Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva participated in the tenth edition of the Voice It Youth Forum on the topic “Young People, the Environment and Climate Change”, which was held in Sofia. The forum is organized by UNICEF Bulgaria and the National Network for Children (NNC), on a day symbolically chosen - November 20 is the day on which the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted.

Deputy Minister Koleva pointed out that, unfortunately, children are the least to blame for climate change and its consequences, but at the same time - the most affected age group of the population. “We are faced with a disturbing reality: children, who make up one third of our global population and half of the extremely poor, are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.” Thus, Deputy Minister Koleva addressed the students from all over the country, politicians, experts from responsible institutions, teachers, principals, and public figures during the panel, specially dedicated to the topic of climate change and the environment.

“However, children are not only victims of climate change - they are the carriers of change. Children and youth are at the forefront of global climate initiatives and their views must be taken into account in the policies that shape their future. In order to form a conscious attitude towards the environment, it is necessary to implement a comprehensive and consistent policy for developing knowledge, skills, and value orientations, encouraging engagement with environmental problems and their solution. It is imperative that this policy be implemented from the earliest childhood and school age,” she noted.

“The environmental policies that Bulgaria is developing are aimed at the well-being of children and young people. We support the empowerment of young people in decision-making on climate-related topics and strive to develop new opportunities for youth-led initiatives,” said Reneta Koleva. She pointed out that the Ministry of Environment and Water annually organizes educational campaigns for kindergartens and schools throughout the country. Thousands of children and students participate in various information events to prepare them for the challenges related to climate change and environmental protection. The Deputy Minister noted the strengthened partnership with local authorities, educational institutions and non-governmental organizations as a strength in implementing these environmental initiatives.

“The consequences of climate change are a fact and unfortunately in recent years extremely high temperatures, fires, floods, and droughts have become more frequent. Yes, many resources are needed to address the challenges, but each of us, with minimal effort, can help mitigate climate change in our daily lives by saving electricity and water, walking more often, cycling, using public transport instead of getting into our cars," explained Deputy Minister Koleva.

“We must realize that the planet’s resources are not inexhaustible and we need to be rational in their use, a good example being separate waste collection, once it has become a habit, not only it does not weigh on our daily lives, but also helps reduce carbon emissions through easier processing and the possibility of recycling,” emphasized the Deputy Minister.

Deputy Minister Koleva recalled the fact that every day, around 20 000 children worldwide are displaced by climate-related disasters. Children born today will experience extreme weather events four times more often under a 1.5°C scenario and five times more often under a 3°C scenario of global warming above pre-industrial levels.

“Therefore, we cannot afford to wait, postpone or shift the burden to future generations. We all have a responsibility to address these challenges and to improve our quality of life and to preserve our planet’s natural resources. Climate action funding must reach those disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, and when we invest in our children’s future, we invest in a safer, more resilient and prosperous world. I believe that together we can pave the way to a world where every child can fulfil their potential despite the impacts of climate change,” she concluded.

Every year on November 20, UNICEF organizes a global initiative "Go Blue" whereby iconic buildings around the world are illuminated in blue to support the cause of children's rights. In Bulgaria, several key buildings will be illuminated in UNICEF's iconic blue - the National Palace of Culture, the National Assembly, and the Sofia Municipality.