Environmental Sustainability
#11Key Findings
In the category of environmental sustainability, Slovenia falls into the sample’s upper-middle ranks (rank 11).
Environmental legislation is largely based on EU directives. The government seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36% by 2040. Despite the country’s robust legal framework, observers say climate-policy implementation has been poor, with some sectors lacking ambition. Protests by farmers and others could slow implementation further.
Various laws seek to address air quality and pollution. However, air pollution remains a concern, and instances of drinking water pollution have emerged. The country protects a significant area of its landscape under the Natura 2000 program. It is very highly rated for protection of protection of terrestrial biomes, but species protection is weaker.
The country participates in many multilateral environmental agreements. It has a particular focus on the Alpine, Danube and Mediterranean regions.
Environmental legislation is largely based on EU directives. The government seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36% by 2040. Despite the country’s robust legal framework, observers say climate-policy implementation has been poor, with some sectors lacking ambition. Protests by farmers and others could slow implementation further.
Various laws seek to address air quality and pollution. However, air pollution remains a concern, and instances of drinking water pollution have emerged. The country protects a significant area of its landscape under the Natura 2000 program. It is very highly rated for protection of protection of terrestrial biomes, but species protection is weaker.
The country participates in many multilateral environmental agreements. It has a particular focus on the Alpine, Danube and Mediterranean regions.
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How committed is the government to the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Over the last two decades, Slovenia has developed comprehensive environmental legislation, largely by incorporating numerous EU directives into a series of legal documents. The umbrella Law on Environmental Protection, first enacted in 2004, has been amended multiple times, with a new version adopted in 2022. This law incorporates principles of sustainable development and the circular economy and aligns with the country’s 2030 Development Strategy, adopted by the government in December 2017.
Several other environmental regulations, mostly decrees and resolutions, address issues such as waste management, air quality, the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances, and activities requiring an environmental impact assessment. Slovenia has also adopted the EU Emissions Trading System and the goal of climate neutrality.
In 2020, the government adopted the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, with a new draft submitted to the EU in 2023. This strategic document sets ambitious targets for the period up to 2030, with a view to 2040. These targets include a 36% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions, a 20% reduction in the non-ETS sector (five percentage points higher than Slovenia’s previous commitment), and an improvement in energy efficiency of at least 35%, exceeding the EU target.
Despite the robust legal framework, many non-governmental organizations in Slovenia acknowledge that its implementation has been poor and point to a lack of ambition in various sectors. Consequently, at the end of 2023, the government organized a public discussion on the draft Climate Law. This law aims to provide solutions for meeting international treaty objectives, including those of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. The responsible ministry stated that the proposed law would offer a comprehensive framework for more effective climate policy implementation, aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest.
Various data indicate that despite the comprehensive legal framework, Slovenia needs to improve the implementation of these legal documents to ensure greater efficiency. The Youth for Climate Justice movement, which carried out a series of actions in 2022 and 2023, has also called for this improvement. According to the Climate Change Performance Index, Slovenia ranked 41st in the 2023 assessment, with a score of 53.57, compared to the EU average of 64.71, placing Slovenia among the low-performing countries.
Slovenia ranks very low in terms of its overall level of greenhouse gas emissions. However, at the same time, it also ranks very low in terms of establishing an operational national climate policy, meeting the 2030 renewable energy targets (including hydropower), the 2030 greenhouse gas emissions target, and reducing its per capita energy consumption . The difficulty of achieving the targets set for the coming years is underscored by several protest actions against planned government activities. For example, farmers have protested, arguing that the environmental legislation was prepared by radical environmental groups disconnected from farmers’ realities.
Citations:
Climate Change Performance Index. 2024. “CCPI 2024: Ranking and Results.” https://ccpi.org
G. C., La. Da., and B. R. 2023. “Predsednik sindikata kmetov Medved: Ko kmet protestira, država že krvavi.” RTVSLO. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/predsednik-sindikata-kmetov-medved-ko-kmet-protestira-drzava-ze-krvavi/666065
Focus. 2024. “Focus.” https://focus.si
Umanotera. 2024. “https://www.umanotera.org/”
Youth for Climate Justice: https://mzpp.si/o-mzpp/
Several other environmental regulations, mostly decrees and resolutions, address issues such as waste management, air quality, the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances, and activities requiring an environmental impact assessment. Slovenia has also adopted the EU Emissions Trading System and the goal of climate neutrality.
