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INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGES
October, 2015
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INTRODUCTON TO CLIMATE CHANGES
1. CLIMATE CHANGE
What is climate and how it differs from weather?
The climate describes the weather and the climate conditions during all of the days,
including the limit values during the individual seasons and the variations, which are due to
the specific geographic location of the region. The weather in each concrete area and
region can change rapidly from hour-to-hour, from day-to-day, from season-to-season, or
from year-to-year, even when the climate remains unchanged. The climate of a given area
or a region is determined based on the calculation of the average values of the registered
climate conditions – temperature, humidity, precipitation, etc., taken for a long tome period
– i.e. usually for at least 30 years.
What is climate change?
The climate change is a lasting change in some or all characteristics, describing the
average weather conditions, such as temperature, direction of the air flows or rainfalls in a
given area, region or within the scale of the whole planet. The changes may include
changes in the average values of the climate conditions, as well as with regard to the
frequency of change of the weather conditions above and below these average values.
They can be provoked by nature processes or phenomena – e.g. volcano eruptions,
changes in the solar intensity, or very slow changes of the ocean streams or of the earth
surface, which from view point of time takes decades, centuries, or a longer time period.
Together with that, the people’s activity, especially in the richer and industrialized countries,
including these in the European Union, can also be a cause for climate change. The power
stations, which supply us with electricity and heat for our homes, the cars we drive, as well
as the airplanes in which we fly, the plants which produce the goods we buy, the farms in
which our food is grown — all of them help the climate change through the emission of the
so called “greenhouse gases”.
The climate change has already begun. Since 1850, the average temperature has
increased by 0.76°C and the average temperature in Europe even more — by approx. 1°C,
while the fastest increase has been observed during the last 30 years.
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Eleven out of the last 12 years have been the hottest measured until now (i.e. since
1850, when tools for relatively accurate temperature measurement have been first
produced).
The greenhouse effect
Our atmosphere is like a transparent protective cover around the Earth. It lets the
sunlight penetrate trough it and retains the reradiated heat from the earth surface. Without
atmosphere the heat radiated from the earth’s surface will immediately reach the Space. In
such case, the earth’s surface temperature would be by about 30 °C lower and everything
would freeze.
Therefore, the atmosphere plays the same role as the glass walls of a greenhouse –
i.e. we speak about “greenhouse effect”. The accumulated greenhouse gases (GHG) in the
atmosphere, which retain a part of the radiated heat, cause this effect.
1. Solar energy,
coming from the sun passes
through the atmosphere
3. The earth’s
surface is heated by
the Sun and
reradiates heat into
the Space
2. A part of the energy is
reflected back into the Space
4. The greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere retain
a part of the heat
radiation of the earth’s
surface
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What is the difference between climate change and global warming?
The term “climate change” refers to the global climate change, including
temperature, precipitation, winds and other characteristics. They can be different for the
different regions. The term “global warming” specifically refers to eventual change in the
Earth's global mean surface temperature – i.e. climate change on a planetary scale. The
term “global warming” is frequently understood incorrectly, by assuming that the whole
world will become warmer in a similar and uniform manner. In reality, the increase of the
global mean temperature causes changes in the atmospheric circulation, as a result of
which some areas will become warmer, and others – less warm in comparison to the mean
planet’s warming. Some regions can even become colder.
The greenhouse gases, which we generate
The main type of greenhouse gas, emitted as a result of the human activity, is
carbon dioxide (CO2). 82 % of all greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union are
due to it. Carbon dioxide is emitted during the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and
natural gas, which are still the most widely used energy source. We use them for the
production of electrical and thermal energy, and for driving cars, ships and airplanes.
Carbon dioxide also plays a key role in the respiratory process: we inhale oxygen
and exhale carbon dioxide, while during the photosynthesis the plants absorb CO 2 and
release oxygen. Therefore, the forests on the Earth are so important. They help the
absorption of a part of the surplus CO2, which we have generated. The specialists think that
deforestation is a cause for 20 % of the total greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, the stopping
of this process is of primary importance.
Other greenhouse gases, released by the human activity, are methane and
dinitrogen oxide. They are among the invisible emissions from the waste depots, being also
released during livestock breeding processes, rice growing, as well as during
implementation of some methods for fertilizing agricultural lands. Besides that, we also
produce some artificial greenhouse gases, such as the so called fluorinated gases (freons).
They are used for the refrigerating and air-conditioning systems and even during the
production of sport shoes. They gases are emitted in the atmosphere through leakages or
result from inappropriate treatment of the relevant out-of-use devices.
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The two aspects of the climate change measures – adaptation and mitigation
The climate change has two aspects:
-
mitigation means reduction of the emissions of greenhouse gases from all
economic sectors and from our daily life. For this purpose, different energy efficiency
measures are implemented, related to the transition to fuels with low emission levels
of carbon dioxide and other gases;
-
adaptation means undertaking of actions for adaptation to the climate changes,
which have already occurred. The adaptation measures are also related to all
sectors of the economy and to our daily life, including human health.
