The Green Restart Coalition was established by MOVE.BG in June 2020. It is unprecedented because it unites for the first time organizations from the innovative ecosystem and environmental NGOs. Green Restart Coalition includes MOVE.BG, WWF Bulgaria, “Greenpeace”-Bulgaria, the “Institute for Circular Economy” and their networks of scientists, environmentalists, innovative businesses, NGOs, and thousands of citizens supporting the activities of the four organizations. The Coalition is working on a number of initiatives in support of green recovery and the long-term sustainable and innovative development of Bulgaria.
Within one year, the Green Restart Coalition published five expert opinion papers with recommendations for improving the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and created a special project called "Bulgaria's Future History Textbook". Since October 2021, the Coalition has been working on supporting the implementation of a horizontal, holistic, and long-term approach towards climate change and green transformation in Bulgaria. Some of the initiatives in this direction are a campaign for the establishment of a special position for sustainable development management in Bulgaria - Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Transition and Green Transformation and in the foreseeable future Ministry for Climate Transition and Green Transformation as well as supporting the net-zero transition in Bulgaria.
In June 2022, we brought together over 50 of Bulgaria's leading experts in the fields of innovative business and green innovation, energy transition, bioeconomy, circular economy, nature-based solutions, and sustainable finance. They outlined the main challenges to Bulgaria's sustainable development and generated over 150 recommendations for reforms to overcome them - we summarised the ideas in the special report "Mission Green Bulgaria".
The Green Restart Coalition also organizes discussions with politicians, scientists, business and state representatives, meetings with the diplomatic community, EU representatives, and media organizations, and workshops, dedicated to sustainable development challenges.
In the following lines, you can learn more about the Green Restart Coalition projects.
Opinion Papers, Open Letters, and Analytical Projects
- Opinion Paper from July 2020 with more than 130 proposals in support of the green restart of the Bulgarian economy and society with the idea to contribute to the preparation of Bulgaria's National Recovery and Resilience Plan. At this time, there was no official information about the Plan - read the opinion paper here in English
- Opinion Paper from November 2020 with ideas for the improvement of the first official version of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The document was sent to the official public consultation of the NRRP - read here (EN)
- Opinion Paper from November 2020 with a call for a revision of Bulgaria’s position during the Council of the European Union against the EU Climate Act - read here (BG)
- Opinion Paper from January 2021 with demands for the improvement of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. It includes several ideas for new projects in the Plan, presented with details and frameworks - read here (EN)
- Opinion Paper from March 2021 after the publication of the second version of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The document includes detailed recommendations for revision of the Plan - read here (EN)
- The Textbook on the Future History of Bulgaria - a special project from April 2021 that shows how Bulgaria could become one of the innovative and green leaders in Europe if we urgently implement a series of long-term and integral reforms via the National Recovery and Resilience Plan - read more here (BG), download the Textbook as a PDF file here, open the project as a digital book here, or watch the Textbook's promo video here (BG)
- English Summary of the Textbook on the Future History of Bulgaria, May 2021 - learn more here (EN), download the Summary as a PDF file here (EN) or open it as a digital textbook here (EN)
- Opinion Paper from May 2021 to the new, caretaker government with demand for improvements of the third version of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan - read here
- MOVE.BG Green Restart Coalition Marks One Year in Support of the Sustainable Future Development of Bulgaria, July 2021 - learn more here (EN)
- Open Letter from October 2021: Bulgaria Should Establish a Position Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Transition and Green Transformation - read more here (EN).
- Position from November 2021: The Establishment of Climate Deputy Prime Minister is an Opportunity for Accelerated Sustainable Development - learn more here (EN).
- Open Letter from December 2021: What Should be the Functions of the Position Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Transition and Green Transformation - link here (BG)
- Open Letter on Accelerating the Green Transformation and Economic Recovery.