In 2020, the government adopted the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, with a new draft submitted to the EU in 2023. This strategic document sets ambitious targets for the period up to 2030, with a view to 2040. These targets include a 36% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions, a 20% reduction in the non-ETS sector (five percentage points higher than Slovenia’s previous commitment), and an improvement in energy efficiency of at least 35%, exceeding the EU target.
Despite the robust legal framework, many non-governmental organizations in Slovenia acknowledge that its implementation has been poor and point to a lack of ambition in various sectors. Consequently, at the end of 2023, the government organized a public discussion on the draft Climate Law. This law aims to provide solutions for meeting international treaty objectives, including those of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. The responsible ministry stated that the proposed law would offer a comprehensive framework for more effective climate policy implementation, aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest.
Various data indicate that despite the comprehensive legal framework, Slovenia needs to improve the implementation of these legal documents to ensure greater efficiency. The Youth for Climate Justice movement, which carried out a series of actions in 2022 and 2023, has also called for this improvement. According to the Climate Change Performance Index, Slovenia ranked 41st in the 2023 assessment, with a score of 53.57, compared to the EU average of 64.71, placing Slovenia among the low-performing countries.
Slovenia ranks very low in terms of its overall level of greenhouse gas emissions. However, at the same time, it also ranks very low in terms of establishing an operational national climate policy, meeting the 2030 renewable energy targets (including hydropower), the 2030 greenhouse gas emissions target, and reducing its per capita energy consumption . The difficulty of achieving the targets set for the coming years is underscored by several protest actions against planned government activities. For example, farmers have protested, arguing that the environmental legislation was prepared by radical environmental groups disconnected from farmers’ realities.
Citations:
Climate Change Performance Index. 2024. “CCPI 2024: Ranking and Results.” https://ccpi.org
G. C., La. Da., and B. R. 2023. “Predsednik sindikata kmetov Medved: Ko kmet protestira, država že krvavi.” RTVSLO. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/predsednik-sindikata-kmetov-medved-ko-kmet-protestira-drzava-ze-krvavi/666065
Focus. 2024. “Focus.” https://focus.si
Umanotera. 2024. “https://www.umanotera.org/”
Youth for Climate Justice: https://mzpp.si/o-mzpp/
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How committed is the government to protecting the public from environmental health risks?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
In Slovenia, environmental legislation aims to prevent pollution and related risks through the Law on Environmental Protection and various other legal acts addressing air quality and pollution prevention. These include the Decree on Ambient Air Quality, the Rules on the Assessment of Ambient Air Quality, the Decree on Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Nickel, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air, and the Decree on the Emission of Substances into the Atmosphere from Stationary Sources of Pollution.
Despite these regulations, the European Environment Agency estimates that in 2021, 1,190 premature deaths were attributable to PM2.5 air pollution, compared to 1,800 such deaths in 2015. Additionally, 160 premature deaths were linked to NO2 pollution and 140 to O3 pollution. The data indicate that Slovenia has shown declining trends in SO2 emissions and met its reduction commitments for PM2.5 and SO2 in 2020 and 2021. However, PM10 pollution remains a problem in some parts of the country.
Air pollution has been a public concern for years, with several prolonged public cases. For over a decade, residents and non-governmental organizations, especially Eco Circle, have fought against local and national administrations and the transnational company Lafarge in the Trbovlje region over the incineration of hazardous waste.
In recent years, the largest cement plant in Anhovo, owned by the Salonit company, has been criticized for endangering the local population’s health through air pollution. In 2022, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment visited Anhovo and stated that the Slovenian government must prioritize measures to improve air quality in this and other known air pollution hotspots, refusing to approve activities that increase pollution.
In early January 2024, a non-governmental organization prepared an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act, proposing to align the standards for co-incineration of waste with those for incineration, addressing the issue in Anhovo. Doctors from the Slovenian Medical Association’s working group on monitoring, warning, and raising awareness of the dangers of a polluted environment for health have supported this proposed amendment.
A few years ago, a publicized protest action along the Soča River, “Za naravo ob Sočo!,” warned of polluted drinking water due to the release of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium from a wastewater treatment plant operated by the Swiss company Eternit in Anhovo.
