Bulgaria's Responsibility Towards The Environment

Bulgaria Republic of Bulgaria [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	45th best
Capital	Sofia
Land Area	108 560km21
Location	Europe, The Balkans
Population	7.1m2
Life Expectancy	71.80yrs (2017)3
GNI	$23 079 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	BG, BGR, 1005
Internet Domain	.bg6
Currency	Lev (BGN)7
Telephone	+3598

Bulgaria ranks 78th in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Bulgaria comes in the best 20 in its forested percent change 2000-2020₉. It does better than average for its score on the Green Future Index₁₀ (but low for Europe) and in its environmental performance₁₁. But, things could still be better. Bulgaria does worse than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₁₂, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, reducing annual meat consumption per person₁₃ (still low for Europe) and in energy to GDP efficiency₁₄.

1. Bulgaria's Responsibility Towards The Environment
2. Data Sets
   1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020
   2. Environmental Performance
   3. Energy to GDP Efficiency
   4. International Accords on the Environment
   5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment
   6. Meat Consumption
   7. Green Future Index
3. Links

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1. Bulgaria's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
	...
20	UK	74.4
21	Turkey	75.0
22	Belgium	75.3
23	Bulgaria	75.8
24	Latvia	77.7
25	Slovakia	80.8
26	Poland	81.0
27	Slovenia	82.1
28	Georgia	83.6
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
75	Cape Verde	75.6
76	Afghanistan	75.7
77	New Zealand	75.8
78	Bulgaria	75.8
79	Malawi	76.0
80	Benin	76.5
81	Australia	76.6
82	Botswana	76.8
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

2. Data Sets

2.1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020

#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better9
Pos.		Total9
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
16	Guam	16.7%
17	Puerto Rico	15.5%
18	Iran	15.2%
19	Bulgaria	14.9%
20	Chile	14.6%
21	Cape Verde	14.6%
22	Azerbaijan	14.2%
23	Jamaica	14.1%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Bulgaria ranks 19th-best in the world in terms of its forested percent change 2000-2020.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change_16,17. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km² of forest each year₁₈. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover_19,17, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_20,21. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.

The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation_22,20. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food₂₃, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon₂₄. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.₂₅.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover₁₇; the best from 2000-2020 are Scandinavia (13.8% ), The Balkans (11.0% ) and Baltic States (7.6% )₉. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-12.8% ), Africa (-9.1% ) and North America (-2.9% )₉.

For more, see:

• "Deforestation" by Vexen Crabtree (2024).

Averages by decade for Bulgaria (for the ranks, lower is better):

Forest Area Change 2000-2020	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Bulgaria:	10.7%	4.2%
World Rank:	17th	⇣  33rd
World Avg:	0.6%	-0.7%

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Environmental Performance Higher is better11
Pos.		201811
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
27	USA	71.2
28	Slovakia	70.6
29	Lithuania	69.3
30=	Bulgaria	67.9
30=	Costa Rica	67.9
32	Qatar	67.8
33	Czechia	67.7
34	Slovenia	67.6
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Bulgaria ranks 30th in the world regarding its environmental performance.

The Environmental Performance Index 2018 data includes 24 indicators including air pollution, water and sanitation, biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental health, combined into a single score by country, by the Yale University Center for Environmental Law & Policy.

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#energy #sustainability #the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better14
Pos.		2022 Avg14
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
126	Estonia	1.56
127	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.60
128	Kazakhstan	1.63
129	Bulgaria	1.63
130	Seychelles	1.63
131	Belarus	1.64
132	St Lucia	1.65
133	S. Korea	1.67
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

Bulgaria ranks 129th in the world when it comes to energy to GDP efficiency.

GDP per unit of energy consumption is often called 'Energy Intensity'. It's how efficient countries are at producing GDP in terms of primary energy use. It represents primary energy consumption using the substitution method, per unit of gross domestic product (GDP). A lower value means that less energy was used to maintain the country's GDP.

