site.btaEnvironment Minister: Bulgaria Puts Circular Economy as Long-term Development Policy Priority

Bulgaria puts the circular economy as a long-term priority of its development policy, outgoing Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov said at a meeting of the environment ministers of the Visegrad Group countries, Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, Germany and Slovenia in the Czech city of Brno, Popov's Ministry reported on Tuesday.

The meeting was held within the framework of the Czech presidency of the Visegrad Four with a focus on environmental pollution and its impact on humans. The ministers' discussion highlighted pollution-related challenges that are most relevant to the Central and Eastern European region.

Actions that can be taken to increase the sustainability and safety of the chemical industry were at the centre of the discussions. Ministers discussed measures in the context of the circular economy that would have the greatest environmental benefits and could play a leading role in improving the future use of secondary raw materials. 

Minister Popov stressed that the circular economy will ensure both economic growth and a cleaner environment. He said that for the past five years, work has been underway to develop economic zones with carbon-neutral industrial parks, which provide synergy between economic development and climate action. The minister added that circular business models are particularly important, where what is waste for one company becomes raw material for another.

Light pollution was also on the agenda as a complex global issue that affects both wildlife behaviour and human health. Popov noted that Bulgaria recognizes the importance of the issue, especially in the context of the increasing use of LED lighting. Despite the fact that national legislation does not explicitly address light pollution, there are opportunities to implement measures that effectively lead to its reduction, Popov pointed out.

Information on the results of a conference organised by the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group on the impacts of environmental pollution on humans was presented during the meeting. Among the main topics of the conference were the impact of chemical air pollution, the effects of chemical exposure on child development and health, and complex exposure in the urban environment. 

"We need to take care for better air quality," the Popov pointed out a few days ago before the relevant committee in the National Assembly. He also reported that in recent years the air quality in Sofia and other cities has been improving and has entered the category of not exceeding the standards that are set.