Bulgaria's water strategies for the transition to a climate-neutral and sustainable society (LIFE WatClima 101074157)

Project “LIFE WatClima”: The Water Sector in Bulgaria and Climate Challenges (LIFE 101074157)

The project is funded under the LIFE Programme (101074157 LIFE21-GIC-BG-LIFE WatClima) and covers the territory of the entire country of Bulgaria in the water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector.

Coordinating Beneficiary and Partners

• Coordinating Beneficiary: Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW).
• Beneficiaries: Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) and NGO Club “Economy 2000”.

Overall Objective

Increasing water scarcity, floods, extreme weather events, and declining water quality due to climate change pose serious challenges to the water sector. The overall objective of the project is to support Bulgaria’s preparedness for the challenges facing the water sector in the field of climate action over the next decade.

General Objectives of the Project

• To support Bulgaria’s preparation for climate-related challenges in the water sector over the next decade;
• To plan the mobilisation of investments for the implementation of water policies addressing all climate change issues over the next decade;
• To improve the governance of competent public authorities and organisations at national and regional levels in the relevant field, including through capacity building and enhancement for planning and implementing climate action policies and engaging stakeholders and civil society;
• To catalyse and replicate the successful results and practices of the project in the operations of all WSS operators in the country.

Specific Objectives

1. Development of two long-term national strategies in the water sector integrating climate objectives into water sector policies in Bulgaria and addressing the transition to climate neutrality and a climate-resilient society: the Strategy for Development and Management of Water Supply and Sanitation in the Republic of Bulgaria and the National Strategy for Management and Development of the Water Sector in the Republic of Bulgaria.
2. Strengthening the capacity of the administrations of the beneficiary institutions (MoEW and MRDPW) to analyse and plan long-term policies and specific measures in the water sector addressing climate change policies and objectives, as well as to plan investment mobilisation.
3. Building the capacity of WSS companies in the country to integrate climate neutrality transition and climate adaptation issues into their business development plans by developing pilot Climate Neutrality Transition Action Plans for two WSS companies (WSS Ltd. – Pernik and WSS Ltd. – Haskovo) and implementing small-scale demonstration investment measures.
4. Strengthening inter-institutional coordination in the development of strategic documents integrating climate-related issues into sectoral policies.
5. Raising awareness and creating a well-informed community of citizens and non-governmental organisations to act as partners, counterparts, and watchdogs of the administration.

Expected Results

• Establishment of a project management and implementation framework.
• Survey of citizen and business satisfaction with services provided in the water sector.
• Preparation and adoption (following public consultations and environmental assessment) of a draft National Strategy for Management and Development of the Water Sector in the Republic of Bulgaria.
• Preparation and adoption (following public consultation and environmental assessment) of a draft Strategy for Development and Management of Water Supply and Sanitation in the Republic of Bulgaria 2024–2034.
• Development of secondary legislation.
• Preparation of pilot Climate Action Plans for two WSS companies (Pernik and Haskovo).
• Development of Guidelines for preparing Climate Action Plans for WSS operators and delivery of training sessions.
• Implementation of demonstration projects in the two WSS companies.
• Development of an After-LIFE plan for the sustainability of project results.
• Mobilisation of investments and financial resources for the implementation of the two strategies.

More detailed information can be found on the official project website: https://lifewatclima.eu/

More information about the EU LIFE Programme can be found on the official programme website: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en