Bulgaria
REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
Check against delivery
14th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
High-Level Segment
S T A T E M E N T
by
H.E. Mr. Jordan Dardov
Deputy Minister of Environment and Water
of the Republic of Bulgaria
New York, May 10, 2006
2
Mr. Chairman!
Allow me to congratulate you for the outstanding work that you and your co-chairs
have been doing since the beginning of the CSD 14.
The Bulgarian delegation supports the statement by the delegation of Austria on
behalf of the European Union.
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates
The thematic cluster of the present session is critical to the achievement of global
sustainable development. Urgent action is required to meet our objectives of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving global environment, cutting air
pollution and enhancing energy efficiency in conjunction with efforts to eradicate
poverty. Climate change poses a serious and long-term challenge with the potential
to threaten the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals.
With the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in the year 2002 Bulgaria joined the
international efforts to combat climate change, and for the time being we have
successfully meeting our objectives. At the same time our goal is to take advantage
to the greatest possible extent of the opportunities provided by the flexible
mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol.
The Republic of Bulgaria was among the first countries worldwide to host Joint
Implementation projects under Article 6 of the Kyoto protocol. The country now has
several years of experience in the various aspects of working with JI projects, such
as entering into Memoranda of Understanding with other Annex I countries,
advising project developers and endorsing and approving JI projects. A large
number of projects in different sectors ? co-generation, fuel switching, renewable
energy sources and energy efficiency will be realized and will lead to the reduction
of more than 14 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent up to year 2012. Thus the
country will gain not only revenue but also additional environmental benefits, which
will attract investments and eco high-tech equipment.
It is therefore important that the future of the Kyoto Protocol become clear as soon
as possible. The new targets beyond 2012 should continue to develop and extend the
Kyoto Protocol market mechanisms. This compels the necessity to find a mutually
beneficial formula for the future commitments of all Parties to the Protocol.
3
Ambitious but justified is the position of the EU to limit global warming to 2ºC
above the pre-industrial level. This objective will require the industrial countries to
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions below the 1990 level with 15-30 % by year
2020 and probably with 60-80% by year the 2050. As an EU acceding country and a
country with economy in transition at the same time, Bulgaria will face an enormous
challenge. Although our country is considerably under the Kyoto Protocol emission
levels, we encounter difficulties with reporting under the Convention and the
Protocol. We recognize also the challenges for implementation of the European
Union Emission Trading Scheme. Therefore, we will continue to build up the
necessary capacity for fulfillment of our commitments. Exploring the possibilities to
undertake new commitments for the period beyond 2012, Bulgaria will have to
develop new policies in order to find the exact balance between the accelerated rates
of economic development and decreasing the carbon intensity of production.
Mr. Chairman,
The right to healthy and favorable environment is not just a basic human right. It is
our mission as politicians and human beings to conduct a responsible policy with
regard to the management and rational use of this resource in the spirit of
international solidarity and cooperation. By addressing the issues of climate change,
air pollution and energy for sustainable development in an integrated manner,
including the need for action at all levels, the Commission on Sustainable
Development can complement the efforts of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change with a focus on the promotion of sustainable,
efficient and renewable energy, new technologies and investments aiming at
preventing further climate change and in pursuing the Millennium Development
Goals.
Thank you!
Check against delivery
14th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
High-Level Segment
S T A T E M E N T
by
H.E. Mr. Jordan Dardov
Deputy Minister of Environment and Water
of the Republic of Bulgaria
New York, May 10, 2006
2
Mr. Chairman!
Allow me to congratulate you for the outstanding work that you and your co-chairs
have been doing since the beginning of the CSD 14.
The Bulgarian delegation supports the statement by the delegation of Austria on
behalf of the European Union.
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates
The thematic cluster of the present session is critical to the achievement of global
sustainable development. Urgent action is required to meet our objectives of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving global environment, cutting air
pollution and enhancing energy efficiency in conjunction with efforts to eradicate
poverty. Climate change poses a serious and long-term challenge with the potential
to threaten the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals.
With the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in the year 2002 Bulgaria joined the
international efforts to combat climate change, and for the time being we have
successfully meeting our objectives. At the same time our goal is to take advantage
to the greatest possible extent of the opportunities provided by the flexible
mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol.
The Republic of Bulgaria was among the first countries worldwide to host Joint
Implementation projects under Article 6 of the Kyoto protocol. The country now has
several years of experience in the various aspects of working with JI projects, such
as entering into Memoranda of Understanding with other Annex I countries,
advising project developers and endorsing and approving JI projects. A large
number of projects in different sectors ? co-generation, fuel switching, renewable
energy sources and energy efficiency will be realized and will lead to the reduction
of more than 14 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent up to year 2012. Thus the
country will gain not only revenue but also additional environmental benefits, which
will attract investments and eco high-tech equipment.
It is therefore important that the future of the Kyoto Protocol become clear as soon
as possible. The new targets beyond 2012 should continue to develop and extend the
Kyoto Protocol market mechanisms. This compels the necessity to find a mutually
beneficial formula for the future commitments of all Parties to the Protocol.
3
Ambitious but justified is the position of the EU to limit global warming to 2ºC
above the pre-industrial level. This objective will require the industrial countries to
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions below the 1990 level with 15-30 % by year
2020 and probably with 60-80% by year the 2050. As an EU acceding country and a
country with economy in transition at the same time, Bulgaria will face an enormous
challenge. Although our country is considerably under the Kyoto Protocol emission
levels, we encounter difficulties with reporting under the Convention and the
Protocol. We recognize also the challenges for implementation of the European
Union Emission Trading Scheme. Therefore, we will continue to build up the
necessary capacity for fulfillment of our commitments. Exploring the possibilities to
undertake new commitments for the period beyond 2012, Bulgaria will have to
develop new policies in order to find the exact balance between the accelerated rates
of economic development and decreasing the carbon intensity of production.
Mr. Chairman,
The right to healthy and favorable environment is not just a basic human right. It is
our mission as politicians and human beings to conduct a responsible policy with
regard to the management and rational use of this resource in the spirit of
international solidarity and cooperation. By addressing the issues of climate change,
air pollution and energy for sustainable development in an integrated manner,
including the need for action at all levels, the Commission on Sustainable
Development can complement the efforts of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change with a focus on the promotion of sustainable,
efficient and renewable energy, new technologies and investments aiming at
preventing further climate change and in pursuing the Millennium Development
Goals.
Thank you!
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