Mayor of a small French village prooves that the transition beyond coal is possible

With this message the mayor of the French village of Los en Guell addressed the Municipality of Pernik and the Bulgarian coal regions, during a meeting held online at the initiative of Greenpeace – Bulgaria, the Embassy of France and the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria. At a time when Bulgaria is working on the Territorial Plans for a Fair Transition and planning investments for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, the experience of mayors and municipalities such as Jean-François Caron and the city of Los en Goel can be a valuable source of ideas and inspiration in the Bulgarian context.

In the 80s of the 20th century Los en Goel went through the same processes that are known to many of the municipalities in Bulgaria today – unemployment, depopulation, lack of prospects. Thanks to the vision of transition to renewable sources, the fate of the French countryside is changing: a rainwater treatment system is being created, the energy efficiency of buildings is being increased, solar heating systems are being installed, so citizens pay much lower utility bills.

“The strength of the community is at the heart of our success,” said Mayor Jean-François Caron, referring to the local initiative as a fundamental factor.
The mayor of Pernik, Mr. Stanislav Vladimirov, is strongly attracted by the idea of ​​transforming the city in the direction of reducing air pollution. The other great possibility, according to him, is the creation of an economic zone for environmentally oriented economic activities, through funding under the European Green Pact.
For more information visit Green Peace