The Bulgarian green building council managed to successfully revive the now traditional Sustainability Forum Sofia!

Our council brought together key sector professionals at government, expert and business level to present and discuss the latest trends in sustainable urban planning and buildings, green financing and EU taxonomy.

    This high profile event was opened by the minister of environment and waters Mr.Borislav Sandov, followed by the deputy minister of regional development and public works Mr.Stefan Asparuhov. The floor was afterwards given to Deputy mayor of Vidin – Ms. Desislava Todorova and our chairman – Mr. Ivan Zaykov.

    The Bulgarian Green Building Council participates in the Making city project –a Horizon 2020 project for positive energy districts, which is being implemented in Bulgaria in the city of Vidin. One of the main goals of the Forum was to familiarize the audience with the opportunities for the sustainable urban planning, given by these zones. Ms. Angelina Tomova from Green Synergy Cluster and Mr. Emilio Miguel-Mitre from the Green Building Council of Spain took part in the Making city presentations as part of the international consortium, sitting behind the project.

   The event, dedicated to sustainable urban development gave us the chance also to introduce the options and challenges of the green financing and EU taxonomy implementation. Leading financial market players and EU taxonomy experts gave their valuable points of view – Mr. Teodor Marinov, CEO of United Bulgarian Bank, Mr. Julian Mihov, Director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Bulgaria, Mr. Emil Velitchkov, Director of EU programmes department in the Bulgarian-American Credit Bank, Mr. Rumen Lyutskanov (attorney-at –law), legal expert in the field and arch. Vessela Valtcheva-McGee – EU taxonomy and green building certification expert.

    Famous local and international professionals in office buildings investments and project development, explained why green office buildings are the best choice for investors and inhabitants. Ms. Adina Welsh and Mr. Berndt Steingruber on leading positions in Raiffeisen Property Holding International, arch. Alexander Daw, partner in Stephen George International, Mr. Alasdair Bernard, co-partner of BHP International, Ms. Tanya Kosseva-Boshova, Managing partner at Lion’s Head and Investments and Mr. Anton Slavchev, Director of Avison Young Bulgaria and Serdika offices are convinced that the future for business buildings investments belongs to the sustainable buildings.  

    Speaking about sustainable cities and buildings must always be inclusive of the materials, used in sustainable construction. Mr. Rosen Papazov, CEO of Holcim Cement Bulgaria, dipl.eng. Todor Dimitrov from Alukoenigstahl, Mr. Boyko Penev, from Xella Bulgaria and Mr. Ivan Zaykov, CEO of AGC Flat Glass Bulgaria discussed the necessity and benefits of the sustainable and low carbon construction materials and their role as main tool to achieve a green urban environment.

 

    "We believe that reviving the Sustainability Forum Sofia is an important step towards green urban development and finding sustainable solutions in the different aspects of green urban planning and construction is the only way to achieve the carbon neutrality goals, set by the Green deal. We are happy that once again we had the chance to show that moving this direction supports the urban transformation and brings a greener future for the generations to come."

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Ivan Zaykov

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Chairman, BGBC

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