Open Letter: For a Green Restart through Innovation

TO:

Mr. Boyko Borissov
Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria

CC:

Mr. Tomislav Donchev
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria

Mr. Emil Karanikolov
Minister of Economy of the Republic of Bulgaria

Mr. Emil Dimitrov
Minister of Environment and Water of Bulgaria

For a Green Restart through Innovation

An open letter by MOVE.BG, BESCO – The Bulgarian Startup Association, Sofia Startup, Founder Institute Sofia, Junior Achievement Bulgaria, Zero Waste Bulgaria, the Circular Economy Institute, and the Bulgarian Centre of Women in Technology (BCWT).

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
Dear Mr. Deputy Prime Minister,
Dear Ministers,

The coronavirus crisis has placed the world before serious social and economic challenges. At the same time, recovery after COVID-19 is also an opportunity for a new beginning: creating modern industries and new jobs through the stimulation of green innovation in the economy. Leaders of the European Union have united around the idea of a green, sustainable recovery based on new and digital technologies. Europe’s ambitious plan for a climate-neutral economy, embedded in the Green Deal, must not be postponed, and Bulgaria must be part of these efforts.

Our country will successfully move along the path of sustainable economic recovery after COVID-19 only if it stimulates the transition toward modern and clean industries that create new jobs and enable transformative and regenerative change through innovation, while safeguarding human health.

At the same time, Bulgarian innovative entrepreneurs are developing modern, high-tech green solutions that must be supported by the government and society. In schools and universities, we are educating the next generation of green and social entrepreneurs who will address environmental and societal crises. Moreover, zero-waste organizations and activists have built a vibrant community, promoting sustainable living practices.

Today, these communities are drivers of an economic and social culture with the potential to develop in harmony with nature and to prevent an even greater crisis related to climate change and the disruption of biological ecosystems. Investing in them today will contribute to the prosperity of our country and its достойно place in Europe and the world tomorrow.

Through this open letter, we call on the Bulgarian government to ensure that the country’s economic recovery follows the principles of sustainable growth and the objectives set out in the European Green Deal, including:

• investing in new and clean technologies that do not harm health or the environment;
• supporting innovation in industry;
• promoting environmentally friendly transport through incentives;
• decarbonizing the energy sector;
• improving the energy efficiency of buildings, with both environmental and economic benefits.

Now is the time to support startups developing innovative green, technology-based solutions, as well as entrepreneurs creating products and services with care for both people and nature. It is essential today to encourage businesses to transform their operations in line with environmental standards and to establish programmatic mechanisms at both local and national levels for the development of a circular economy. Equally important is the targeted promotion and dissemination of a culture of recycling and zero-waste living across society.

We urge the Bulgarian government to adopt without delay a program with concrete measures for transitioning the Bulgarian economy toward the green and sustainable policies outlined in the European Green Deal.

We believe it is necessary to take the following concrete steps without delay, and we express our readiness to contribute to their implementation within consultative formats:

• conducting an analysis of technological and regenerative development trends with the participation of the innovation community – both business and academia;
• defining the areas in which Bulgaria has developed technological capacity and outlining concrete measures for priority support of innovative companies developing advanced technological and green products and solutions in these key areas;
• adopting a program for widespread promotion and implementation of the principles of zero-waste living, carbon neutrality, and a regenerative economy in everyday practices.

Let us join forces and together protect our common home – the Earth. Let us support the building of a modern and sustainable economy that safeguards both our health and the health of the planet. Because our future tomorrow depends on our actions today.

Sign the letter!