Environment

Mayor promises activists Sofia would install renewables to cut air pollution

Mayor activists Sofia renewables air pollution

Photo: Greenpeace Bulgaria

Published

December 23, 2020

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

December 23, 2020

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

After a campaign to make the capital city’s decision makers do more to reduce air pollution Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova met with representatives of Greenpeace Bulgaria and vowed to introduce more renewable energy installations on public buildings and backed the organization’s demands.

As the public consultation for a new air quality program in the city was ending and after almost five thousand citizens submitted suggestions, Mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova met with activists from Greenpeace Bulgaria. She accepted their gift, a snow globe with dirt in the water, symbolizing air pollution in the country’s capital.

Fandakova expressed willingness to build solar power units on more municipal buildings and pointed to a study for such a project in the city zoo. She also highlighted the waste treatment program for the region that includes the capital city.

Fandakova willing to cooperate with Greenpeace Bulgaria

The head of the Sofia Municipality, also known as Stolichna Municipality, invited the organization for a meeting early next year. “I fully share the concerns of Greenpeace Bulgaria and your desire to participate. There is a need for the participation of every person, every organization,” she said.

Sofia manages more than 600 buildings and it will examine the possibility to install solar panels on them, the mayor claimed

Fandakova said she fully supports Greenpeace Bulgaria’s demands and that the city government needs help on some of the issues. Sofia manages more than 600 buildings and it will examine the possibility to gradually implement the suggested measures, she asserted.

With regard to the program for the replacement of old heating devices, for which Greenpeace Bulgaria suggested should be upgraded with the option to use renewables, the mayor said the municipality is open for bolder measures. The scheme is for pellet stoves, gas, district heating and electricity.

Issues remain for transportation system

The local authority expects lawmakers to enable the mayor to regulate the classes of vehicles that can enter particular zones when forecasters expect higher air pollution in Sofia, she stressed.

At the moment, the city government hasn’t discussed the possibility to power electric vehicles with electricity from renewable sources, Fandakova acknowledged and revealed she is open to discuss the issue. The measures planned so far envisage compliance with air quality standards only in 2026, the organization underscored.

Greenpeace Bulgaria noted Fandakova has been the mayor of Sofia for 11 years, since succeeding current Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, and that the European Union launched a procedure two times against the Balkan state for excessive air pollution. The organization said it would push for support for prosumers and energy communities and the expansion of district heating with renewable sources that would exclude biomass and waste incineration.

The statement adds solar power projects should be directed at helping vulnerable groups overcome energy poverty.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

bih nova alumina waste energy

BiH’s Nova Alumina to install energy facility fueled by waste to replace coal

13 February 2025 - Aluminum and cement industry supplier Nova Alumina plans to build an energy facility that would use alternative fuels, to replace coal

energy community tnc mapping guide blueprint solar wind environment impact

Guide for mapping areas for solar, wind with minimized impact on environment in Energy Community

12 February 2025 - The secretariat and TNC released a guide for identifying priority areas for renewables that minimizes environmental and social conflicts

serbia ash cement eps coal Lafarge Elixir Group Moravacem

Serbia’s EPS, industry sign contracts on disposal of ash from coal-fired power plants

07 February 2025 - Power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije will sell 30 million tons of ash to Lafarge Serbia, Elixir Group and Moravacem

Floating solar power plants on small water bodies promote greenhouse gas emissions

Floating solar power plants on small water bodies add to greenhouse gas emissions

05 February 2025 - A new study shows that placing solar panels on small bodies of water increases greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 27 percent