Bulgaria Approves Draft Amendments to Climate Change Mitigation Act to Meet EU Emissions Targets

Bulgaria's Council of Ministers has taken a significant step towards reducing the country's greenhouse gas emissions by approving draft amendments to the Climate Change Mitigation Act. The proposed revisions aim to transpose two directives and three regulations from the EU's Fit for 55 Package, which targets a reduction of at least 55% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The changes are necessary to implement new EU regulations and directives that entered into force in 2023. The draft amendments also include setting a long-term national target for achieving climate neutrality and zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement and EU's European Climate Law.

Key Takeaways:

• The draft amendments seek to transpose two EU directives and three regulations related to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the contribution of air transport to the Union's emissions reduction target.
• The proposed revisions aim to implement new regulations and directives that entered into force in 2023, including the extension of EU ETS to maritime transport and the monitoring of additional greenhouse gases.
• The draft amendments establish a long-term national target for achieving climate neutrality and zero net greenhouse gas emissions not later than 2050 in accordance with the Paris Agreement and EU's European Climate Law.
• The Council of Ministers is required to introduce new national measures or changes in existing ones for the implementation of the regulations.
• The EU directives and regulations being transposed concern the functioning of the EU ETS, the contribution of air transport to the Union's emissions reduction target, the extension of EU ETS to maritime transport, and the monitoring of additional greenhouse gases.

Statistics:

• EU's target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 under the Fit for 55 Package.
• 2023: the year the EU directives and regulations entered into force.
• 2050: the target date for achieving climate neutrality and zero net greenhouse gas emissions in Bulgaria, in accordance with the Paris Agreement and EU's European Climate Law.
• 2030: the target year for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% under the Fit for 55 Package.

Sources:

• Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria, [Date not specified, presumably 2023]
• Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 ('European Climate Law')
• Paris Agreement