Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Policies and Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov participated at the UN Conference on the Protection of Oceans and the Marine Environment.

The event is in support of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, with a focus on Goal 14: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.

“The path to successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular of Goal 14, requires cross-sectoral integration and policy coherence. Today, more than ever, we need to work together and build the partnerships required to overcome the triple planetary crisis and for a recovery that protects the environment, oceans, and marine resources,” noted Minister Sandov during the plenary session.

He emphasized that for the government of Bulgaria, a Black Sea region country, sustainable coastal development is a priority. Special attention is given to blue economic development with a focus on sectors dependent on seawater quality and ecosystems, such as fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism.

The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the government’s efforts on the road to green transformation, which will contribute to the country’s progress with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. He presented the measures included in Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, which are directly related to the achievement of Goal 14 “Life under the water” and its sub-goals for the protection of the marine environment.

On invitation by the hosts of the conference - the Government of Portugal and the Government of Kenya, Minister Sandov will co-chair an Interactive Dialogue on “Instrumentalizing the linkages between Goal 14 and other Sustainable Development Goals for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda”. The session will take place from 12h on 1 July 2022 and can be viewed live at: https://media.un.org/en/webtv