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Rumen Radev: Approaches to green transition must be socially and economically fair and increase people's well-being

The Head of State attends the 27th UN Climate Change Conference in Egypt

The transition to climate neutrality must be well thought out, smooth, socially and economically fair, so that it increases people's well-being, not decreasing it, is what President Rumen Radev told reporters after the official opening of the HoSG Summit participating in the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), hosted by Egypt.
 
Climate change is a fact - every year thousands of people are killed by natural calamities and entire countries are doomed to famine and hardships, Radev said, pointing out that the complicated geopolitical situation requires flexible approaches and rational thinking to solve the problems.
 
The Bulgarian head of State noted that an extremely important topic at COP27 is the allocation of resources for climate change mitigation activities. I expect that we pull our efforts to create funds for investments in new technologies in order to solve the problems of limited finances worldwide, Rumen Radev added, stressing the complex situation related to the war in Ukraine, the energy and economic crisis, and the +galloping inflation. The President added that in the current geopolitical situation, a number of countries rely on fossil fuels, and a large part of the investments are aimed at strengthening the countries' stability. This means that new, even more advanced technologies are required so that we can solve climate problems with the means at our disposal, the President pointed out.

Bulgaria is very active, especially in our region, in terms of flexible approaches to electricity generation, storage and transmission, the President said. He added that this country has the potential to produce the energy of the future - green hydrogen, and become a regional leader with modern and environmentally friendly systems based on natural resources to store energy.

We have the resources for this purpose, we need investments not only from the Bulgarian side, but together with our partners to join efforts for mutually beneficial projects, Radev said. He pointed out that this country had regained its influence in the region with the commercial operation of the Greece-Bulgaria gas link, but it had and should use its potential not only to transport energy sources.
 
On the sidelines of the forum, the Bulgarian head of State held bilateral sessions and high-level discussions. Among the members of the delegation led by the President are the Minister of Environment and Water, Rositsa Karamfilova-Blagova, and the Minister of Energy, Rossen Hristov.