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Environmental information systems
The Slovenia country profile provides a concise overview of key trends across three dimensions: environment and climate; socio-economic change; and system change (energy, mobility and food) in the country. It highlights the main developments and challenges in these areas, including measures to support progress towards sustainability in Slovenia. An assessment for each of the three dimensions was prepared by national experts from the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) in Slovenia, based on 20 established indicators from the EEA or Eurostat.
Given its size, economy and abundant natural resources, Slovenia has strategically chosen to introduce circularity, innovation, digitalisation and systems thinking into policy documents as cross-cutting themes for delivering the sustainability transition at the local and national levels.
Some of the current priorities are assessing the agriculture-to-food and forestry-to-wood system chains, tackling energy poverty and improving productivity. However, mobility remains a significant challenge, particularly with regard to reducing carbon emissions, mitigating health impacts and improving accessibility through systemic solutions.
The abundance of forests and the existing use of traditionally sustainable and multifunctional management practices help to foster a sustainability-oriented economy and lifestyle. Similarly, the high percentage of protected natural areas represents a resource for the sustainability transition, rather than a barrier, through encouraging the use of circularity, nature-based solutions and systems innovation approaches.
Boosting sustainability-oriented innovation, leadership and citizen empowerment requires the development of sustainability competences. This means that investing in structural changes to the knowledge system in line with sustainability represents a long-term benefit.
Maintaining low economic inequality, supportive social networks, security and a high share of people with tertiary education are some of the areas, in addition to natural resources, that need attention in order to sustain high standards of quality of life in the future.
Key trends and assessments
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Summary assessment
In recent years, the quality of the water and air in Slovenia has improved, there are positive trends in the revitalisation of degraded areas, the intensity of agriculture is moderate and the country’s proportions of Natura 2000 areas (37.5 %) and . Fossil fuel combustion in the energy and road transport sectors causes nearly 60 % of greenhouse gas emissions. While emissions from the energy sector have gradually decreased, those from road transport have increased. A significant drop and some minor drops have occurred in individual years. The main barriers to using public transport are .
The temperature in Slovenia is rising faster than the global average. The warming of the atmosphere will continue, . Annual precipitation trends change between years, with large regional differences. Summer conditions are the most worrisome, as less precipitation and higher temperatures can lead to more frequent droughts. In the winter, more precipitation .
. Many innovative ideas and initiatives, such as business models to support ‘thinking outside the trash’, community initiatives and educational recommendations, have been developed. A strategy for a more radical transition to climate neutrality using a .
Slovenia has also established . Progress is visible in the field of digitalisation of services, for example the work of the .
The current draft climate law will provide a comprehensive .
Slovenia has made deliberate policy choices to accelerate the green transition while maintaining high competitiveness. The circular economy and (eco-)innovation have been systematically introduced as strategic policy focuses in several policy documents, like the Slovenian development strategy for 2030, the roadmap to circular economy, the national energy and .
Remarkable progress in and the has been recorded, for which Slovenia ranks among the highest in the EU and worldwide. Outstanding achievements are also observed in the significantly low rates of short- and long-term unemployment, , the and, not least, .
However, multiple crises and the impacts of climate change, together with historically and challenges in achieving renewable energy targets, have affected the pace of the Slovenian green transition by leading to higher dependence on energy, material and food imports and expensive flooding damage. The excessive use of fossil fuels, especially in transport, . Challenges related to an ageing population, energy and could also generate risks for just access to provisioning systems.
On the positive side, provide opportunities for the sustainability transformation. Examples include high solar, wind and and the . Furthermore, progress is being made towards achieving the targets for the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption, following a period of underperformance. The high share of people could, with the help of an improved knowledge system, bring great added value to society and accelerate innovation . In addition, the long tradition of volunteering (e.g. firefighting, civil protection, sports) .
Given the high potential , Slovenia has a chance to rebalance society’s development in line with planetary boundaries through circularity and systems innovation, sustainable land use, investment in infrastructure and the empowerment of stakeholders .
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The food system
In 2023, Slovenia began implementing the , which provides a strategic framework for the development of agriculture, the food industry and rural areas in Slovenia. Despite the current food, climate and environmental challenges, the concept of sustainable food systems is still being established in public debate and policy.
proposed a systemic approach to the sustainable transformation of food systems (including a collective vision, interdisciplinary/multisectoral cooperation, knowledge building, consistent policies, systemic financing and evidence-based monitoring). In 2025, the preparation of a new national vision for the agrifood system started, with the aim of strengthening food sovereignty and agricultural production in a sustainable way while also addressing climate change, resource management and . A weak understanding of the food system in Slovenia on the part of policymakers often results in the uncritical adoption of approaches from other Member States that are inappropriate or have negative effects. For example, on the one hand, sustainable production and self-sufficiency may be promoted, but on the other hand, the same production limitations as in Member States with intensive agricultural production may be implemented.
