site.btaBulgarian and International Scientists Briefed on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Reporting Guidelines

More than 30 Bulgarian and international scientists were informed about the reporting guidelines for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) during a webinar organized by the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) on Monday. MOEW organized the webinar as an additional event to Bulgaria's hosting of the 61st IPCC session, held in Sofia from July 27 to August 2, 2024.

"The reports significantly impact climate policies," IPCC Deputy Chair Diana Ürge-Vorsatz said. Although the reports do not recommend specific policies, they summarise the available scientific knowledge on the climate system and options for adaptation and mitigation, thereby contributing to substantial progress in international climate negotiations.

It was highlighted during the webinar that following the publication of the IPCC Second Assessment Report in 1995, the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. Similarly, the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, published between 2013 and 2014, led to the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. After the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, MOEW noted.

"Between 2011 and 2017, only a few Bulgarian scientists participated in thematic meetings within IPCC working groups, while currently IPCC has no official authors from Bulgaria or certain other Eastern European countries. Europe is primarily represented by authors from Northern and Western Europe. However, interest is now high," Head of the Climate Change Adaptation Department at the Directorate-General for Climate Change Policy at MOEW Ivona Grozeva said. Grozeva is also the national coordinator for Bulgaria and is responsible for liaising between IPCC and the Bulgarian scientific community. Increased participation of Bulgarian scientists in IPCC would significantly aid in researching the specific climate risks for the region and the appropriate mitigation and adaptation solutions, experts acknowledged.