Climatologist Professor Georgi Rachev: The state of the air unites us all

published on 2/13/25 7:45 AM

Photo: unesco.org

World Radio Day - 13 February, this year is dedicated to climate change. The choice is no coincidence—2025 has been identified by the Paris Agreement as a crucial year for humanity to achieve its long-term goal of limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. It is a pivotal moment—by the end of the year, emissions of harmful gases must begin to decline.

What is the current climate situation, and do we have the means to stop our destructive impact?

The natural processes of climate change have been severely distorted and obscured by human economic activity - reminds us Professor Georgi Rachev, climatologist and lecturer at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

What is even more alarming is the speed with which these changes are taking place, because the last 20 years have been the warmest since meteorological measurements began, and in another 5-6 years climatologists will be able to state categorically that the climate has changed permanently to a point of no return.

Even young people are feeling the changes. Elitsa Pavlova, a student at the First English Language School in Sofia says:

Пореден ден с мръсен въздух в София (януари 2025 г.)

"Sparrows used to be quite common in Sofia, and the climate has changed considerably. Even I have noticed it in my 17 years of life. I remember that snow days in winter used to be much more frequent. If this trend continues, Bulgaria will lose its white winters and the privilege of experiencing all four seasons," says the girl, who is passionate about the environment and is working on a project on the subject with her peers from the Bulgarian school in Rome.

"We are faced with the problem of global warming because all our progress is based on a very cruel law - that of energy, which must be readily available and abundant," stresses the climatologist. He gives the example of the circulation of air masses:

"If Europe pollutes the air, it comes to us, we 'enrich' it with our economy and we send it to India and China. They are consumers of coal and they add more pollutants and send it across the Pacific to the US, which also emits its pollutants, and across the Atlantic the air comes back to us. We are all in the same basket. No air for you, no air for the Prime Minister, no air for the millionaire... you and the last bum will breathe the same air. That makes us free and equal. That is why you cannot impose restrictions on yourself while another burns his coal. We must all be together.

And although economies are the main source of emissions, without economic prosperity, environmental goals are unattainable, Georgi Rachev emphasises, adding:

"The Paris conference reached a very good consensus, but not a single climatologist was involved in the talks. All the decisions were taken by economists and politicians. Politics is a concentrated expression of economics - without a strong economy and profit to generate tax revenues, there is no way to secure the funds needed to meet environmental and climate goals. They are very expensive!

Food, energy and movement - these are the foundations of human flourishing, so you have to think very carefully about environmental goals. If the economy collapses, there is nothing we can do. There will be no money to save animals and protect the natural environment. And if you make electricity expensive for me, I'll start burning my old tyres and I'll get Grandma's stove out of the cellar to keep warm.

Professor Rachev points to China as the biggest net polluter, but adds that on a per capita basis the Asian country lags far behind a number of other nations. At the same time, China is leading the world in the construction of new power plants - coal, hydro, nuclear, photovoltaic and wind - while maintaining a well-developed economy.

The climatologist is convinced that Bulgaria can only achieve its environmental goals and a stable economy if the development of tourism and agriculture becomes a priority for the government.

Another important point is that ordinary people have a crucial role to play in slowing down climate change. "They have the free will to choose what to give up and the power to slow down climate change through their influence on the market economy," Professor Rachev stresses, adding that the media, especially radio, can also help motivate people to take personal steps towards a greener future.

Photos: Ani Petrova, Pixabay, BGNES, Reuters, WHO, Greenpeace UK

Posted in English by E. Radkova

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