Climate change and its implications
 11 out of 12 consecutive years (1995-2006) have been among the hottest since 1850
and since which time the earth’s surface temperatures have been globally measured;
 Arctic sea ice average quantity has decreased by 40% during the last decades;
 Snow cover in the northern hemisphere has decreased by 10% since 1960s;
 Spring starts earlier from year to year, which leads to a change in the biological life
cycle;
 Migration of plant and animal species towards the polar latitudes has been observed;
 Europe’s temperature during the last century has also increased by almost 1°C – i.e.
by more than the average values worldwide.
 Rainfalls and snowfalls have increased significantly in North Europe (by 10 to 40%),
while in South Europe they have decreased by about 20% and droughts are
observed more and more frequently.
 Everywhere in the world, the boundaries of the glaciers are withdrawing. Since 1850,
the Alpine glaciers have lost approximately two thirds of their volume, and the
percentage of this loss has been increasing after the 1980s.
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Facts related to Bulgaria

Since the end of 1970s a warming trend has been observed in Bulgaria; in the
second half of the 20th century the winters have been milder.

After 1989, 20 out of the last 23 years have positive anomalies of the average annual
air temperature compared to the climate standard (1961– 1990).

The average annual temperature during 2011 is by 0.4°C above the climate
standard. This is the 14th year in a row with temperatures higher than the usual
temperatures in the country.

The longest drought periods were observed in 1940s and the last two decades of the
20th century, and the most significant droughts – during 1945 and 2000.

More and longer droughts have been observed, followed by strong storms and heavy
floods with damages and victims.

The frequency of the extreme meteorological and climate phenomena has been
increasing: significant increase in the average number of days with 24-hour amounts
of the rainfalls exceeding 100 mm – by about 30% for the period 1991-2007
compared with the base period (1961-1990); increase in the cases of pouring rains
registered in the meteorological network ; more frequently occurring cases of springsummer type of cloudiness with rainfalls, thunderstorms and hails during winter
months such as January and February; increased frequency of the average number
of days with thunderstorms and hails during April and September within the period
1991-2006, compared with the same ones for the base period.

Annual amplitude between the maximum and minimum air temperature decreases –
the minimum temperature increases faster than the maximum.

The snow months in the mountains decrease and the thickness of the snow cover
shows lasting trend towards thinning.

The upper limit of the broadleaf forests is shifting towards bigger height.

The data from the phenological observations show outpacing in the development by
7-15 days within the different climate regions, which unambiguously testifies for
climate warmup during the last 30 years, compared with previous periods.
Analysis and evaluation – the situation in Bulgaria
The vulnerability of Bulgaria with regard to the occurrence of disasters, related to the
climate changes, has been determined on the base of the scientific scenarios for climate
change, presented in the Fourth and Fifth Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC). The data from the analysis show that according to all models in
the South East Europe region, to which Bulgaria belongs, the direction of the changes is
clearly expressed – i.e. towards increase in the temperature and rainfalls’ extremity, as well
as in the duration of the non-precipitation periods, and respectively towards increased risk
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for droughts, floods and their accompanying phenomena such as heat waves, fires, hails,
erosion, landslides, etc.
The climate change scenarios, on which the evaluation is based, are not
extrapolations of the present climate in the near future, but an assumption about that what
could have happened with the climate under a given socio-economic development. The
climate change assumptions are mainly based on mathematical modeling, involving a set of
uncertainties, mostly related to the climate change scenarios.
The main dangerous phenomena and processes, related to the climate changes,
which may generate different degree of risk for the socio-economic and nature systems are:
extremely high temperatures (heat waves); drought; floods; forest fires; sea level rise;
surface water temperature increase; invasive species, etc.
The conducted analysis shows that Bulgaria will be affected by the climate changes
until the end of the century. The projected changes in the temperatures and the
precipitation, as well as the connected with them possible climate extremes, included in the
IPCC Fifth Assessment Report show that depending on the used scenario, the average air
temperature will increase by 2 to 7оС as of 2082-2100, compared with the norm from 1961
– 1990. The variations in the average annual precipitation are within 10% and 10-20 %. In
the time horizon after 2065 until the end of the century, it is expected that the precipitation
in the summer will decrease up to 10-20 % according to all models. The analysis of the
extreme climate phenomena, based on the used temperature and precipitation indexes,
show that there will be an increase in the number and intensity of the dry and hot periods in
the summer, there will be more frequent occurrence of droughts and floods, as well as
pouring rains and the related to these changes dangerous nature phenomena and
processes in the country. According to all scenarios, the average number of the icy days
during the period 2013-2035 will reduce by 5 days on the average.
The country vulnerability, regarding its exposition to the effect of the hydro-climate
risk, is moderate under the present conditions, but there are real prerequisites that it will
drastically increase after 2035 and it is possible that this may happen even sooner due to
the projected impacts of the climate changes for our region, as well as due to unfavorable
demographic processes, which are expected to deepen in the future.
