Green Policy Institute - who we are?

Founded: 2006

Statute: Foundation

Founders/Memebrs of the Board: Vasil Kadrinov (sociology/human rights), Dentza Petrova (sociology/eco-education, energy), Ivaylo Hlebarov (computers/waste management, EU funds), Neli Petrova, Petko Kovatchev (economist/energy, EU funds), Petko Tzvetkov (biology), Todor Todorov (history/climate change)

Other experts: Dragomir Konstantinov (economist/regional development, EU funds), Iordan Velikov (agribusiness/EU funds), Evgenia Avramova (lawyer)

Mission: The mission of the organisation is to change the development pattern of Bulgaria and region from business-as-usual to sustainable development.

Goals: The main goals of GPI are:
1.To work for generating and for the enforcement of various green policies in Bulgaria towards sustainable development, protection of the environment, strengthening of democracy, respect for human rights, and improvement of the welfare of Bulgaria's citizens.
2.To disseminate and work for enforcing, in Bulgaria, the various green policies generated within the international community.

Work:
1.Energy & Climate: new energy projects in Bulgaria (Belene NPP, oil pipelines), energy strategy for Bulgaria, promoting energy efficiency & renewables (alternative energy scenarios)
2.EU funds: monitoring of EU funds, civil mid-term report, campaigning on various projects
3.Regional Development: implementation of Rio Conventions on local and regional level
4.Sustainable Development: work on Bulgaria's SD strategy

GPI's work includes providing trainings and education, organising lectures, presentations of experts and debates, campaigning, doing research and publishing analyses and reports, providing media with its findings, etc.

Publications:
Citizens’ control on public funds for environmental protection (2006)
Bulgarian energy: 2006 and further (2006)
Analysis of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Republic of Greece for co-operation in the construction and exploitation of “Bourgas – Alexandrupois” oil pipeline (2007)
Environmental Effects of the Closure of Uranium Mining in Bulgaria (2008)
Preliminary Analyses of the Impact of Bourgas – Alexandrupois Oil Pipeline on Natura 2000 Zones (2008)
Stimulating Public Participation for Integrating Global Environmental Issues into Strategies and Plans for Regional Development and Spatial Planning in Bulgaria (2009)

Membership in various NGO coalitions:
NO to Belene NPP! Coalition
Save Black Sea Coalition
Civil Coalition for Sustaianble Use of EU Funds in Bulgaria
Bulgaria – Zone, Free of Cyanides! Coalition