Averages by decade for Bulgaria (for the ranks, lower is better):

Energy to GDP Efficiency	1960s  Average	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Bulgaria:	2.65	3.36	3.83	3.80	2.63	1.86
World Rank:	47th	⇣  56th	⇣  129th	⇣  144th	⇣  147th	⇡  134th
World Avg:	2.05	2.13	2.10	2.15	1.60	1.30

2.4. International Accords on the Environment

#environmentalism #internationalism

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
99	Bangladesh	57%
100	UAE	57%
101	Belize	57%
102	Bulgaria	57%
103	Honduras	57%
104	Poland	57%
105	Mozambique	57%
106	Romania	57%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Bulgaria comes 102nd in the world with regard to its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Each country is scored using a formula that takes the date each country took up major international environmental agreements, as a ratio of maximum possible days. The agreements covered are: (1) the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, (2) the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides, (3) the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, (4) the Waigani Convention (for those countries that are eligible), (5) the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), (6) the Kyoto Protocol and (7) its successor, the Paris Agreement, (8) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), (9) the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and finally, (10) the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

“In 2023, Bulgaria accounted for around 1.2% of the EU's net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and achieved a net emissions reduction of 22.6% compared with 2005. The country's total emissions decreased by 27.4% between 2005 and 2023, while its net carbon removals in the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector declined by 41.3%. Emissions from sectors covered by the effort-sharing legislation decreased by 3% since 2005 and were higher than those from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS), which fell by 43.4%. In 2023, Bulgaria still had the most carbon intensive economy in the EU; the European Commission considers that the country's green transition could be slowed significantly by the lack of long-term climate commitments, heavy dependence on coal, and the high energy intensity of its economy.”

EU 2023 Climate Action Strategy₂₆

Averages by decade for Bulgaria (for the ranks, lower is better):

International Accords on the Environment	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Bulgaria:	0%	0%	53%	91%	98%
World Rank:	52nd	⇣  114th	⇡  81st	⇡  16th	⇣  63rd
World Avg:	8.5%	23.3%	45.0%	74.4%	90.7%

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better12
Pos.		2011 %12
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
83	Luxembourg	33.3%
84	Togo	33.3%
85	Benin	32.6%
86	Bulgaria	32.5%
87	Kyrgyzstan	32.0%
88	Georgia	31.9%
89	Australia	31.8%
90	Austria	31.8%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Bulgaria ranks 86th in the world in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population. In a 2023 survey, 22% of Bulgarians identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world (much less than the 46% EU average)₂₆. "Most expect national government (48%) and/or the EU (39%) to tackle climate change. Only 17% find it to be a personal responsibility".

2.6. Meat Consumption

#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism

Meat Consumption Lower is better13
Pos.		2021 kg13
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
105	Suriname	60.8
106	Colombia	60.9
107	Slovenia	61.2
108	Bulgaria	61.8
109	Moldova	61.9
110	Costa Rica	62.2
111	China	63.6
112	Uruguay	62.8
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

Still low for Europe Bulgaria is positioned 108th in the world with regard to reducing annual meat consumption per person.

There are five key arguments in favour of vegetarianism which accrue even from partial adoption: (1) Vegetarian diets have notable health advantages over carnivorous diets, especially for heart and cardiovascular issues_27,28,29. (2) It is morally better to avoid killing or harming animals. (3) Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists urge governments to encourage people to switch₃₀. (4) Vegetarian food production uses substantially less land_27,31,32. And, (5) vegetarianism is better for the environment than meat-production for emissions, sewerage, pollution and chemicals usage._27,31. A plant-based diet causes 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than a typical carnivorous diet₃₂. The global food industry causes about 1/3 of all planet-heating emissions, and so "to slow the worst climate effects, the United Nations has called for a drastic reduction in meat consumption"₃₂. Despite this, "reducing appetites for carbon-intensive meat and dairy is incredibly hard"₃₃ and as countries get richer, they tend to eat more meat.

On average throughout the 2010s, Bulgaria's rate was 55.7.

2.7. Green Future Index

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Green Future Index Higher is better10
Pos.		2023 Score10
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
20=	Switzerland	5.4
20=	Poland	5.4
22	Austria	5.4
23	Bulgaria	5.3
24	Costa Rica	5.3
25	S. Africa	5.2
26	Uruguay	5.1
27	China	5.1
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

Bulgaria ranks 23rd in the world in terms of its score on the Green Future Index.

The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.₃₄.