The climate change has also positive effects: e.g. the temperature increase will allow
the growing of early agricultural products in the open or in greenhouses, and the energy
costs in them will be decreased.
The expected milder winter periods will result in annual savings of significant funds
for urban environment maintenance, which to a certain extent will compensate the costs for
technological improvement of the infrastructure.
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The milder winter conditions and the expected longer ice-free periods will extend the
period for active construction, in this number for the small and medium enterprises, in which
certain technological advantages of the big enterprises are missing.
The climate changes in Bulgaria during the summer could create prerequisites for
significant extension of the tourist season – initially in the direction of the spring and
afterwards in direction of the autumn months, due to temperature increase.
The summarized results from the sectoral analyses show that the climate changes
affect all sectors, and for many of them not only the possible dangerous consequences are
outlined, but also some new opportunities and favorable effects. It is necessary to go over
to adaptation of the sectors to the possible climate changes in order to meet the challenges,
which the country will face with during the decades in the end of the century.
2. CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY FRAMEWORK
Joint efforts of the governments
During the 1980s, the climate change related proofs were accumulated and the issue
was raised at a series of international conferences worldwide. The governments came to
realize what a big threat the climate change was, as well as the need for actions in this
field. They also became aware of the fact that they need to work in cooperation to achieve
success.
The climate change is a global problem, since on the one hand there will be no
country which will remain unaffected by it, and on the other — all countries generate more
or less greenhouse gases. Therefore, no state is in a position to solve the problem alone.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change under the auspices of UN
In 1988 the United Nations Organization created the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), which unites thousands of scientists from the whole world. Their
task is to evaluate the status of the scientific research and knowledge with regard to the
climate change, as well as its impact, through periodical preparation of detailed reports.
Several years of work are needed to prepare one report. The latest report, known as the
Fifth Assessment Report, was published in 2014. The conclusions, contained in it, are
pointing to the fact that doubtlessly the increased content of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere is mainly resulting from human activities. In the same report, a warning has
been made with regard to the eventual consequences, if nothing will be done.
In 2007, IPCC together with the former U.S. Vice President Al Gore was awarded
with a Nobel Prize for improving the public awareness about climate change. The awarding
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of the Nobel Peace Prize underlines to what extent the climate change is assessed as a
threat for the people’s security.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
In 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the states from the whole world took
the commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions to a level, “which will not result in
a dangerous climate change”. This global solution is in the base of the adopted UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which outlines the general
framework of the international efforts for coping with the challenges, caused by the climate
change. The Convention takes into consideration that the climate system is a shared
resource, whose stability may be influenced by the excessive presence of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Nowadays, UNFCCC is ratified by 194
states (practically by all internationally recognized sovereign countries).
The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994. Pursuant to its provisions, the
governments of the member states shall:
 collect and exchange information on greenhouse gas emissions, their national
policies and best practices – through the so called National notifications and annual
National greenhouse gas inventories;
 develop national strategies for mitigation of and adaptation to the expected climate
change implications;
 cooperate with each other in the preparation for the adaptation to the climate change
implications, including the provision of financial and technological support to the
developing countries.
UNFCCC adopts the principle of “joint but differentiated responsibilities”, according
to which the biggest share in the historical and present global greenhouse gas emissions
have the developed countries and therefore they should overtake binding commitments for
their reduction. The share in the global emissions with origin from the developing countries
is expected to increase having in mind their needs, related to the economic growth and
social development, for which they should be supported by the developed countries through
provision of technologies and through capacity building.
The Kyoto Protocol to UNFCCC
The Kyoto Protocol adopted in December 1997 is also based on the principle of “joint
but differentiated responsibilities”. This is the first legally binding global instrument,
engaging the developed countries with concrete quantitative reduction of their greenhouse
gas emissions. Pursuant to the Protocol, the industrialized states should as a whole reduce
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their emissions of six greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide (CO2); methane (CH4); dinitrogen
oxide (N2O); hydrofluorocarbons (HFC); perfluorocarbons (PFC) and sulphur hexafluoride
(SF6) – by about 5% compared with the levels of 1990 during the so called “first period“.
The Protocol was enacted on 16 February 2005, after ratification by the countries,
emitting 55% of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Nowadays it is ratified by 192
states. Bulgaria ratified the Kyoto Protocol with an act, approved by the National Assembly
on 17 July 2002.
The objectives of the individual countries, related to emission reduction, are included
in Annex B of the Protocol and refer to the states, listed in Annex І of the Convention
(“countries under Annex І“). They vary depending on the share in the global emissions’
level, the projections for the economies’ growth, the emission reduction potential, and the
possibilities for overtaking the costs.
During the First period of the Kyoto Protocol (2005 – 2012), the European Union
commitment is related to the reduction of the emissions compared with 1990 by 8%, of the
USA – by 7%, of Japan – by 6%, while for Russia it is 0%, and in Australia and Iceland the
emissions are allowed to increase by 8% and 10%. USA is the only country from the
countries, included in Annex І of the Convention (with concrete emission reduction
commitments), which has not ratified the Protocol.
The Protocol envisions achieving the reductions through reduction of the emissions
in the states themselves, as well as through investments in treatment or more eco-friendly
technologies in other countries (i.e. flexible mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol). The
Clean Development Mechanism for example, provides opportunities to the industrialized
countries to achieve their target levels, partially investing in emission reduction projects in
the developing countries. This in its turn helps the transfer of new technologies to the
poorer countries, which allows them to develop in a more eco-friendly manner. This
mechanism is the first of its kind worldwide system for investments and credits, related to
the environment. The Joint Implementation Mechanism is operating in parallel. It provides
an opportunity to the developed countries to invest in such projects on the territories of
other developed countries.
At the 17th Conference of the parties to UNFCCC in Durban, held in South Africa in
2011, aiming at preventing and “idle period” before the enactment of a new. global and
legally binding agreement of the countries under the Kyoto Protocol (whose first period
expired in the end of 2012), the EU member states agreed to continue the period of their
commitments under it for another five or eight years (from 1 January 2013 until the end of
2017, or until the end of 2020, depending on the progress under the new agreement).
The European Union and its member states have become engaged with a collective
objective of 20% reduction of the greenhouse gases emissions by 2020 compared with
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1990. Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, Iceland, Australia, Ukraine, Monaco and
Liechtenstein also participate in the Second period of the Kyoto Protocol.
According to the annual report on the national inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in the
end of the First commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, Bulgaria has achieved 49,9 %
reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions, compared to the base year (1988), many times
higher than the overtaken commitment.
For the whole EU-28 the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions in the end of 2012 is
19.2 % compared with the base 1990 year.
The need for a new global agreement on climate change
The Kyoto Protocol is a key step towards the reduction in the greenhouse gas
emissions. Considering the projections of the scientists though, that the global warming
during our century will be accelerated if no additional actions will be undertaken, much
more ambitious measures will be needed during the period until 2020.
In December 2007, after two-years of informal negotiations, all states which had signed
UNFCCC, decided to start formal negotiations to achieve international agreement for the
period after 2012. The agreement should be concluded until the end of 2015 — at UN
Conference on Climate Change in Paris and should be enacted by 2020.
It is of key importance for the European Union this new agreement to involve actions
on the part of all countries with high emission levels, in this number USA, as well as
economic giants such as China and India. By 2020, the greenhouse gas emissions from all
developing countries taken together are expected to exceed those of the industrialized
countries.
In addition to that, Europe is determined through the agreement to achieve
guarantee that the global warming will be by 2°C lower than the pre-industrial level. Bigger
increase could lead to a more essential risk for natural disasters and reduced food and
water stocks. In order to avoid similar dangerous climate change dimensions by 2050, the
worldwide emissions should be reduced by more than half of their values during 1990.
What is EU doing to combat climate change?
On a worldwide scale the European Union occupies leading position in the fight
against climate change. As an economic power EU has the obligation to serve as an
example, even though the released by it emissions are only 12 % of the global emissions.
The European Union has proved that the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions
may go hand in hand with the improvement of the standard and quality of life of the people.
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Within the period 1990—2012, the total EU gross domestic product has increased by 45 %,
while the total greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 19 %. As a result of this, the
intensity of the greenhouse gas emissions in the EU has decreased by almost one half
between 1990 and 2012. The termination of the interdependence between the economic
activity and the greenhouse gas emissions exists in all member states.
Accounting for this, in March 2007, the EU managers have reached an agreement
on an ambitious and long-term strategy in the field of energy and climate change. It
includes the following objectives:
 Reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions in EU by at least 20% by 2020 and
respectively by 30%, if other industrialized states overtake similar commitments
within the framework of the international agreement, which is currently under
negotiation.
 Increasing the use of renewable energy sources by 2020, such as for example the
wind and solar energy, so that their share will reach 20 % of the total used energy.
 Reduction by 20 % of the energy consumption by 2020 through the improvement of
the energy efficiency of a wide range of devices and machines, such as automobiles,
TV sets and conditioners.
In implementation of this strategic framework, the legislative package “Climate and
Energy” outlines the framework of the active EU policy on climate change for the period
2013-2020. The package of legislative measures is related to the revision of the existing
since 2005 scheme for trading with emission allowances at Community level; establishing
differentiated ceilings on the greenhouse gas emissions for the sectors outside the scheme
(transport, construction, agriculture, waste); formulation of the binding national objectives
for increasing the share of the renewable energy sources in the energy balance, and
introduction of rules for promoting the new carbon capture and storage technologies.
The objective for greenhouse gas emissions is common for the EU member states. For the
sectors outside the scheme for Bulgaria, an individual commitment has been defined, which
allows emissions’ increase by 20% compared with their 2005 level. The aim of Bulgaria for
RES share in the end energy consumption by 2020 is established at 16%, in this number
10% share of the biofuels in the end consumption of transport fuels.
EU emissions trading scheme
Doubtlessly, the most essential measure, developed within the framework of the
European policy on climate change, is the EU emissions trading scheme, which was
initiated in 2005. It is the first in the world international system for trading with carbon
dioxide and is the cornerstone of the EU strategy for greenhouse gas emission reductions
in the member states in a cost-effective manner. Since the beginning of 2008, the scheme
has covered also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EU scheme for trading with
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allowances of greenhouse gas emissions encourages the investments in production with
low carbon emission levels. The scheme is based on the “cap and trade” principle. It
functions in the following manner: each year the EU governments determine for each of the
power stations and each of the big industrial enterprises allowances for a given quantity of
CO2 emissions. The enterprises generating less CO2 can sell the unused allowances to
other enterprises, which are not doing so well. This provides them with a financial incentive
tor educe their emissions. The enterprises, which exceed the emission limitations and do
not cover them with emission rights, bought from others, are subject to serious penalties.
Thus, the emission trading scheme reduces the total costs for reduction of the emissions,
ensuring their reduction on the place, where this is cheapest to be made.
Since 2012, the system was expanded to cover the emissions of the commercially
used airplanes, flying to/ from European airports.
At present, EU ETS covers more than 11 000 power plants and energy intensive industrial
enterprises, which together generate almost one half of the CO 2 emissions in the EU
(Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein also participate).
Bulgaria is included by right in the EU ETS after its accession to the EU in 2007, but
in practice its actual participation started after the approval of the National allocation plan
for greenhouse gas emissions for the second trading period (2008-2012) with EC decision
of April 2010.
The EU emissions trading scheme has three periods: 2005 – 2007; 2008 – 2012;
2013 – 2020.
The third period of EU ETS (in which we are at the moment) is characterized by:
 harmonized approach – joint emission ceiling in the EU, instead of 28 national
ceilings;
 reserve for new participants (newly built installations, or such with significantly
increased capacity), established at EU level (5% of the total number of allowances
for allocation);
 inclusion of new sectors and gases;
 unified register of the greenhouse gas emission allowances;
 gradual increase of the trading allowances at the expense of these, which have been
allocated free-of-charge;
 harmonized rules for free-of-charge allocation of allowances for the installations and
the aviation operators, based on ambitious indicators;
 100% trading of the allowances for energy production (Bulgaria has made use of the
opportunity for derogation from this requirement, involving gradual transition).
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2030 Framework for climate and energy policy of the EU
At the October Council meeting in 2014, the leaders of the 28 EU member states,
among which is also Bulgaria, reached an agreement and approved the conclusions of the
European Council on the Policy framework for climate and energy for the period 2020 to
2030. The approved by the European Council conclusions guarantee fair share of the
efforts and solidarity among the member states, smooth transition to low-carbon economy
in a cost-effective manner, clear incentive for the industry, preservation of the
competitiveness and ambitious message addressed to the international partners.
The main accents of the conclusions in the field of climate change policy may be
summarized as follows:
 At the EU level there is an obligatory target of 40% reduction of the greenhouse gas
emissions by 2030 compared with the 1990 levels. A binding objective of 27%
renewable energy sources has been adopted, as well as and indicative objective of
27% energy efficiency. EU is preserving its leadership in the fight against climate
change before the Paris Conference (December 2015), which is crucial for the
signing of a new global agreement on the climate;
 EU
ETS
will
continue
to
be
consolidated
and
restructured;
Special attention is paid to the sectors in the economy, which are endangered by
“carbon leakage" (production outsourcing in third countries outside the EU, in which
there are no strict limitations). The allocation of free-of-charge allowances for these
sectors will continue and the rules will be revised and improved to preserve the
competitiveness of the European economy;
 Member states with gross domestic product (GDP) equal to less than 60% of the EU
average are provided the opportunity to allocate free-of-charge allowances for
modernization of the energy sector by 2030, amounting to not more than 40% of the
total number of allowances, which will be provided for tendering. Thus, a shock
increase in the electricity price is avoided for these states;
 Mechanisms for solidarity and for cost compensation, which will occur for some
member states in relation to the implementation of the policy framework, have been
envisioned:
A new reserve, equal to 2% of the total number of allowances for member states with
GDP lower than 60% of the EU average, will be deposited into a fund for implementation of
energy efficiency projects aiming at modernization of their energy sector. By 2030,
guaranteed shares are envisioned for the relevant member states, among which is
Bulgaria, and the allocation of the money from the fund will be accomplished on the base of
a combined criterion, which includes GDP and verified emissions;
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10% of the total number of tender allowances will be allocated to the member states
with GDP below 90% of the EU average (in this number Bulgaria), in addition to the due to
them allowances, with the aim to achieve solidarity, growth and intersystem connections in
the energy sector;
The scope of the active program for financing low-carbon energy demonstration
projects (NER300) will be extended to cover also low-carbon innovations in the industry,
mobilizing the revenues from the sale of 400 million allowances;
 In the sectors outside the Scheme, the flexible mechanisms will be
encouraged with the aim to achieve cost efficient joint efforts of the member states. As a
main criterion for distribution among them of the efforts directed towards achieving the
objective for greenhouse gas emission reduction, will be GDP per capita of the
population. The emissions from sector “Land use, land-use change and forestry" will
also be reported after 2020.
