On August 1st, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration hosted a conference titled “Research and Innovation for Climate, Sustainability, and Citizens – from local to national and global perspectives and lessons learnt for better policies, practices and life”. The event, co-organized by the Net-Zero Lab, brought together scientists, business leaders, and government officials for expert discussions across four panels. It was part of the program for Bulgaria’s hosting of the 61st session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-61), drawing significant interest from attendees.
At the event’s first panel, Chief Assistant Dr. Iliya Atanasov presented research on sustainable citizenship awareness. The panel featured Prof. Dr. Vanya Ivanova, who highlighted Bulgaria’s challenges in recycling and waste management; Dr. Vladimir Shopov, who emphasized systemic changes over individual behaviors; Dimitar Dilov, who discussed DSK Bank’s sustainability practices; Reni Ananieva, who shared DEVIN’s environmental education program for students; and Yoan Georgiev, who introduced the EthiCitizen platform promoting sustainable habits among young people. The discussion was moderated by Associate Professor Marina Stefanova.
The second panel, “Towards Net Zero: Implementing the EU Strategic R&I Agenda in Bulgaria,” focused on aligning Bulgaria with the EU’s climate and energy goals. Moderated by Dr. Mariya Trifonova, the session began with Bozhil Kondev from the Net-Zero Lab, who stressed the need for Bulgaria to speed up its energy system transformation to meet global climate challenges. Despite significant EU funding, Bulgaria ranks among the last five EU countries in R&D investment, at just 0.77% of GDP compared to the EU average of 2.2%.
Teodor Kuzov from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and Capucine Vannoorenberghe from ETIPWind discussed the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) and the importance of Bulgaria’s active participation in European energy research platforms. The Net-Zero Lab plans to annually monitor Bulgaria’s progress and contribute to the European Strategic Energy Research Platform, aiming to enhance the country’s involvement and align it more closely with EU net-zero ambitions.
The third panel explored climate change and environmental observations in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, emphasizing the role of Bulgarian scientists in global research efforts. The discussion covered the objectives, outcomes, and practical benefits of various scientific projects, underscoring the significance of these studies for advancing global climate science.
The fourth panel, “The First Bulgarian Transoceanic Research Vessel – Lessons and Future Prospects,” covered achievements and future collaboration in marine and polar research. Prof. Hristo Pimpirev discussed the upcoming 33rd Antarctic expedition and the base’s expansion due to the new research vessel.
Media publications about the event: