ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Eliminating housing poverty in Bulgaria with focus on vulnerable groups

‘Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria’ is a public benefit foundation that works to improve housing conditions and eliminate housing poverty, and develops its activities in four key strategic areas – affordable housing construction, housing improvement financing, development of innovative products and market-based tools to improve the accessibility of housing improvements, participation in housing policies, strategic and programmatic documents.

Since launching its activity in 2001, Habitat Bulgaria has been promoting the idea of adequate housing as a basic human right and has been working to activate the public’s awareness towards eliminating housing poverty. Following the ideas and principles of partnership, community cooperation, volunteering, concern and respect for the needs of others, Habitat Bulgaria has so far built 12 new homes with the help of over 650 volunteers from more than 50 countries worldwide and has supported more than 6,000 partner families in 24 settlements in the country.

Focus on socially and ethnically vulnerable groups
The current project “Access to Energy Renovation” is addressing the severe situation of energy poverty in Bulgaria, with the focus on socially and ethnically vulnerable groups. For the “Access to Energy Renovation” project, Habitat Bulgaria carry out its advocacy activities in the following areas:

• Energy poverty and socially just differentiated grant support – priority of the low-income and energy-poor households;
• Advantages of the energy efficiency improvement of the housing stock;
• Advantages of the adoption of minimum energy performance standards;
• Carbon pricing, eco-design and energy labelling – advantages and importance.

While carrying out its activities, Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria works in close connection with a number of regional grassroot organizations in Bulgaria, mainly in the field of support for low income, social and ethnic vulnerable groups.

Learn more about this inspiring initiative

More inspiring initiatives

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Conserving Nature in Bulgaria since 1988

Green Balkans is a leading organization in the field of conservation of rare species and habitats in Bulgaria. The Organization was established in 1988 being Bulgaria’s oldest nature conservation NGO. Thanks to Green Balkans hundreds of volunteers and experts, as well as the international and national support, the Society achieved significant results in the preservation of Bulgaria’s unique natural heritage. Green Balkans has 25 correspondent centers – informal groups throughout the country – that give assistance to the activities.

Preserving Bulgarian wetlands
The organization has hundreds of projects and initiatives, but one of the longest running and still ongoing campaigns is the preservation of the wetlands in Bulgaria, such as Lake Pomorie, that are important parts of the Via Pontica bird migratory route. This route is important for birds to rest and feed during the migration period. 266 species of birds can be found on the territory of Lake Pomorie, most of which are rare and globally endangered species.

The work of Green Balkans for the protection of Lake Pomorie aims at restoring the natural state and biodiversity of the lake, its preservation and the adoption of economic practices that protect biodiversity. One of the most important activities is the annual “conservation brigade” of volunteers for cleaning of the lake and strengthening of the natural shores of the habitat each September.

Beneficiaries are the population of the town of Pomorie and the wetlands’ neighbouring settlements. The ongoing preservation of the natural habitats and resting places of more than 200 species of migratory birds has created good opportunities for development of ecologically-friendly tourism, most notably for ornithological observation. The initiative also facilitates different informational campaigns, exhibitions and guides teams of volunteers in the area of the Pomorie lake.

Other Green Balkans activities
– Conducted 300 campaigns and actions, 80 of which were of national significance;
– 160 texts proposed by the Green Balkans experts are included in the new Bulgarian environmental legislation;
– 25 cancelled environmentally unfriendly political and municipal decisions;
– four filed lawsuits, two of which were won;
– over 350 reports received from citizens about poaching, violations and corruption in the forestry and environmental protection sector and investigated by the Association’s experts;
– 180 cases of poaching, illegal logging and hunting, improper privatization of forest companies, substitutions, corrupt practices, etc. have been handed over to the prosecutor’s office and the responsible institutions.

Learn more about this inspiring initiative

More inspiring initiatives

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Better environmental policies and implementation in Bulgaria with the Green Laws initiative

Since 2014 the Green Laws Initiative has been monitoring the development and implementation of Bulgarian environmental legislation in the fields of Energy, Climate, Territorial planning, Rural development, Biodiversity and forests. Green Laws is a core part of the work of the non-profit organization Research Practices Association.

To enable advocacy for the development of better policies and the implementation of current laws, the Green Laws initiative is organizing expert workshops, public campaigns to engage citizens on the topics of environmental legislation, and public debates where decision-makers discuss their priorities with interested citizens. The initiative also engages in continuous monitoring and advocacy of the Bulgarian legislature in terms of sustainable development and greener laws and facilitates criminal proceedings.