 Main objective of the Framework until 2030 is the achieving of competitive
low-carbon economy of the EU, energy security and completion of the internal energy
market, mobilization of investments and setting up EU ambitious targets by 2030 for
greenhouse gas emission reduction aiming at reaching an international agreement on
the climate at a Conference of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) in Paris during 2015. After the international conference of the
parties to the UNFCCC in Paris during December 2015, the European Council will
revise again the elements in the 2030 Framework package in view of reporting on the
achieved progress related to the international negotiations.
National policy on climate change
The policy of Bulgaria in the field of climate change is based on two main aspects,
related on the one side with the international commitments, overtaken by the country with
the ratification of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the
Kyoto Protocol, and on the other – with the European legislation in this field.
Main institutions, which have competences in the field of climate change are:
Ministry of Environment and Water – leading institution
Executive Environment Agency
Ministry of Energy
Sustainable Energy Development Agency
Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Ministry of Finance
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Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Exterior
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Climate Change Mitigation Act
The climate change policy has fully horizontal nature and requires active
participation of all bodies, which have competences in this field.
The Climate Change Mitigation Act (CCMA) provides general regulation of the public
relations, linked to the implementation of the climate change policy. It establishes the
competent bodies, which shall implement the climate policy and stipulates their powers,
outlines the rights and responsibilities of the affected countries within the frameworks of the
different procedures and the main activities and processes, through which the Republic of
Bulgaria shall implement its obligations in the field of climate change at international and
EU level.
CCMA includes provisions, which regulate the accomplishment of the national
greenhouse gas emission inventory, as well as the flexible mechanisms under the Kyoto
Protocol – international trading with assigned emission units, joint implementation
mechanism and clean development mechanism.
The legislation related to the participation of Bulgaria in the EU ETS has been
developed, ensuring the normative regulation of:
-
-
Conducting tenders for greenhouse gas emission allowances, determination of the
main participants in the tenders and the contractor for the function “auctioneer“ for
Bulgaria;
Free-of-charge allocation of allowances to the operator of installations, participating
in EU ETS;
Transitional free-of-charge allocation of allowances for the modernization of the
electricity production;
Rules for monitoring and reporting of the greenhouse gas emissions by the operators
of installations and the navigation operators within EU ETS coverage.
Administrative penal provisions, helping the observation of the rules on the part of
operators of stationary installations and navigation operators have been introduced.
The administering of the National registry for trading greenhouse gas emission
allowances has been regulated.
There is a normative regulation of the obligation of the producers and importers of
liquid fuels for the transport to achieve during greenhouse gas emission reduction per
energy unit from the complete life cycle of the supplied liquid fuels by 6 % compared with
the average EU level for 2010 within 1 January 2011 - 31 December 2020.
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A competent body shall be established, which shall undertake measures to
implement the obligations for the sectors outside EU ETS;
The voluntary emission reduction scheme is further developed. It covers activities,
installations and persons, for whom there are no international obligations for greenhouse
gas emission reduction. The putting of the system into operation provides additional
mechanism for accomplishing greenhouse gas emission reductions, creates prerequisites
for achieving compassion and public awareness, regarding the climate change mitigation
activities.
The manner of spending the revenues from the sale through a tender of the
greenhouse gas emission allowances from installations and aviation activities, allocated to
the Republic of Bulgaria, depending on the share of the state’s emissions during 2007, is
regulated.
Third National Action Plan on Climate Change 2013 – 2020
The main strategic objective of the Third National Action Plan on Climate Change
(NAPCC) is to outline the framework of action in the fight against the climate change during
the period 2013-2020 and to direct the efforts of the country towards actions, leading to a
reduction of the negative impact of the climate changes and implementation of the
overtaken responsibilities.
The Third Action Plan on Climate Change envisions concrete measures for reducing
the greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors and these measures comply with the country
policy in the field of climate change, as well as with the emission reduction potential of the
national economy. The total effect of the envisioned measures will guarantee the
implementation of the overtaken responsibilities and achievement of the European
objectives, which are legally binding for our country.
The biggest share in the greenhouse gas emissions in the country is attributed to the
Energy sector, which determines its primary importance for the implementation of the
national objectives regarding their reduction. The production of electrical and thermal
energy from coals contributes to more than 90% of the emitted greenhouse gases in the
sector, where the main emission reduction potential is concentrated. The policies and
measures in the Energy sector, which are envisioned in the Plan, are based on these,
included in the Energy Strategy of Bulgaria by 2020 and in the National Renewable Energy
Action Plan.