Compared with that in other Member States, Slovenian agriculture is unusual, as it is significantly less intensive, with low consumption rates of chemicals, mineral fertilisers and antimicrobials . Slovenia is characterised by predominantly unfavourable conditions for agricultural production. Approximately 80 % of the utilised agricultural area (UAA) is on land facing natural or other specific constraints, and approximately 60% of the UAA is permanent grassland; therefore, the role of livestock production, especially grazing, is even more pronounced.
As a small market, Slovenia has relatively uncompetitive production and a relatively vulnerable food system, strongly influenced by the international trade environment. With a growing awareness of the importance of domestic food and an efficient, connected and competitive domestic food chain, Slovenia encourages numerous investments in more modern, efficient and environmentally friendly technologies and practices in agriculture, including organic farming, . The food processing industry is also pursuing these objectives, in addition to investments in environmentally friendly technologies, in terms of food products, for example in the field of waste management (including food waste) and . Agricultural non-governmental and research organisations are very active in research, advice and knowledge transfer on sustainable food production and consumption, as well as putting technological solutions into practice, despite limited systemic financial resources . According to key stakeholders in the field, there is still a lack of in-depth reflection on consumer habits in the public debate, which will also need to be adjusted to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable transformation of the food system in Slovenia.
The energy system
The guiding principle of Slovenian energy policy, as outlined in the updated national energy and climate plan (NECP), is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This goal drives new policies and measures to meet EU commitments.
Slovenia aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 28 % in sectors not covered by the emissions trading system by 2030, surpassing the target set for . sets a 2033 deadline for a just coal phase-out, which will enable Slovenia to reach a 55 % reduction in GHG emissions by 2033 and decarbonise its electricity production.
Energy efficiency measures focus on not exceeding 50.2 TWh of final energy consumption by 2030, a target that has significantly advanced since 2020. The transport sector remains a challenge, and additional measures will have to be put in place to help change user habits and promote public transport and electrification. On the other hand, the residential sector has seen a decrease in energy consumption. Comprehensive building renovations, with the aim of renovating 3 % of the public sector annually, will be further encouraged. Special attention is being given to reducing energy poverty. has set targets and put measures in place and will allocate significant funds to reducing the number of energy-poor households.
With the updated NECP, Slovenia aims for a 33 % share of renewable energy sources (RESs) in gross final energy consumption by 2030. Insufficient implementation in the past, as well as specific national circumstances, such as the large share of Natura 2000 areas and lengthy permit-granting procedures, means that Slovenia is lagging behind EU targets. Challenges in the deployment of RES, particularly wind energy, which is facing considerable public opposition in Slovenia, are being tackled through new legislation that establishes priority areas for the placement of solar and wind installations and financial incentives . As , the potential for RES was assessed and foundations were prepared for potential priority areas for solar and wind energy. The 2023 increase in photovoltaic capacity by 408 MW, bringing the total installed capacity to 1 043 MW, marked a record year for new photovoltaic installations and highlights Slovenia’s efforts in this area.
Legislative effort has been made to support the transition to non-fossil-fuel energy sources, including through limiting the use of fossil fuel for heating in new buildings and creating procedures for expediting . A cost-effective green transition requires efficient energy use and demand-side adaptation. Smart meters and active consumption flexibility will optimise electricity infrastructure use. In Slovenia, most connection points are already equipped with smart meters. Active consumption flexibility will be further encouraged with the recently introduced reform of network billing.
The mobility system
The mobility system in Slovenia plays a crucial role in the country’s economic, social and environmental progress. The current state of transport infrastructure includes well-developed motorways, but local roads are often poorly maintained. Additional investments are needed in this area to modernise infrastructure, improve traffic safety and reduce traffic congestion. The road infrastructure is also overburdened by the volume of transit passenger and freight traffic, and, due to the pronounced geographical dispersion of the population, it is extremely expensive and difficult to organise an efficient public transport system.
The railway infrastructure is outdated, with low speeds and unreliable connections. Renovating the tracks, upgrading the fleet and better integrating with other forms of public transport are necessary measures to improve the railway system.
The cycling infrastructure is relatively well developed in cities, but there is still a significant lack of cycling paths in rural areas.
Public transport is well organised in larger cities but less accessible in smaller towns and rural areas. Increasing service frequency and improving connections between different transport systems between suburbs and rural areas would contribute to making public transport more time efficient and attractive.
Slovenia faces significant environmental challenges related to high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from transport. Promoting the use of public transport, car sharing, carpooling, cycling, walking and electric vehicles is key to reducing air pollution. At the same time, the accessibility of transport must be improved for all population groups, including people with mobility impairments, the elderly and the socially disadvantaged.
To improve productivity and stimulate economic growth, regional connectivity must be enhanced, and traffic congestion reduced. It is also important to mention the high mobility costs for households in Slovenia; on average, households spend almost a fifth of their total consumption expenditure on transport, which . High transport costs for households are related to dispersed settlements, an underdeveloped public transport network and, consequently, the prevalence of less sustainable modes of mobility.
Most recommendations for improvements are already included in the current transport and the updated . Slovenia plans to adopt a new comprehensive national transport strategy for 2050 in 2026, covering all transport subsystems and cross-cutting topics such as alternative fuels, safety and resilience.
References