"A process of serious anthropogenic climate change is underway. The data you have collected over the years is priceless for understanding how climate change is playing out in our geography. The issue is not that temperatures are rising, but that climate change is acting in vague and incomprehensible ways in different parts of the Earth." This is what Minister Julian Popov said today at the opening of the first National Scientific Conference on Environment. It is organized in Sofia by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) and held under the auspices of the Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov.

According to him, the future of the energy sector depends more on the forecasts of the scientists at NIMH than on those who design coal-fired power plants, "because by 2030 there will be none and they will disappear from Bulgaria". He is convinced that meteorological forecasts are of great importance for the future of energy.

Another important priority for the MOEW is biodiversity conservation, which is greatly influenced by climate change, as well as human negligence and lack of concern for nature. Therefore, according to Minister Popov, the role of NIMH is very important for the MOEW - to "have adequate policies for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in Bulgaria".

Today and tomorrow during the conference participants will work to strengthen cooperation between different scientific institutions and other organizations, as well as to encourage young experts and scientists to actively participate in interdisciplinary research. Minister of Agriculture Kiril Vatev, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Water Stanislav Anastasov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee Tatiana Sultanova, and hosted by NIMH Director Prof. Tanya Marinova.

The participants include scientists from NIMH, the Institute of Horticulture in Plovdiv, the Institute of Biodiversity, the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, the Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Power Engineering, the Institute of Catalysis, the National Center for Public Health and Analyses, The Bulgarian hail suppression agency, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Technical University "Prof. Assen Zlatarov" - Burgas, State Enterprise BULATSA, Macedonian Meteorological Service, etc.

"NIMH went through a difficult administrative path until it reached the Ministry of Environment, for us you are an important institute, our government has made very important steps in the direction of making sure policy making is based on scientific data," said Minister Julian Popov and added: "Young scientists develop in difficult conditions, but NIMH is famous for supporting young scientists. That is why I would like to encourage you to support and uplift them, because they are not only the future of science, but also the future of Bulgaria. We want to keep them, to bring them back, and together with the more experienced ones to work in the global scientific world."