The measures include cleaner production of electricity by the existing coal based
power plants; transition to lower-carbon electrical energy mix; development of the district
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heating system as an instrument for low-carbon energy production; accelerated penetration
of decentralized energy production; development of low-carbon networks for transmission
of electricity and natural gas.
Sector “Living Style and Services” is characterized by a trend towards increased
greenhouse gas emissions, which is determined by the improvement in the living standard
and respectively – by increased household energy consumption. The measures in this
sector are based on the Energy Strategy of Bulgaria by 2020 and the National indicative
objective under Directive 2006/32/ЕC and are directed mostly towards increasing the
energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. There is a significant potential
for emission reductions in the sector.
The Waste sector is especially important, possessing a very big emission reduction
potential. It appears to be one of the main sources of greenhouse gases in three main
directions – emissions form waste disposal, waste water treatment and waste incineration.
The measures are concentrated mainly in the sub-sector “Waste Disposal”, which has the
largest share in the emission levels. A significant part of the envisioned measures in this
sector may be achieved without the investment of especially large financial resource, which
makes them highly efficient.
The importance of undertaking measures in the “Transport“ sector is determined by
the fact, that it is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, marking continuous
growth, but neglected to a high extent with regard to its climate change impact. Most
important greenhouse gas emitters are the cars, followed by the heavy trucks. In this
connection, the main measures in the sector are directed towards optimal balance in the
use of the potential of the different types of transport, as well as towards reducing the
transport emissions (development of electrical transport, use of bicycles, etc.); reducing the
consumption of conventional fuels; carriage diversification (intermodal terminals), etc.
The conducted economic analysis has evaluated the possibilities for undertaking
measures by sectors from view point of the economic development – i.e. efficient emission
reduction without production and consumption reduction.
The value of the expenditures for the envisioned measures is evaluated to BGN
10.575 billion or 4.9% of the total investments in the economy for this period.
The 2014-2020 Operational Program Environment will contribute to the greenhouse
gas emission reduction in the country, which will help to achieve the objective of the
“Europe 2020“strategy for 20% reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions, compared to
1990 levels. Such measures are envisioned in connection with the treatment of waste
waters from settlements, more concretely building/rehabilitation/reconstruction of facilities
for treating sediments from Waste Water Treatment Plants and with the supply of needed
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equipment, including already constructed treatment plants – with a priority, aiming at
improving their qualitative indicators for their subsequent use for energy purposes. The
implementation of these measures will contribute to the implementation of Third National
Action Plan on Climate Change 2013-2020 and will have a direct effect on the greenhouse
gas emission reduction.
About 16% of the funds under Operational Program “Environment“ will be directed
towards implementation of measures for household waste management in compliance with
the waste management hierarchy under the Waste Framework Directive and identified as
priority measures under the National Waste Management Plan.
Analysis and assessment of the risk and the vulnerability of the sectors in the
Bulgarian economy with regard to the climate changes
With the aim to reduce the country’s vulnerability with regard to the climate changes
and to improve the capacity for adapting the natural, social and economic systems to the
unavoidable negative impacts resulting from the climate change, the Ministry of
Environment and Water started the preparation of a National Adaptation Strategy (NAS).
The strategy should be prepared by the end of 2017 together with all competent institutions.
A stepwise approach to the strategy development has been adopted. The first stage
ended in the beginning of June 2014 with the development of a framework document
“Analysis and assessment of the risk and the vulnerability of the sectors in the
Bulgarian economy in relation with the climate changes”.
In the strategy, a team of scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS),
the Sofia University, University of Construction, Architecture and Geodesy, the Forest
Institute, etc. made a risk assessment of the most characteristics for our geographic region
natural disasters, based on climate models and scenarios for Bulgaria. The sectors,
covered by the framework document, are: agriculture, waters, urban environment, energy,
transport, construction and infrastructure, ecosystems and biodiversity, human health and
tourism, and attention has been also paid to the cross-border cooperation regarding issues,
related to the impact of the climate changes.
The availability of national or regional risk assessments for disaster management
purposes, which take into consideration the adaptation to climate change, is a preliminary
(ex-ante) conditionality for absorption of money from the EU funds during the next
programming period (2014 – 2020). It is envisioned that at least 20% of the EU budget will
be designated for climate-related activities, and a part of them will be used for adaptation
measures.
The second stage in the development of the Adaptation Strategy should build on the
collected and evaluated data in the framework document and through formulation and
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economic analysis, as well as concrete measures should fully shape the strategic actions,
which will decrease the vulnerability of our country towards the climate change implications.
The Strategy will cover the period up to 2030.
The overall adaptation strategy will represent a package of documents, which
besides the framework document will integrate the developed analysis “Financial disaster
risk management and insurance options for climate change adaptation in Bulgaria”.
