NEWS

President Rumen Radev: We Can no Longer Continue to Pretend that Climate Changes are no Problem

We can no longer continue to pretend that climate changes are no problem and this problem cannot be solved only by restricting and banning traditional energy production, nor by limiting the greenhouse gas emissions. This is what President Rumen Radev told journalists in Paris. The Bulgarian Head of State is representing our country at the world summit in Paris “One planet,” dedicated to climate changes, at the invitation of the President of France Emmanuel Macron, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.

“We see what the consequences of climate changes are – they are becoming increasingly more dramatic, they affect the economies of all countries, and a lot of people lose their lives,” Rumen Radev emphasized. In the President’s words, a process of deep transformation of the way in which energy, goods and services are created is necessary. “Therefore we have to win the minds and hearts of the young generation. A new ethics and new culture in the production models is necessary,” the Head of State added.

In Rumen Radev’s opinion, the education systems should be included in the transformation process, so that more investments are made in innovative technologies and projects. In reply to a question, President Radev emphasized that all people and institutions involved in climate changes are important and thanked the publicly well-known personalities who support and make investments in this worthwhile cause.

The consequences of global warming have already become a real threat to many countries in the world, the Bulgarian Head of State further said. Within the forum he held talks with Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina.  In the President’s words, a very low-lying country with a population of 165 million people, which is threatened by a rise of the world ocean level, poses threats of a large-scale migration crisis.

At the forum, Rumen Radev also discussed Bulgaria’s Schengen accession with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rute. “It will not be as easy as we expected. A lot of work should still be done,” the Head of State said.

Earlier President Rumen Radev, together with the leaders of the participating countries in the summit in Paris, took part in a working meeting with the President of France Emmanuel Macron in the Elysee Palace.