MOVE.BG has brought together a cross-disciplinary group of experts in a special format to define practical solutions for the sustainable development of the capital Sofia. On 30 January, 55 specialists from different fields took part in "Mission Green Sofia: Prepared for the Future": representatives of Sofia Municipality and Sofia Municipal Council, experts from civil society organizations, representatives of the central government, experts from science, business, and the financial sector. Participants generated ideas to support the green development of the capital in five key areas: managing the green transformation, developing renewable energy, the role of urban planning, involving business, preparing citizens and improving communication. The MOVE.BG team will summarize the experts' ideas in a report that will be presented to Sofia Municipality and stakeholders, including businesses and citizens.
For more than three years, MOVE.BG has been working to support systemic solutions for sustainable development in Bulgaria, with the understanding that green transformation is key to meaningful development and to improving life in the country. Sasha Bezuhanova, Founder of MOVE.BG, shared during the "Mission Green Sofia: Prepared for the Future":
"More than 20% of the country's population lives in Sofia. The city produces 40% of the country's GDP. Providing conditions for a healthy and productive living environment are key not only for the future of the city but also for our country.
At MOVE.BG, we believe that the top priority for ensuring a favorable environment for the development of our city should be a green transformation on a cross-cutting principle that incorporates environmental norms and knowledge in all activities and institutions.
Green development is no longer only about ecology, waste management, or taking care of the parks. Green development is an integral agenda that includes changing the economy by introducing circular practices, developing energy communities and empowering citizens, introducing nature-based solutions, proactively supporting green innovation, and developing sustainable finance.
With this understanding, we brought together leading experts from different fields of science, local and central government, business and environmental organizations for a discussion and together we formulated practical solutions that would serve for the adaptation of the governance model in Sofia and practical projects."
Sasha Bezuhanova, founder of MOVE.BG, opens the event "Mission Green Sofia: Prepared for the Future", on January 30.
Prepared for the Future
MOVE.BG's initiative "Mission Green Sofia: Prepared for the Future" aims, on the one hand, to support the green transformation of Sofia Municipality, as the capital is experiencing a number of long-term challenges related to the delayed measures over the years to combat climate change and to prepare to meet its consequences: for example, the polluted air, the delayed development of renewable energy communities, the problems of adaptation to consequences of the climate crisis such as heat waves, floods, and drought. On the other hand, Mission Green Sofia: prepared for the future raises the issue of municipalities and their key role in the implementation of green development measures, focusing on Sofia Municipality, which has traditionally been perceived as a model at the local level in the country.
During the event, five key topics for Sofia's green transformation were addressed, and a cross-disciplinary group of experts was formed for each one:
- Prepared Institutions: The Role of Mainstreaming - Panel Moderator: Sasha Bezuhanova, Founder of MOVE.BG
- Prepared Energy System: The Role of Renewable Energy - Panel Moderator: Georgi Stefanov, Climate and Energy Expert, Member of the Managing Board of the Bulgarian Association Geothermal Energy
- Prepared Urban Environment: The Role of Urban Planning and Nature-Based Solutions - Panel Moderator: Lyubomir Georgiev, Founder of The Team of Sofia
- Prepared Together: The Role of Business in The Green Transition of Sofia - Panel Moderator: Associate Professor Marina Stefanova, PhD, Vice Dean for Sustainable Development, Empowerment and Engagement, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University
- Prepared Citizens: Fostering Civic Culture for Green Life Under the Conditions of Changed Climate, Communication Risks and Solutions - Panel Moderator: Adriyana Mihaylova, Communication Expert, Imp-Act Agency
The ideas from the five groups will be summarized by the MOVE.BG team in a special report. The report will be disseminated to stakeholders related to the green transformation of Sofia, as well as to other municipalities in Bulgaria, as the topics discussed during the event are common for local authorities in Bulgaria and their preparation to tackle the climate crisis and to realize the opportunities of green transformation.
View an album of photos from the event here.
Mission Green Sofia
An initiative by MOVE.BG in support of the sustainable development of Sofia and mainstreaming the climate policies at the municipal level in Bulgaria.
On the eve of the local elections in 2023, the Green Restart Coalition initiated by MOVE.BG sent an open letter to the candidates for mayor and municipal councilor calling to make green transformation a top priority for Sofia's development. Learn more here. In November, after the elections, the Coalition proposed the creation of a special structure to coordinate green transformation in Sofia - Deputy Mayor for Climate Policies and Green Transformation. Read more here.
Learn more about MOVE.BG's green initiatives here.