The letter was sent to the new regular Bulgarian government in December 2021- read it here (EN) - Open Letter for Establishment of Monitoring Committee for National Recovery and Resilience Plan in Bulgaria. In January 2022, leading organizations from the innovative ecosystem and environmentalists, including Green Restart Coalition, have sent an opinion to the government - learn more here (EN)
- Second Open Letter for Establishment of Monitoring Committee for National Recovery and Resilience Plan in Bulgaria. The letter includes a proposal for the structure and functions of the Committee - February 2022. Read the Letter here (BG)
- Open Letter with Recommendations for the Reform of the European Green Deal Advisory Board. The recommendations have been sent as part of the public consultation on the governmental proposal for changes in the Advisory Board - May 2022. Read the letter here (BG)
- Open Letter about the public consultation for the proposed rules for implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In the Letter, the Green Restart Coalition and partners again insisted on the need for the establishment of a special committee for independent oversight of the implementation of the Plan's reforms and investments - July 2022. Read more here (BG)
- Mission Green Bulgaria Report - The report contains over 150 identified challenges to Bulgaria's sustainable development and over 150 proposals for reforms and initiatives to help our country become one of the green and innovative leaders in Europe. The report is based on the ideas of over 50 of Bulgaria's leading experts on the topics of innovative science and economy, energy transition, bioeconomy and biomass, smart cities, nature-based solutions, and sustainable finance. Read the Report here (EN), learn more about the initiative here (EN), and watch our special video here (BG) - July 2022
- Special video Two Years Green Restart Coalition - watch the special video marking the second anniversary of the Coalition here - link here (BG)
- Open Letter demanding the establishment of four green commissions in the new parliament after the 2022 October snap general elections - the initiatives call for the creation of the following permanent commissions: climate and energy; environment, biodiversity, and climate adaptation; innovation, circular economy, and green transformation; and an ad-hoc commission for oversight of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan's implementation - read the letter here (BG), October 2022
- Mission Energy Transition Report - it contains over 150 recommendations for a successful energy transformation in Bulgaria, based on the ideas of 50 leading Bulgarian experts. The Report consists of recommendations on five key and interlinked topics: energy transition communication, the just transition of coal regions, energy poverty and energy efficiency, energy communities, and sustainable use of biomass. Read the Report here (EN), learn more about the initiative here (EN), and learn more about the Report from the special promo video here (BG) - April 2023
- An open letter to the 49th National Assembly urging the creation of four special parliamentary committees to carry out key reforms to support sustainable and innovative development in Bulgaria - the four committees are a Standing Committee on Energy and Climate Change Mitigation, a Standing Committee on Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation, a Standing Committee on Innovation, Circular Economy and Green Transformation, and an Ad Hoc Committee to Monitor the Implementation of the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan - learn more here (BG), April 2023
- The Green Restart Coalition marked three years of work in support of innovative and sustainable development in Bulgaria - learn more here (EN), May 2023
- Opinion Paper on the proposed reform of the Green Deal Advisory Council (GАAC) to the Council of Ministers - learn more here (BG), July August 2023
- Opinion Paper on the draft changes to the Forest Act - read the Position entitled "Changes to the Forest Act threaten Bulgarian nature and population" - learn more here (BG), July 2023
- An Open Letter from members of the Energy Transition Commission with recommendations for the next steps following the adoption of the Climate Neutral Bulgaria Roadmap by the CEP - supported by the Green Restart Coalition - learn more here (BG), August 2023
- An Open Letter to the Candidates for Mayor and Municipal Councilors in Sofia calling for green development to be a top priority of Sofia Municipality - learn more here (BG), October 2023
- An Open Letter calling for the creation of a Deputy Mayor for Climate Transition and Green Transformation in Sofia - the letter was sent to the new Mayor and City Council in the capital after the local elections - learn more here (BG), November 2023
Roundtables and other discussion formats
