The Faculty of Economics of Sofia University (SU) "St. Kliment Ohridski" is a partner of the Ministry of Environment and Water in the organization the upcoming 61st session of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which will be held in Sofia from 26 July to 2 August 2024.

Hundreds of scientists and government delegates from 150 countries will participate in the session. Key topics will be discussed related to the process of securing the scientific input on which countries base their climate policy planning and implementation decisions.

The opportunities associated with Bulgaria's hosting of the IPCC session are not only at the political and diplomatic level, but also include invaluable exchanges of experience and contacts in the scientific field. At a side event, scientists from the Faculty of Economics will have the opportunity to announce the results of their most recent research in decarbonization and sustainable consumption.

The Faculty of Economics has already announced a volunteer program for the plenary session and side events for students, representatives of civil society organizations, and the business. The program is recruiting volunteers to join the team of scholars and faculty to facilitate the Faculty's participation as an official partner of the IPCC. 

The Faculty of Economics will host one of the most significant events in the accompanying program - the thematic seminar "CLIMATE FINANCE AT SCALE/ Increasing Climate Change Finance", which will be held with the participation of representatives of the IPCC, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the Bulgarian National Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Bulgarian Development Bank, the Bulgarian Investment Agency, the Association of Banks, the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, banks, insurance companies, and investment funds. The event aims to launch a dialogue between Bulgarian and international financial institutions on how to provide affordable and beneficial financing to achieve carbon reduction measures in every sector of the economy and how financial institutions can support a just green transition and an economy that is friendly to nature and people.

Scientists from Sofia University will also take part in discussions on what climate science councils around the world look like and why it is important for Bulgaria to have a strong and independent climate advisory body. Representatives of the IPCC will also present to the Bulgarian scientific audience the requirements and steps for Bulgarian scientists to join the IPCC panel.

Bulgaria's hosting of the 61st session of the IPCC is a great success of our climate diplomacy and the result of high-level political will and recognition of the important role of climate science in climate policy-making.

"This will be the largest climate science event ever held in Bulgaria and is a chance for our country to showcase the achievements of Bulgarian climate science," in the words of the Minister of Environment and Water Petar Dimitrov.