“In recent years, the world has been facing increasingly serious challenges due to climate change. The increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events – heatwaves, torrential rains, floods, droughts – requires even more in-depth scientific research and reliable projections. Therefore, your work is essential for understanding these processes and for the adaptation of society and the economy to them,” said today the Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov at the opening of the second edition of the National Scientific Conference on the Environment of the National Institute for Metrology and Hydrology (NIMH), which is being held until March 20 at the institute.

He stated that the research by NIMH provides invaluable data and analyses that are the basis of strategies for climate adaptation and sustainable development and added: “Your efforts not only help us understand climate trends, but also support informed decision-making in the sectors of agriculture, water resources, energy, and urban planning.” Minister Genov assured that the national institute is not only a key scientific institution in Bulgaria, but also a strategic partner for the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) in the efforts for sustainable management of natural resources.

Minister Manol Genov described as invaluable to society the work by specialists who help people, businesses, and state institutions to prepare for the future. And he expressed hope that the adoption of the new budget will compensate for the extremely large backlog in the payment of employees at the institute. He expressed sympathy for the victims of the absurd incident at the Murgash peak station that happened to colleagues - meteorologists Rumyana and Georgi Zlatanovi, and described the event as a tragedy for all of us as a society. Minister Genov expressed full support for the protest organized by NIMH employees in defense of their colleagues and a demand for a fair sentence for the perpetrator.

NIMH Director General Prof. Tanya Marinova confirmed that the institute and the Ministry of Environment and Water are working in constant cooperation, including in the search for solutions to increase the remuneration of its specialists, as well as additional financial resources for the modernization of monitoring networks.

The conference was attended by Tatyana Sultanova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Environment Committee in Parliament, the Chairwoman of the Institute's Scientific Council Prof. Hristomir Brunzov, as well as the Director of the Executive Environment Agency Rositsa Karamfilova.