site.btaIllegal Logging, Timber Trade Are Serious Challenges to Achieving Climate Neutrality, CSD Data

Illegal logging and timber trade, deforestation and energy poverty are some of the most serious challenges to Bulgaria's sustainable development toward achieving climate neutrality by 2050, said on Thursday Martin Vladimirov, Director of the Energy and Climate programme at the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD). He spoke at the opening of a discussion on countering illegal logging, accelerated decarbonization, and reducing energy poverty, organized by CSD. According to Vladimirov, despite the government's efforts to combat these problems, they remain very widespread, which in the long term reduces the potential of Bulgaria and its forestry stock to absorb excess carbon emissions. 

The use of firewood by about a quarter of the country's population is testament to the inability of many households to adequately heat their homes or cover their energy costs, he added.

Rising living standards over the past ten years and the mass electrification of heating have halved biomass use and the overall level of energy poverty. At the same time, incentives should be given to households to gradually stop using firewood, he said.