site.btaDeputy Environment Minister Addresses Children and Climate Action at COP28

Climate change undoubtedly affects the most vulnerable communities, including children, who are most susceptible to negative impacts due to developmental factors, said Deputy Environment Minister Reneta Koleva at a UNICEF event on children and climate organized within the framework of the Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, her Ministry said. 

She said changing the behaviour of all groups in society is an opportunity to address the issues of environmental sustainability and climate change. "The task ahead of us is to improve the understanding of society, especially children and young people, of the benefits of achieving zero pollution, energy and resource efficiency, preservation of natural capital, climate change and its consequences," Koleva added. 
 
Bulgaria is making significant efforts to this end and every year the regional structures of the Ministry conduct national campaigns to raise public awareness and culture to combat climate change.   
 
An example of the institutional efforts of the Ministry and its regional structures is the "Environmental Policies for Youth" programme implemented last year. 
 
Koleva said that the environmental education and the fight against climate change is also included in the national education standard in Bulgaria. 
 
Bulgaria was among the first countries to sign the UNICEF Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action. Within the framework of COP28, Bulgaria will host an event on children and climate on December 8. Participating will be Environment Minister Julian Popov, European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Suica, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Ecological Transition Environment Teresa Ribera, Belgian Environment Minister Zakia Khattabi.