site.btaMore Municipalities Get Involved with Energy Efficiency and Ecology

More municipalities get involved with the issue of energy efficiency and ecology, said Regional Development Minister Violeta Koritarova on Tuesday at a press conference at the French Institute in Bulgaria for the Ecoobshtina competition. The competition will continue to build on the long-standing cooperation between France and Bulgaria and will become a tradition for sharing best practices in environmental protection, Koritarova said.

Koritarova said that achieving the global goals of sustainable management of all natural resources is only possible through the active participation of local communities and government.

“Our goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 so that we can end climate change as best as possible,” said French Ambassador to Bulgaria Joel Meyer.

The role of communities, especially cities, is crucial. They bring together all the challenges, the risks, the vulnerabilities, but also the human potential for solutions, the Ambassador said. About 75% of the world's population lives in urban areas. In Europe it is 80%, the diplomat said. He cited data showing that 60% of greenhouse gas emissions come from cities. The climate challenge is linked to cities and the 2024 Ecoobshtina project fits into this context, Meyer added.

The Embassy of France in Bulgaria and the French Institute in Bulgaria for the fifth year support the municipalities that create a clean and harmonious living environment for their residents. The Ecoobshtina competition aims to recognize the efforts of Bulgarian municipalities to improve the quality of life by promoting sustainable urban development. The competition is organized jointly with the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, For the Earth, EnEffect and the Bulgarian Association of Municipal Environmental Experts, the organizers said.

The Ministry of Environment and Water, as a partner of the initiative, will continue to encourage and support municipalities in the implementation of policies and projects for the sustainable development of municipal environmental infrastructure and improving the quality of life, said Environment Minister Petar Dimitrov.