After two decades of intense negotiations for the reduction of the greenhouse effect around the globe, the subject is once again on the agenda, this time tackled at the Paris-held UN Climate Change Conference, taking place November 30 through December 11 – the 21^st one of its kind. A new, global agreement on climate change is expected to be reached, along with the solving of disputable issues, regarding the reaching of a higher level of engagement of the separate countries in the reduction of the greenhouse emissions. There are some contradictions remaining but others are now left behind. As President Plevneliev underlined in his speech at the forum, the debate is taking place at a moment when the price of pure energy has significantly dropped and the ability for the limitation of energy consumption has increased. The largest global polluters - China and the USA do not negotiate on climate issues as rivals, the way they used to. A bilateral treaty was signed last year for the joint fight against harmful emissions. However, heavy contradictions still remain between the developed and developing countries. The latter insist on the funding by the first ones of the transition to a greener energy and on the preparation of poor people for coping with the early consequences of the changing climate, as the developed countries are claimed to be the ones, emitting the greatest amounts of carbon emissions. The promises given are huge, but obviously too far away from the expected USD 100 bln. per year.

There are complicated negotiations going on right now at the Paris conference, after the usual official statements. The Bulgarian delegation is authorized to defend stances on issues, related to high-tech funding and development, as well as for the building of capacity for the reaching of sustainable development in the context of climate changes and adaptation to them. The delegation is participating in the forum with the self-confidence that it represents a state which is, according to an end-October acknowledgement of the EC, one of the 13 EU member-states that will meet all their national goals till 2020 in the sphere of RES, energy effectiveness and the reduction of the greenhouse emissions in the sectors of transport, agriculture, buildings and waste management.

Indeed, as many as 7 years before the deadline Bulgaria increased its renewable energy share to 20 percent of its energy mix. It succeeded in reducing the greenhouse emissions by 20 percent, increasing at the same time the energy effectiveness with 20 percent and now it shares the EU goal to reduce greenhouse emissions by 40 percent till 2030. Bulgaria is also a leading EU country in terms of the preservation of its natural ecosystems, as 1/3 of its territory is protected by the highest in the world environmental standards, being part of the Natura 2000 European network. However, some of these achievements were due to the paying of a high price by the population. Another segment – the keeping of the high share of protected natural reserves often generates tension between the government, the private sector and the environmental NGOs. The strong environmental engagement of the government is not always approved – it is criticized and there are doubts on backstage deals, harming the ecological aspect.

One way or another, this country is really engaged and a parallel conference is taking place in Sofia on climate changes and the challenges, the Bulgarian nature and tourism are facing.

The end of the Paris event is more than a week away and it is difficult to be predicted, but the intermediary assessments tend to be positive. The final words of President Rosen Plevneliev at the forum sounded optimistically, but dramatically at the same time: “The future is priceless, but carbon emissions are not. We must decide how we shall pay this price today, as tomorrow is ar stake".

English version: Zhivko Stanchev