Together for 1.5
Bulgarian NECP
Bulgaria’s main contributor of CO2 emissions from the energy sector is the local lignite coal, while when talking about methane emissions the biggest emitter is the waste sector, and these are no adequate mitigation measures for them both. Bulgaria has an enormous energy efficiency potential, which if harnessed properly would be of significant importance in the fight to alleviate the high energy poverty levels in the country. Next comes the enabling of citizens to use their own renewable energy. The country doesn’t really need and neither has time for new mega projects lock-in – be it fossil gas extraction in the Black Sea or 2 new nuclear reactors.
Click HERE to download the Bulgarian draft NECP country assessment
Bulgaria – climate action progress in figures
Check Bulgaria’s implementation of its National Energy and Climate Plan
As of 2022, Bulgaria was not fully on track to implement its old 2019 NECP (especially in the transport sector), which is now obsolete in terms of ambition. In the majority of cases, it is not possible to track the implementation of the Bulgarian 2019 NECP when it comes to emissions reduction trajectories. Several targets and/or scenarios are missing or difficult to retrieve in the 2019 NECP while many others have scopes that differ significantly from the EEA dataset that was used to retrieve historical data for the NECP tracker. Nonetheless, it appears that Bulgaria is lagging behind in the LULUCF and agriculture sector, while the transport sector emissions are well above the projected peak of emissions.
Differently, in 2022, Bulgaria was on track with the trajectories for final energy consumption, but not on primary. Trends in renewables shares in both the electricity and energy mix also raise concerns. The share of renewables in electricity generation only initially was on track, but then decreased from 23.6% to 20.23%; identically the share of renewables in final energy consumption initially overachieved the target for 2020, then it plummeted, putting Bulgaria off-track compared to the 2019 NECP projections.
Check here our latest briefing from October 2024
“Mind the NECP Gap”
Articles
Summary of Za Zemiata’s 2024 analysis on the implementation of NRRP
The analysis regarding the Bulgarian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and its energy and climate related reforms and investments was executed for the period October 2023 – October 2024, by the energy expert Petko Kovachev. The aim was to explore the role of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) - a particularly important decarbonisation fund, part of the EU Budget, and to see how its allocation contributed to financing the transition and the FitFor55 implementation at national level.
Bulgarian version of the latest assessment on the draft NECP from the Mind the NECP Gap report
Bulgarian version of the latest assessment on the draft NECP from the Mind the NECP Gap report: "Внимание: несъответствие в амбициите при ИНПЕК - Брифинг с основни изводи от последнатa налична версия на ИНПЕК (на базата на актуализацията на NECP Tracker от октомври 2024 г. - инструмент за проследяване изпълнението на ИНПЕК/NECP)"
Updates from the Bulgarian NECP draft and co-benefits figures featured at European Sustainable Energy Seminar in Latvia
European Sustainable Energy Seminar took place in Talsi, Latvia, between 25-27 September 2024, organised by the network INFORSE-Europe. Za Zemiata, as the Bulgarian member, joined the meeting through the national TogetherFor1.5 Coordinator - Radostina Slavkova.
Highlights from the Co-benefits stakeholders meeting in Sofia in March 2024
On March 29, during the hybrid discussion organized by "Za Zemiata" at the House of Europe, Sofia, on the topic: “The green transition in Bulgaria - opportunities, benefits and false solutions. Does Bulgaria need new nuclear power facilities?” came to the conclusion that the price of climate inaction for Bulgaria is higher in comparison with choosing the 1.5 C compatible energy transition pathway.
MEETING – The NECP stakeholders meeting on the second draft of the plan took place in Sofia
On April the 25th (2024)a stakeholders’ meeting was held at the Balkan Hotel in Sofia on the progress of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) - right before its finalization by June 30th. The meeting was jointly organized by Za Zemiata, the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) and the Center for Energy Efficiency "EnEfect"...
Joint Position Statement on the second draft of the Bulgarian NECP
Position on the second draft updated NECP dated February 21, 2023, of the Environmental Association "Za Zemiata" and "Greenpeace" - Bulgaria. [...] The second draft continues to lack key data for the public and expert discussion from the modeling of additional measures to achieve the targets (WAM), as well as the assumptions and analytical basis behind the current modeling.
Position statement on the draft National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) of the republic of Bulgaria
The first NECP draft is a timid and partial plan to meet climate goals by 2030...
Letter to the Bulgarian energy and environment ministers
Za Zemiata Friends of the Earth Bulgaria has taken the initiative to send a letter to the Minister for Energy and Minister of Environment and Waters about the need to increase the national contribution to the 2030 EU-wide energy efficiency target before 1 February under the EED...
Bulgarian NECP Assessment
Bulgaria has not yet submitted its draft National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) update, nor started any form of public consultation, as of 30 September 2023. It is not clear what the progress on the update is, as no draft or relevant related studies have been released so far. With the new government, a first draft might be expected in late Autumn. Based on previous experiences and available information, civil society organisations have developed a set of recommendations...
Bulgarian NGOs signed the open letter for timely public participation in the NECP revision process
Za Zemiata and 8 more Bulgarian NGOs signed the international open letter calling for timely public participation in the NECP revision process.The letter was supported by Members of the Climate Coalition of Bulgaria, the Coalition for Green Restart, by the Municipal Energy Efficiency Network EcoEnergy and other. The organizations reached out to the newly elected regular ministers of Environment and Energy, demanding immediately all draft version of the NECP, models and analyses done so far to be made public and a consultation process to finally start...
Public launch of Together For 1.5 Project in Bulgaria
The public launch of the Together For 1.5 Project in Bulgaria happened on 30th March 2023, as part of the monthly thematical in-person meetings with volunteers and supporters of Za Zemiata, called "Code: GREEN". The event coincided with the last day of the election campaign for the 6th-in-a-row Parliamentary elections. There are many hopes of forming a regular government that can pursue ambitious climate actions as one of its priorities..
NECPs Explainer
If we were to tell you in one minute everything about EU National and Energy Climate Plans (NECPs), this is how we’d do it. Watch the video and see by yourself the links between National Energy and Climate Plans and our day-to-day European lives.