Green development in rural areas
As one of the five main topics of the initiative is the green development of the rural areas in Bulgaria and the legislation for its achievement, to a great extent vulnerable groups in such areas are a natural focus. Apart from that, Green Laws benefits all Bulgarian citizens in its strive for a better and greener legislature.

Support for other projects
The initiative consists of a rather small team of highly skilled environmental and legal experts, but it is also an integral part of a much larger network of active citizens and volunteers, who constitute Bulgaria’s green movement. As such it has been providing the necessary legal expertise of many campaigns and initiatives.

Learn more about this inspiring initiative

More inspiring initiatives

Photo of Jonny Kennaugh from Unsplash

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Martin Felix Gajdusek within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the Suistainable Mobility research lines.  Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Veloevolution, Bulgaria

Veloevolution is a dynamic discussion platform and grassroots organization dedicated to promoting environmentally friendly modes of transport, with a particular emphasis on bicycle riding. It also takes an active role in open discussions concerning establishing relevant infrastructure for cycling.

A movement that empowers sustainable transportation choices:

The initiative aims to achieve the following:

• Facilitate the creation of legal and infrastructural facilities for safe cycling conditions.
• Create prerequisites for effective dialogue and cooperation between interested citizens and civil groups, businesses, media, and institutions to optimize the existing transport networks
• Enhance street safety for cyclists by implementing measures that mitigate risks and raise awareness among all road users.
• Promote bicycle transport as a more accessible, healthy and ecological alternative mode of transportation
• Stimulate the establishment of a culture of equality and tolerance among all road traffic participants
• Support cyclists and cycling associations from different settlements and unite them in various events, including resilience to pandemic restriction
• Carry out activities related to the sustainable development of transport

Find out more about the initiative 

More inspiring initiatives

Photo: bluecinema on CanvaPro

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Martin Felix Gajdusek within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the Climate Action Research Line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

 

Karadere, Bulgaria

Karadere is a wild area in Bulgaria with no infrastructure. The site is valuable for its invertebrate fauna and plants.

The area has witnessed a significant development due to a series of illegal procedures aiming to change the General Development Plan – the forests have been replaced with agricultural lands. Besides, Karadere have become popular among tourists; The beach and the surrounding forests are heavily crowded, and the site’s natural capacity is running out.

A civil reaction to save Karadere

After the decision of the government to grant an investor the status of a priority investment project for the development of Karadere, activists organised mass protests throughout the country and more than 5,800 people signed up for the preservation of the area in less than a month. Leaders of this movement relied on social media to attract more participants and further promote the case; they created a Facebook group that gathered a community of 10 000 dedicated followers advocating to solve the issue.

Several activities were held to increase the number of volunteers to protect the area and fight against the violations. Among these:

• Arranging meetings with locals affected by the issue
• Organising clean-ups at the beginning and the end of the Karadere season to preserve the area.
• Building compost toilets together with Ideas for Change
• Displaying informative boards about Karadere, responsible camping rules and a map of the toilet facilities
• Protesting in Sofia and other places in Bulgaria
• Facilitating ecological assessments of the area
• Providing legal counselling and advice.

Find out more here.

More inspiring initiatives

Photo: Dielemans Photos on Unsplash

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Martin Felix Gajdusek within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the Climate Action Research Line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

National Association of Volunteers, Bulgaria

The National Association of Volunteers (NAVRB) was established in the Republic of Bulgaria in 2014. The project aims to assist professional services in risk prevention and disaster management through building, maintaining and developing a network of passionate volunteers.

Leading a culture of risk management

The organisation serves as a communication and coordination hub between the regional and national institutions, the local authorities and the volunteer groups. The association’s collaborative approach has been a key to risk effectiveness and a significant win for NAVRB; the team has led a culture of risk management through launching a campaign to attract like-minded volunteers from all sectors. To ensure that all members acquire the required knowledge and improve the cross-border response capacity, experts provided extensive practical training courses, and educational programmes.

Protecting the Most Vulnerable in Emergencies

To build resilient communities, the organisation invested significant resources and efforts in small villages as individuals with vulnerabilities demand more targeted assistance to remain safe and to prepare for, react to, and recover from, disaster events.

Find out more here.

More inspiring initiatives