- World Cafe "Green Restart of Bulgaria" - a special discussion format with fifty of the leading Bulgarian experts from the fields of innovative economy, climate change, biodiversity protection, energy transition, circular economy, and sustainable agriculture. In July 2020, they recommended more than 130 ideas for the preparation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. At that time, there was no official information about the Plan. The experts' ideas were included in the first Opinion Paper of the Coalition here (EN). The entire list of proposals is available here (BG) - July 2020
- "Bulgaria's Post-COVID Recovery: Green Development or Grey Deadlock" - a special discussion from November 2020 with a dozen of the leading Bulgarian experts who gave more than thirty recommendations for the improvement of the first official version of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Watch the discussion here (BG) or read the full list of proposals here (BG). The experts' ideas were included in one of the Coalition's opinion papers here (EN) - November 12, 2021
- "Future History of Bulgaria" Roundtable - the official presentation of the "Textbook on the Future History of Bulgaria" and a discussion between experts and politicians. Watch it in full here (BG) and see its promo video here (BG). Learn more about the Textbook here (EN) - April 9, 2021
- "What History of Bulgaria will Write: Green Restart or Grey Deadlock" - a roundtable with political scientists, environmentalists, and philosophers. Watch it here (BG) - April 28, 2021
- "Green Restart: Mission Possible?" - a roundtable with experts and politicians several days before the snap general elections. Learn more here (EN) or watch it in full here (BG) - July 1, 2021
- "Next Generation EU in Bulgaria: A Plan for the Future?" - a roundtable with the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The discussion took place at the end of July, hours after the official presentation of the latest version of the Plan. The event also marked One Year of the Green Restart Coalition. Learn more here (EN) or watch it in full here (BG) - July 26, 2021
- "The Green Public Agenda in Bulgaria: Holistic or Fragmented?" - a roundtable from November 2021 with experts and politicians, just days ahead of the second general elections in Bulgaria. During the event, the Coalition presented the idea for the Establishment of a Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Climate Transition and Green Transformation. Learn more here (EN) or watch it in full here (BG) - November 2, 2021
- Conference "Green Agenda: Net-Zero Transition as a Path to Sustainable Future" - an international conference, focused on green transition and solutions for sustainable development. The forum that took place on April 5 welcomed leading experts and politicians from Bulgaria and Europe, including from the European Commission. Watch the conference's first part here (EN) and the full VOD of the forum here (BG) - April 5, 2022
- World Café "Mission Green Bulgaria" - a special format for generating ideas to support the sustainable development of Bulgaria. The event brought together 54 of Bulgaria's leading experts on the topics of innovative science and economics, energy transition, bioeconomy and biomass, smart cities and circular practices, nature-based solutions, and sustainable finance. View the “Mission Green Bulgaria” Report based on the event - the document contains over 150 recommendations for reforms and initiatives to help Bulgaria become one of Europe's green and innovative leaders. Read the Report here (EN), learn more about the initiative here (EN), and watch our special video here (BG) - July 2022
- "Mission Green Bulgaria: Solutions from Experts and Politicians" - a roundtable discussion for the presentation of the "Mission Green Bulgaria Report" with the participation of experts from the “Green Restart Coalition" and representatives of the leading political parties. The roundtable took place a few days before the snap general elections. Learn more here (EN), and watch a full recording of the discussion here (BG) - September 21, 2022
- Special video "2 years of the Green Restart Coalition -Two years work for innovative and sustainable development in Bulgaria". Watch the video here (BG) - September 2022
- World Café "Mission Energy Transition" - a special format for generating ideas to support the energy transition of Bulgaria. The event brought together more than 50 of Bulgaria's leading experts on the topics of energy transition communication, the just transition of coal regions, energy poverty and energy efficiency, energy communities, and sustainable use of biomass. Read the Report here (EN), learn more about the initiative here (EN), and learn more about the Report from the special promo video here (BG) - February 2023
- "Mission Energy Transition: Solutions from Experts and Politicians" - a roundtable discussion for the presentation of the "Mission Energy Transition Report" with the participation of experts from the Green Restart Coalition and representatives of the leading political parties. The roundtable took place a few days before the new snap parliamentary elections. Learn more here (EN), and watch a full recording of the discussion here (BG) - March 29, 2023
- "Restart Bulgaria: Going Green" - a special format marking 3 years of the Green Restart Coalition. Learn more here (EN) - May 15, 2023
