Slovenia’s rich natural environment is its key natural resource. It is one of the most forested countries in the EU and it has the biggest share of land area covered by Natura 2000 (almost 38%).
Slovenia’s main challenges include prioritising wastewater investments, strengthening the integration of nature considerations in planning and other policies (especially in agriculture) to protect Natura 2000 and prioritising green infrastructures and nature-based solutions to mitigate the impact of floods and preserve aquatic ecosystems.
There is potential to develop the circular economy through further investment, which would help Slovenia reduce the generation of waste and improve the re-use and recycling of products.
Highlights
Slovenia is continuing to improve its waste management system and is one of the few EU countries on track to meet both the targets to prepare 55% of municipal waste for reuse and recycling, and recycling 65 % of all packaging waste by 2025.
Slovenia has continued to improve air quality by reducing emissions in the context of the NAPCP and already meets its 2020-2029 emission reduction commitments, ensures full compliance with EU air quality standard and maintains downwards emission trends.
Main Challenges
Nature and biodiversity
Many habitats and species in Slovenia are deteriorating. Forests, bogs, mires, fens, grasslands, and freshwater habitats as well as mammals, amphibians and arthropods are faring quite badly.
Slovenia is vulnerable to climate change related events, with a high risk of floods. It should do more to mitigate the impact of floods, for example, by improving the implementation of flood risk management plans, increasing insurance coverage and investing, where possible, on nature-based solutions that address nature conservation while ensuring flood protection.
Pollution
Despite some progress in implementing the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the country is not yet fully complying with its requirements. It needs to develop and modernise its infrastructure to increase its level of compliance and prepare for the implementation of the recast wastewater directive.
Governance and investment
The current investment gap stands at an estimated €0.6 billion per year.
Slovenia needs to better inform the public about their rights to access justice and, in general, improve public access to courts to challenge administrative or regulatory decisions. This is particularly important concerning planning in the sectors of waste, water, nature and air quality.