The first ministry in the metaverse was inaugurated on April 5th this year - it is the Bulgarian Ministry of Climate Transition and Green Transformation. The virtual ministry has a special task - to help Bulgaria become one of the green and innovative leaders in Europe. The fictitious ministry is a special project of MOVE.BG, which in an innovative and interactive way pushes for the introduction of a long-term and horizontal approach to the climate in Bulgaria, so that our country makes a successful green transition and ensures a better future for all of us.
The project, also called Ministry without an address because it exists only in the virtual world, was officially presented during an international conference in Sofia, dedicated to the green transformation of Bulgaria and Europe. During the event “Green Agenda: Net-Zero Transition as a Path to Sustainable Future,” Sasha Bezuhanova, founder of MOVE.BG, said that the meta-ministry shows the integrity that is needed in climate policies so that all sectors are involved in the green transition for it to be successful.
“Climate policies are cross-cutting - they need their expertise in every single department - in the economy, in culture, in education, in regional development alongside ecology, agriculture, and energy.
That is why we insist that such units with expertise on climate change should be established in each of the ministries in Bulgaria," said Sasha Bezuhanova.
Why is the meta-ministry necessary?
Bulgaria has the potential to be among the leaders in sustainable development - over 34% of our territory falls under the protection of Natura 2000, 50% of the rivers in Bulgaria are in satisfactory to good ecological condition, our country is home to over 40 000 plant and animal species. At the same time, however, 34% of the country's species and 61% of its protected forests are under serious threat, and Bulgaria, along with Poland, Turkey, and Bosnia, is among the countries with the highest levels of air pollution in Europe, according to the latest report by the European Environment Agency. The economic data also signal immediate action - our country ranks 26th in the EU in terms of digital technology penetration in business and society, according to the DESI 2021 index, and second to last in terms of innovation potential in the Community, according to the EU Innovation Scoreboard 2021. The Bulgarian economy continues to be the most energy and resource-intensive in the European Union.
Therefore, the MOVE.BG team strongly believes in the need to create a climate ministry in Bulgaria in the long term. The first and urgent step today, however, is the creation of climate expertise in each ministry in Bulgaria - directorates of climate experts to support the green transition in every public activity - from economy and energy to biodiversity and transport to innovation and education.
"Bulgaria has the potential to become one of the leaders in sustainable development, but we need to introduce a horizontal approach to climate policies - climate must be part of the agenda of every state institution. This is why MOVE.BG's project on the Ministry of Climate Transition and Green Transformation shows the solutions and urges the government to implement comprehensive and long-term reforms. It is important to create sustainable mechanisms so that citizens, experts, scientists, and the state work together," said Ms. Bezuhanova.
What will the climate directorates in the different ministries focus on?
Check out the first Metaministry (ENG).
