Bulgaria must develop a Regional Crisis Center related to adaptation to climate change.
This is what the former Minister of Environment and Water, Julian Popov, senior advisor of the European Climate Foundation told the BNR.
"I hope one day this will happen - Bulgaria should develop a Regional Crisis Center. Because what Greece is experiencing - it is very much at risk of forest fires - requires not only Greek intervention, it also requires international intervention when the crisis is very big. So a Regional Center related to adaptation to climate change and dealing with extreme conditions, which is based in Bulgaria, would be of great help to both Bulgaria and the neighboring countries. It would also be the perfect regional diplomacy because there is no better diplomacy than helping the neighboring country when it comes to trouble.
He emphasized that the Directorate of Climate Change Policies in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology had under his administration been transformed into a Directorate-General, "which gives it a higher degree of influence and track record", as well as being increased her team:
"It is very important that this directorate works with all ministries - of health care, of energy, of social affairs, of regional development, etc. This is a structural change that is already yielding results and I hope that it will change the climate policy in Bulgaria in the future. Most ministries of the EU countries that are related to climate are ministries of climate and something - of energy and climate, of innovation and climate, of environment and climate. I had the ambition to rename the Ministry of the Environment and Climate, but maybe that will happen in the future.
Yuliyan Popov pointed out that the largest international scientific conference on climate will take place in Sofia at the end of July:
"It will gather delegations from over 150 countries and will be able to involve many Bulgarian scientists and people who deal professionally with climate change. Then our understanding of climate change will be able to penetrate the scientific community very deeply. Because predictions should not be made on the basis of alarm, but on the basis of models and science. It is a great achievement that we managed to bring it to Bulgaria.
The irrigation system for agriculture in Bulgaria must be restored, the former Minister of Environment and Water was categorical, adding that the way in which dams are managed in the country must be reconsidered:
"Water management in Bulgaria must change dramatically. ... This is management of dams, cleaning and revitalization of rivers, including in urban settings, and irrigation systems. Losses in water supply must be significantly reduced. ... All this needs to be reconsidered. The investments in this area are huge, but they are justified for the future of our children, because climate change, water losses are something that can cause huge damage to Bulgaria if this sector, which is now a little abandoned, is not mastered.