Citations:
European Environment Agency. 2023. “Slovenia – Air Pollution Country Fact Sheet.” https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/country-fact-sheets/2023-country-fact-sheets/slovenia-air-pollution-country
Gams, M. 2022. “Bad Atmosphere in the Soča Valley.” https://www.cipra.org/en/news/bad-atmosphere-in-the-soca-valley
La. Da. 2024. “V Salonitu v primeru potrditve spremembe zakona o varstvu okolja napovedali ustavno presojo.” RTVSLO https://www.rtvslo.si/okolje/v-salonitu-v-primeru-potrditve-spremembe-zakona-o-varstvu-okolja-napovedali-ustavno-presojo/694978
Despite these regulations, the European Environment Agency estimates that in 2021, 1,190 premature deaths were attributable to PM2.5 air pollution, compared to 1,800 such deaths in 2015. Additionally, 160 premature deaths were linked to NO2 pollution and 140 to O3 pollution. The data indicate that Slovenia has shown declining trends in SO2 emissions and met its reduction commitments for PM2.5 and SO2 in 2020 and 2021. However, PM10 pollution remains a problem in some parts of the country.
Air pollution has been a public concern for years, with several prolonged public cases. For over a decade, residents and non-governmental organizations, especially Eco Circle, have fought against local and national administrations and the transnational company Lafarge in the Trbovlje region over the incineration of hazardous waste.
In recent years, the largest cement plant in Anhovo, owned by the Salonit company, has been criticized for endangering the local population’s health through air pollution. In 2022, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment visited Anhovo and stated that the Slovenian government must prioritize measures to improve air quality in this and other known air pollution hotspots, refusing to approve activities that increase pollution.
In early January 2024, a non-governmental organization prepared an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act, proposing to align the standards for co-incineration of waste with those for incineration, addressing the issue in Anhovo. Doctors from the Slovenian Medical Association’s working group on monitoring, warning, and raising awareness of the dangers of a polluted environment for health have supported this proposed amendment.
A few years ago, a publicized protest action along the Soča River, “Za naravo ob Sočo!,” warned of polluted drinking water due to the release of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium from a wastewater treatment plant operated by the Swiss company Eternit in Anhovo.
Citations:
European Environment Agency. 2023. “Slovenia – Air Pollution Country Fact Sheet.” https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/country-fact-sheets/2023-country-fact-sheets/slovenia-air-pollution-country
Gams, M. 2022. “Bad Atmosphere in the Soča Valley.” https://www.cipra.org/en/news/bad-atmosphere-in-the-soca-valley
La. Da. 2024. “V Salonitu v primeru potrditve spremembe zakona o varstvu okolja napovedali ustavno presojo.” RTVSLO https://www.rtvslo.si/okolje/v-salonitu-v-primeru-potrditve-spremembe-zakona-o-varstvu-okolja-napovedali-ustavno-presojo/694978
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How committed is the government to preserving ecosystems and protecting biodiversity?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
Since the turn of the century, Slovenia has comprehensively regulated the environmental sector through legislation. The Law on Nature Conservation, passed in 1999 and amended several times, outlines measures for conserving biodiversity and protecting natural values. This includes managing gene banks, which consist of controlled or bred populations or parts of animals and plants – such as seeds, gametes, and other biological material – to conserve species or their gene pools.
A significant aspect of the law is the establishment of the Natura 2000 area, which accounts for about 37% of Slovenia’s territory. Within Slovenia’s less than 21,000 km², more than 10% of all Natura 2000 EU species can be found. Natura 2000 sites are present in almost every Slovenian municipality (204 out of 212), and nearly 6% of the population lives within these sites. Additionally, 70% of Natura 2000 sites are forests, and just over 20% are agricultural areas.
The Natura 2000 Management Program (2015–2020) was developed in 2015. The National Environmental Protection Program, covering measures up to 2008, has been updated, with the latest program extending to 2030. The Animal Protection Act, initially passed by the National Assembly in 1999, was amended in 2023. Both Natura 2000 and the Animal Welfare Act were central issues in major farmers’ protests in the spring of 2023. Farmers demanded that new environmental requirements not exceed the actual potential of agriculture and called for a reduction in Natura 2000 areas.
Slovenia’s primary organization for nature conservation is the Institute for Nature Conservation, founded in 1999. It has seven regional units, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the entire country.
Despite the extensive legal framework and activities of the main conservation organization, results have been mixed. In the biodiversity and habitat category of the Environmental Performance Index, Slovenia ranks 12th out of nearly 200 countries, with a score of 84.50 on a 100-point scale. Some indicators show very good results; for example, Slovenia ranks first among more than 40 countries for the protection of terrestrial biomes. However, other results are less favorable. In the Biodiversity Habitat Index, Slovenia is ranked 104th, and in the Species Habitat Index, it is ranked 94th, showing significant deterioration over the last ten years.
