site.btaUPDATED President Radev Says "Efforts to Climate Neutral Transition Should Go Far Beyond Emissions' Targets"

Addressing the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai on Saturday, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said the efforts to climate neutral transition should go far beyond emissions' targets. More than 130 state and government leaders gathered at the December 1-2 forum during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).

As an East European country Bulgaria has experienced significant economic growth and transformation in recent decades, Radev said. Its greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by more than 50% compared to base year [editor's note: 1988] - one of the biggest reductions in Europe.

The President added that the main challenge is to guarantee the sustainability of this transition to climate neutrality without compromising the citizens' standard and quality of life and the competitiveness of the economies. "Overcoming this challenge requires a systemic innovative approach and harnessing the latest technology achievements. Examples of innovative technologies for decarbonization can be seen at the Bulgarian Pavilion during this Conference," he said.

Radev added that "we must ensure that our education, health, social and economic systems are adapted to protect the most vulnerable" during the transition to climate neutrality. He stressed Bulgaria is one of the first signatories in Europe of the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action.

Regarding the dispute over the COP29 Presidency, the President said that being one of the candidate countries, Bulgaria has been proactively seeking a compromise in the process and will continue with this responsible approach to find a solution towards a smooth transition between COP28 and COP29.