and all sectors of the economy contribute to the implementation of the pan-European goal in the EU legislative framework “Fit for 55”. The burden sharing among them is mainly provided by two complex legislative instruments - the Directive on the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), which introduce specific national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the range of - 10% (for Bulgaria) to -50% (for Sweden) compared to the levels of 2005, explained Deputy Minister Koleva.

In front of forum participants, which included representatives of the national government, the business and local authorities, she pointed out that at the national level our country has foreseen a completely new approach for investments and measures, which also make up our plan for recovery and sustainability, whereby the efforts are in three main directions - creation of conditions for accelerated deployment of RES and hydrogen, strengthened actions to increase energy efficiency of the economy, and sustainable mobility in populated areas.

Koleva also reminded that our country is among the top three in the EU in terms of the percentage of territories covered by the pan-European network of protected areas “NATURA 2000”. Nearly 35 percent of Bulgaria’s territory is under protection and with a limited possibility to deploy RES. “Nevertheless, I believe that our country has significant potential in this respect, and the challenge today is to identify all the opportunities and take those decisions that will stimulate change,” said the deputy minister.

Reneta Koleva also noted the contribution by encouraging access of households to measures for decarbonization of heating and cooling systems in buildings, as well as the introduction of transport with zero emissions and low-emission zones. This will lead to significant benefits in both reducing emissions and deploying more green energy and jobs, she highlighted

In conclusion, Deputy Minister Koleva underlined that the green transformation requires a fundamental change in our thinking and behavior as a society, in the way institutions, businesses, and local communities function, which is a collective responsibility and must start now.