The Minister of Environment and Water Petar Dimitrov delivered opening remarks today for the national conference "Adaptation to climate change in urban environments - deployment of local capacity and national policies", which is held within the framework of the satellite program for the Bulgarian hosting of the 61st Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The conference is organized by the National Ecofund Trust as part of the fund's new initiative to build capacity and apply innovative practices at the local level for climate change adaptation in urbanized areas.

"In two panel sessions, representatives of the academic community will demonstrate to us how climate science can be 'translated' into the language of municipalities," said Minister Dimitrov in his address to the more than 80 participants from municipalities, universities, ministries, non-governmental and professional organizations, students. He explained that adaptation to climate change is among the highest priorities of the MOEW. In recent years, thanks to the Climate Program of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and its partnership with the National Ecofund Trust, eight municipalities in Bulgaria have achieved serious progress. "The work doesn't just have to go on. It has to be upscaled to reach all municipalities and settlements in the country," noted Petar Dimitrov.

In his welcome address to the participants, he expressed his belief that the agenda of the conference will outline the links between the application of science and the development of local and national policies in the field of climate change, as well as the key factors for bringing together the efforts by all stakeholders.

The official opening was also attended by the Chairman of the Management Board of National Ecofund Trust Prof. Dimitar Nenkov, the Executive Director of the National Association of Municipalities Silvia Georgieva, a representative of the Norwegian Association of Municipal and Regional Authorities (KS), and the head of the Program Operator of the “Environmental Protection and Climate Change” Program of the European Economic Area Silvia Rangelova.

A lively discussion is to take place on two pressing topics, which are important to be included in the agenda of the Bulgarian municipalities in the coming years.

"Usable science" is the theme of the first session, dedicated to how scientific information can be made accessible and easy to use in making investment decisions to protect against urban flooding or the urban heat island effect. The session was led by Prof. Stelian Dimitrov, founder of the National University Center for Geospatial Research and Technologies at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski" and with the participation of Svetlana Zhekova, member of the expert board of the European Commission Mission “Adaptation to Climate Change”.

In the afternoon session "City rivers - an important factor for adaptation to climate change", the mayors of Samokov and Troyan and representatives of the "Sofia Rivers" initiative will discuss with experts the plans for the development of urban rivers. The panel discussion will be moderated by Julian Popov, Minister of Environment and Water in the most recent regular government.