CAN Europe report: Bulgaria is failing to plan and communicate its goals to decarbonize the economy

Bulgaria is failing in planning and communicating its goals towards the decarbonization of the economy, there is a severe lack of consultation with society and timely dialogue. There is no clear strategy for getting out of fossil fuels and replacing them with newer, cleaner and more efficient technologies, and people in coal-dependent municipalities are suffering the most. The document with which Bulgaria must draw the goals and strategy for overcoming dependence on coal and other fossil fuels is better known as the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INPEC).

These are the conclusions of the Report on the process of updating INPEC (Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans), which the Environmental Association "For the Earth" and Bulgarian partners have prepared with more than 30 organizations from the Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe. It analyzes EU countries' climate targets for 2030 and tracks whether they enable climate neutrality by 2050. It highlights the stark contrast between the need for urgent and accelerated climate action and slow progress.

Of the 25 countries assessed, not one is doing enough towards the 1.5 C target — i.e. even more investment in energy saving measures and renewable energy sources is needed.

The aim of the National Energy and Climate Plans is to bring decarbonisation at national level in line with the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to within 1.5°C. This means a step-by-step reduction in dependence on fossil fuels, combined with timely and detailed planning for a just transition to the clean economy of the future. Member States are required to report to INPEC their contribution to the mandatory targets for the share of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2030. For countries with high levels of energy poverty, a national indicative target for energy poverty reduction should also be included, including a time frame by which the objectives must be achieved.

"There are indications that an updated version of the Bulgarian INPEC will appear in mid-November. We call on our rulers to act boldly and decisively in the direction of decarbonization, realizing their responsibility to Bulgarian citizens, local communities living near polluting enterprises with the most urgent need of reducing pollution and their emissions, but also all the inhabitants of the planet who are already or will be negatively affected by climate change." - said Radostina Slavkova from the Ecological Association "For the Earth".

In the remaining eight months until INPEC is finalized and sent to the Commission in June 2024, the public must be effectively engaged and consulted. Apostol Dyankov from WWF-Bulgaria gives additional details: "This can happen by presenting the report publicly, both in the Energy Transition Commission (ETC) and at a public discussion, which should be held in at least two stages, with a deadline of a month. The most important thing is to have a real dialogue, both at the expert level and in the public space".

The CAN Europe report represents the civil sector's initial assessment of the available 16 out of 27 INPEC update projects, and where there are none, as in our country, feedback on the opportunities for public participation to date and thematic recommendations. The report provides an initial overview of some of the key issues that will need to be addressed in the European Commission's recommendations to member states' INPEC plans in December 2023.

As of October 23, 16 countries have already submitted their INPEC. These are Malta, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. European public and stakeholder participation in the drafting process is insufficient, ranging from weak to non-existent.