The Bulgarian School of Politics is actively involved with work on climate change, energy policy and the challenges they pose. The School is guided by the idea that the implementation of sustainable low carbon growth in the economies of Bulgaria, Europe and the world is one of the biggest challenges that humans face today. Therefore, we try to help with knowledge, information and expertise the legislators on both national and local levels, MPs, councilors, mayors, NGOs, media and businesses that are engaged with the topic. We believe that an informed debate on these issues, during which the voice of each participant is heard is the right way to find sustainable solutions to climate problems.

The School has worked with the Bulgarian Parliament on the project “Green Step Forward – towards New Commitment and Responsibility of Bulgarian Politicians to the Environment”

We have convinced MPs from all parliamentary groups to plant trees in the forest of the Parliament next to Terminal 2 of Sofia Airport.

Together with the media - our partners in the project "Bulgarian Media in Support of Political Measures for Mitigating Climate Change" we have succeeded to persuade the Bulgarian society in the importance of climate change issues. A study has been conducted at the end of the project. It has showed that Bulgarians perceive climate change as a personal responsibility and take personal action to resolve the problem.

The School is actively involved with the development of specific policies on climate change.

In 2010 we have contributed to the development of a low carbon strategy for the Slatina municipality, Sofia.

In 2010 we have prepared and a low-carbon strategy for the Municipality of Sofia.

Currently, in collaboration with the Energy Management Institute we develop an analysis of existing European and international practices to assess the impact of information campaigns on energy efficiency.

Project Archive

"Bulgarian Media in Support of Political Measures for Mitigating Climate Change"

General Information

Project Description
The need for this project has been imposed by climate change worldwide and the response that each state must provide in order to mitigate and slow the effects of these changes in economic, social, and political terms. Discussion, development and effective implementation of legislative initiatives and mechanisms at national level in this area can be achieved by a clear commitment from the political forces and by systematic control on their implementation. It can be effectively exerted by civil society and media, which largely shape the views on these issues.

If the editors in the major Bulgarian media receive basic training on the importance of the topic, the best ways for its coverage, the use of reliable sources of information, then the whole media picture can change - especially if the media are constantly supplied with adequate information.

The project enables media editors and leading journalists from the country to meet with prominent political figures, scholars and activists from Bulgaria and the world, working in the field of climate change. This provides expert information and develops skills in journalists to analyze it. The distributed information provokes attitudes in Bulgarian politicians and society and exerts the necessary pressure to make climate change of a crucial importance on the agenda of the government.

Project Goals

Overall objective
To increase the competence and knowledge of project participants and the public about climate change and its consequences for more comprehensive, objective and regular coverage as well as stricter media control on the implementation of relevant policies, standards and legislation in the country.

Specific objectives
Change in the editorial policy of media regarding climate change in order to consider it as an important and leading topic in their agenda for competent media coverage of the implementation of policies on climate change at global, national and local level.
Creating a community of leading journalists in the country working on climate change issues for an effective and on time communication and dissemination of the latest developments and achievements, and provoking of an informed debate and control over the measures proposed by the government in this area.
Establishment of a mechanism for long-term interaction between leading journalists, governmental institutions and NGOs to exchange information, analysis and evaluation of documents and government action in support of measures mitigating the effects of climate change.

Main target group
Leading journalists - editors, directors of departments, senior analysts and commentators in central and local print media, online media and platforms, TV (business intelligence units that specialize in the topic of energy, international relations, political commentary)

Advanced targeting
Politicians - MPs, ministers, mayors, municipal councilors

Main Activities
3 training seminars with the target group of journalists in order to analyze and prepare publications on the topic "climate change" in print and electronic media.
Training module for the target group of journalists in preparation for the media coverage of the UN meeting in Copenhagen 2009.
Examining the state of media in the country in terms of quality of coverage of climate change and tracking the expected change in their editorial policy as a result of the project. The study examines the awareness of policymakers on the topic.
Activities in support of the training seminars: regular email briefing for journalists from the country, which will inform them of recent changes in European and national legislation, governmental decisions and European trends concerning climate change.
Activities for publicity and dissemination of project results.

“Green Step Forward – towards New Commitment and Responsibility of Bulgarian Politicians to the Environment”

Project Description
The main objective of the project is to promote a change in existing paradigms of thinking and behavior of political parties and their representatives in Parliament who are responsible to provide strategic direction in the formulation of policies and legislation on climate change and energy efficiency that comply with fundamental principles of environmental protection.

The analysis of the current situation within state institutions and ministries concerned with energy efficiency and sustainable development, indicates the need for political action in several directions:
• critical assessment of existing strategic documents aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting the use of alternative energy sources
• change in approaches to policy making at national and local levels so they reflect all aspects of climate change and integrate new requirements that new legislation complies with them
• assessing the impact of climate change on human resources and trends in labor productivity and employment in the country, focusing on the acquisition of "green" skills and "green" jobs
• general changes in attitudes and current practices and habits of society for the implementation of energy efficient solutions in energy consumption.

Through this project we contribute to the establishment of a new type of leadership and legislative process that requires systematic evaluation of the potential economic, social and environmental impacts of all legislative initiatives, and promotes the systematic integration of environmental objectives in the internal regulations and procedures of the Parliament.

Furthermore, we recommend requirements for all institutions that have the power to make decisions at national level and work together with the National Assembly, to evaluate their impact on the environment and calculate their carbon footprint. This should become part of standards for evaluating the effectiveness of these institutions.

With this project, we turn the attention towards the need for change in legislative acts of the National Assembly so that compliance with the consequences of climate change becomes a major standard for decisions on long-term investment plans at national and local level.

Last but not least, we contribute for the increased personal responsibility and commitment of each member of Parliament, and the parliamentary administration towards environmental and energy-saving behavior.

The period of the project is February 1, 2010 - 31 December 2010.

Specific Objectives of the Project
• To promote responsible and lawful eco behavior among Bulgarian MPs and parliamentary administration in all aspects of their activities that are relevant and have impact on the environment through training, specialized information and increased knowledge.
• to highlight the necessity to review the internal policies of the National Assembly in order to integrate environmental factors in the development, implementation and maintenance of these policies at all levels of the institution.
• Provision of methodological assistance in developing a program for environmental management, with short and long term targets for reducing emissions, reducing waste, reducing consumption of energy, water and paper and introduction of environmentally friendly transport practices.
• Improving the administrative capacity of the National Assembly on the implementation of environmental legislation in the field of energy efficiency, based on good international practices.

Main Activities
Thematic discussions on various aspects of climate change and environmental protection, including the presentation of Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)
Presentation and analysis of good practices from Europe and Bulgaria in the fields of environmental conservation, climate change mitigation and reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases
Organization of 2 "green” weeks in the National Assembly
Organization of 2 exhibitions related to environmental protection in the National Assembly
Production and distribution of information materials
Creating and maintaining a project website with database of good practices


Low carbon development strategy Slatina

An expert group and participants in the National Programme of the Bulgarian School of Politics have developed a framework strategy for low carbon development of the Slatina municipality, Sofia. The Strategy contains an analysis of the overall environmental situation within the region "Slatina" and focuses primarily on low-carbon development policies. The strategy follows the objectives set out in the package of documents "Climate - Energy" developed by the European Commission. By 2020 should be achieved:
• 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to base year under the Kyoto Protocol.
• 20% increase in energy efficiency.
• 20% share of renewables in total energy consumption in the EU.
• 10% share of biofuels in transport.
The developed instrument is a model that can be used by other municipalities or regions in Bulgaria.

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