Citations:
Natura 2000. 2024. “Natura 2000 in Slovenia.” https://natura2000.gov.si/en/natura-2000/natura-2000-in-slovenia/
Environmental Performance Index. 2024. “https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2022/component/spi”
G. C., La. Da., and B.R. 2023. “Predsednik sindikata kmetov Medved: Ko kmet protestira, država že krvavi.” RTVSLO https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/predsednik-sindikata-kmetov-medved-ko-kmet-protestira-drzava-ze-krvavi/666065
A significant aspect of the law is the establishment of the Natura 2000 area, which accounts for about 37% of Slovenia’s territory. Within Slovenia’s less than 21,000 km², more than 10% of all Natura 2000 EU species can be found. Natura 2000 sites are present in almost every Slovenian municipality (204 out of 212), and nearly 6% of the population lives within these sites. Additionally, 70% of Natura 2000 sites are forests, and just over 20% are agricultural areas.
The Natura 2000 Management Program (2015–2020) was developed in 2015. The National Environmental Protection Program, covering measures up to 2008, has been updated, with the latest program extending to 2030. The Animal Protection Act, initially passed by the National Assembly in 1999, was amended in 2023. Both Natura 2000 and the Animal Welfare Act were central issues in major farmers’ protests in the spring of 2023. Farmers demanded that new environmental requirements not exceed the actual potential of agriculture and called for a reduction in Natura 2000 areas.
Slovenia’s primary organization for nature conservation is the Institute for Nature Conservation, founded in 1999. It has seven regional units, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the entire country.
Despite the extensive legal framework and activities of the main conservation organization, results have been mixed. In the biodiversity and habitat category of the Environmental Performance Index, Slovenia ranks 12th out of nearly 200 countries, with a score of 84.50 on a 100-point scale. Some indicators show very good results; for example, Slovenia ranks first among more than 40 countries for the protection of terrestrial biomes. However, other results are less favorable. In the Biodiversity Habitat Index, Slovenia is ranked 104th, and in the Species Habitat Index, it is ranked 94th, showing significant deterioration over the last ten years.
Citations:
Natura 2000. 2024. “Natura 2000 in Slovenia.” https://natura2000.gov.si/en/natura-2000/natura-2000-in-slovenia/
Environmental Performance Index. 2024. “https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2022/component/spi”
G. C., La. Da., and B.R. 2023. “Predsednik sindikata kmetov Medved: Ko kmet protestira, država že krvavi.” RTVSLO https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/predsednik-sindikata-kmetov-medved-ko-kmet-protestira-drzava-ze-krvavi/666065
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To what extent is the government committed and credible in designing and promoting global environmental protection regimes and policies?
10
9
9
Government policy and institutions are fully aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
8
7
6
7
6
Government policy and institutions are largely aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
5
4
3
4
3
Government policy and institutions are somewhat aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
2
1
1
Government policy and institutions are not at all aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
Slovenia has signed and ratified many multilateral environmental agreements, reflecting its strong commitment to environmental protection. This commitment is highlighted in the 2022 Environmental Implementation Review, where the EU Commission found Slovenia to have among the fewest violations in 2020, with six cases. Luxembourg had the least with one case, while Spain topped the list with 21 cases.
Slovenia’s dedication to sustainable development at regional and subregional levels is demonstrated through various cooperation agreements covering the Alps, the Danube and its tributaries, and the Mediterranean, including the Adriatic. The central organization for nature conservation, the Institute for Nature Conservation in Slovenia, participates in numerous national and international projects, usually EU-funded, focused on improving nature conservation.
Slovenia’s commitment to environmental protection on a global scale is further evidenced by the Slovenian Council for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection’s membership in the Global Network of National Councils for Sustainable Development. This membership aims to strengthen and improve the work of national entities to ensure sustainable development.
However, despite these efforts, Slovenia’s contribution to bolstering global environmental protection regimes has been modest.
Citations:
European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment. 2022. The Environmental Implementation Review – Slovenia. Publications Office of the European Union. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2779/81867
Slovenia’s dedication to sustainable development at regional and subregional levels is demonstrated through various cooperation agreements covering the Alps, the Danube and its tributaries, and the Mediterranean, including the Adriatic. The central organization for nature conservation, the Institute for Nature Conservation in Slovenia, participates in numerous national and international projects, usually EU-funded, focused on improving nature conservation.
Slovenia’s commitment to environmental protection on a global scale is further evidenced by the Slovenian Council for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection’s membership in the Global Network of National Councils for Sustainable Development. This membership aims to strengthen and improve the work of national entities to ensure sustainable development.
However, despite these efforts, Slovenia’s contribution to bolstering global environmental protection regimes has been modest.
Citations:
European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment. 2022. The Environmental Implementation Review – Slovenia. Publications Office of the European Union. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2779/81867