The document was prepared with the financial and technical assistance of the World Bank
and its objective is to analyze the role and the importance of the insurance business for
preventing the risks, which occur as a result of the climate change and the undertaking of
adaptation measures. The analysis shows that the contribution of the insurance for limiting
the scope and level of the losses, resulting from the impact of extreme climate phenomena,
can be seen as an adaptation measure.
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3. INDIVIDUAL LEVEL MEASURES
Each European citizen is responsible for 11 tons of greenhouse gas emissions
annually, out of which almost 9 tons are СО2 emissions.
The households use one third of the energy, consumed in the EU, and therefore are
responsible for about 20 % of the energy-related СО2 emissions in the EU. 70 % of the
energy in the households is used to heat the homes, 14 % — for hot water, and 12 % — for
lighting and electrical devices.
The passenger cars generate 10% of the СО2 emissions in the EU.
Europe is a home for only 7% of the world population, but it uses 20% of the
resources of the world’s ecosystem to provide fibers, food and energy, as well as for waste
absorption.
One European citizen generates 1 kilogram of waste per day. Each year we produce
waste from packages, which weigh as much as 4000 Eiffel towers and these quantities
keep increasing.
Each has his/her role in the fight against the climate change.
Here is a list of the things, which each can do easily, and this will also reduce
the electricity and heating costs in the household!
REDUCE!
 Do not overheat your home. Lowering the temperature by just 1°С can result in a
reduction of the family heating bill of the by up to 7%. 70% from the total used
energy the households goes for heating.
 When you air your room, leave the window wide open for several minutes and then
close it, instead of letting the heat leave the room for a long time.
 Regularly defrost the refrigerator. This may save up to 30% of the used energy.
 Do not set the refrigerator to maximum cooling. When the temperature in the
refrigerator is below 5°С, it only consumes more energy; the food will not be
preserved fresh for a longer time.
 Don’t put hot or warm dishes in the refrigerator. Leave them first to cool and only
then put them in the refrigerator.
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SWITCH OFF!
 Don’t forget to switch off the lamps when you don’t need them.
 Don’t leave the TV, stereo device or the computer in a standby mode. On the
average, 45% of the energy, which a TV set uses is namely during the standby
mode. If all Europeans do not use this mode, the saved energy will be enough to
cover the needs of such a country as Belgium.
 In addition to that, don’t leave your mobile phone connected to the charger when the
battery is full. In this case 95% of the energy is lost and only 5% are used for
charging the phone.
 The energy saving bulbs last longer and use 5 times less electricity compared with
the normal bulbs.
 When selecting a new household device (refrigerator, washing machine, etc.), it is a
good idea to think about such one, which has European label A + on it, since this is a
sign that the relevant device is energy efficient.
 If you close the tap, when brushing your teeth, you will save several liters of water
each time.
RECYCLE!
 When you shop, take a shopping bag and not a plastic single-use bag.
 Throw the used glass package in the special containers for glass and separate the
paper, carton and aluminum boxes (cans) from the remaining waste. For aluminum
cans’ recycling we need ten times less energy, compared to the production of new
cans. The enterprises use much less energy when they produce paper from old
newspapers, compared with paper production from wood pulp.
 If you have a garden, compost the biologically degradable waste from your
household.
 Select products, for which smaller quantity of packaging materials have been used,
when possible buy packages, which may be refilled or replenished.
WALK!
 Avoid travelling in a car at a short distance (e.g. up to several kilometers). Instead of
that, walk or use a bicycle.
 For travelling at a longer distance, think whether it is not a better option to use a bus
or a train.
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 When you can do that, avoid travelling with an airplane, because the airplanes
release enormous СО2 quantities in the atmosphere. Aviation is the most rapidly
increasing source of СО2 emissions.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
 Plant a tree! Five trees absorb about one ton of СО2 throughout their whole life cycle.
 Buy mainly local goods. Thus, you will not only encourage the home production, but
will also reduce the СО2 emissions, resulting from their transportation to far-off
destinations.
 In the shops and supermarkets search for goods with the European label (stylized
small flower).
 Use as little paper as possible: make two-sided photocopies. Use the electronic mail.
 Eat less meat. Meat production loads the atmosphere with the highest СО2 amounts.
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Useful web sites, related to climate change:
Ministry of Environment and Water:
http://www.moew.government.bg/?show=top&cid=5
Executive Environment Agency:
http://eea.government.bg/
European Commission, DG “Environment”
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/environment/index_en.htm
The European Commission’ Public Communication Campaign on Climate Change:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/campaign/index_bg.htm
European Commission’s website on climate change-related activities:
http://ec.europa.eu/climateaction/
http://ec.europa.eu/clima/publications/docs
European Environment Agency
www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate
http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and
Kyoto Protocol
www.unfccc.int/
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
www.ipcc.ch/
United Nations Environment Program
www.unep.org/themes/climatechange/
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