PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Water resources are vital to the national security of Bulgaria. The extreme floods and droughts of recent years due to global climate change raise very serious concerns, and require the planning and application of strategic solutions. On the one hand, rainfalls exceed by far the normal range in different regions of the country, leading to floods with significant damages to infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, human property and, in some cases, loss of human life. On the other hand, the prolonged droughts lead to serious problems with water supply, including the declaration of a state of emergency in several regions of the country and temporary discontinuation of water supply to households and businesses. Freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity are exposed to risks due to the lack of runoff into the rivers. The first National Strategy for Management & Development of the Water Sector in Bulgaria was adopted in 2012 by the National Assembly and contained an Action Plan (for the long-term after 2022). A new strategy is now needed due to the emerging challenges facing the EU related to climate change. Furthermore, in 2014, the Bulgarian Council of Ministers adopted a National Strategy for Development & Management of the Water Supply & Sanitation Sector for the period 2014-2023, which also requires revision due to emerging climate-related challenges for the water supply and sewerage system. There is therefore an opportunity to revise these strategies in tandem, which is something not achieved previously. The coordination and joint efforts of the two leading ministries (MoEW and MRDPW) and the involvement of key stakeholders at the earliest stage of elaboration will minimise the risk of substantial delays in adoption, a problem often being faced in the past.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE WatClima project is an opportunity for developing two key water strategy documents, namely the National Strategy for Management & Development of the Water Sector in Bulgaria and National Strategy for Development & Management of the Water Supply & Sanitation Sector, in a synchronised manner, to build coherence and interdependence between them.
The project envisages capacity building of the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW), of key stakeholders, and of the Water Supply & Sewerage (WSS) operators for planning and implementation of actions in the water sector, to improve national water strategies that directly relate to climate change.
Specifically, the project aims to:
- Support Bulgaria’s preparation for the climate action challenges facing the water sector in the next decade.
- Plan the mobilisation of investments for the implementation of water policies, taking into account all climate change issues.
- Improve the governance of competent public authorities and organisations at national and regional levels, including by building and improving the capacity to plan and implement climate action policies, as well as by involving stakeholders and civil society in the process of elaboration and application of strategic documents in the water sector.
- Replicate the successful results of the project into the practices of all Water Supply & Sewerage (WSS) operators in Bulgaria.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Elaborate two long-term national strategies for the water sector, embedding the climate objectives into policies for the water sector in Bulgaria and addressing the transition towards a climate neutral and resilient society.
- Improve the capacity of the MOEW and MRDPW administrations to analyse and plan long-term policies and specific measures in the water sector, while addressing the policies and objectives in the field of climate change, and to plan the mobilisation of investments in water policies, while taking into account all climate change issues.
- Build the capacity of WSS operators for integration of climate neutrality and climate change adaptation aspects in their planning by elaboration of pilot action plans, development of methodological guidelines, and delivery of training for a least 130 employees of the WSS operators.
- Strengthen the inter-institutional coordination between MOEW and MRDPW for development of strategic documents and integration of climate issues into sectoral policies.
- Raise awareness and create a well-informed civil society as a partner, opponent and corrective of the administration regarding the national policies for transition of the water sector towards carbon neutrality and climate change adaptation.
