Maria Minkova, Executive Director of the National Trust EcoFund (NTEF), participated in the panel discussion “The EU Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Chapter – Energy Efficiency, Investment and Innovation: Resilience by Design, Local Action and Just Investment”, held on 4 June as part of Green Transition Forum 6.0 in Sofia.
The discussion brought together representatives of international financial institutions, European initiatives, and organizations working in the fields of climate policy, energy efficiency, and sustainable development. Among the participants were experts from the World Bank, the EU Covenant of Mayors, the Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect, LIFE Care4Climate, and the Ethics Advice Mechanism to the European Commission.
The panel focused on the need to embed climate resilience, social fairness, and financial viability into investment planning from the very beginning. Participants discussed how cities and public institutions can transform strategic objectives into tangible projects that simultaneously reduce emissions, increase resilience to climate risks, and improve quality of life.
During her intervention, Maria Minkova presented NTEF’s experience in supporting municipalities and public institutions in implementing energy efficiency and sustainable development projects. She emphasized that successful climate projects should be easier to finance and implement at the local level, while also becoming more attractive for blended financing from different sources.
According to Maria Minkova, energy efficiency projects should be viewed not only as instruments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also as important climate adaptation measures that generate multiple additional benefits, including improved comfort, lower public expenditure, better public health outcomes, and greater resilience to extreme weather events.
She also highlighted the importance of assessing climate investments beyond traditional cost-efficiency criteria. In her view, investment decisions should take into account the broader social value of projects, including their contribution to community well-being, social cohesion, and long-term sustainability.
Green Transition Forum 6.0 took place from 1 to 5 June in Sofia and brought together representatives of European institutions, national governments, businesses, financial organizations, academia, and civil society to discuss key challenges and opportunities related to Europe’s green transition. NTEF’s participation in the forum reflects the Fund’s ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders and supporting the development and implementation of sustainable investments that benefit both society and the environment.