Natural parks, protected areas and green tourism
Slovenia is committed to both protecting and enhancing its exceptional biodiversity and landscapes. Proof of this is the Slovenian bear, whose population continues to grow, and the protaeus, a small salamander, a symbol of the country and a species that indicates the quality of the ecosystems. Bicycle travelers and hikers will find happiness on the roads and trails of this beautiful country. The government encourages ecotourism and ensures environmental awareness of its visitors. You can find a whole list of establishments with the Slovenia Green label. The Triglav National Park, named after the country's highest peak (2,864 m), is a treasure to be visited. The visitor will discover unique and grandiose landscapes: glacial valleys, alpine meadows, lakes with turquoise waters, forests, endemic flora and fauna. Regional parks harmoniously complete the list of protected natural areas of the country: the regional park of Kozjansko, classified as a biosphere reserve, will allow you to discover flowery meadows, orchards, vineyards and castles. The Notranjska Regional Park, classified as a Ramsar site, is a vast plain surrounded by mountains and offers a lake atmosphere through beautiful cycling and walking routes. The Škocjan Caves Park, which is not only a Ramsar site but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a unique route through one of the largest underground canyons in the world. The Sečovlje Saltpans Nature Park, close to the seafront, has both cultural interest, related to the history of the saltpans, and naturalistic interest, for bird watching. We will finish with the Goričko nature park, a hilly territory between nature and culture, ideal for cycling, and the Logarska dolina nature park, a beautiful alpine park, to be visited in any season.
Waste management: a successful model
In less than two decades, Slovenia has implemented an efficient waste management model, based on education in sorting at school, the involvement of residents, and efficient facilities. Collection is based on voluntary drop-off points and waste is then sent to sorting centers. As a result, the country has one of the best waste recovery rates in the European Union. The capital was the first city to adopt a zero waste approach in 2015. In Ljubljana, residents have reduced their annual waste production from 268 kg per person in 2004 to 110 kg in 2019, with the goal of reaching 60 kg by 2025.
High quality drinking water
The quality of the drinking water, which is very good, is one of the pride of the country. Concerned about preserving this precious resource, in 2016 parliamentarians enshrined the right to drinking water in the country's Constitution. A first in Europe. This means that "everyone has the right to drinking water" and that it is "not a commodity", as the saying goes. In other words, it is a matter of guaranteeing the public management of the resource and protecting it from any speculation and covetousness of the private sector. However, there is a drawback in the implementation of this right: access to drinking water in camps for Roma families is not established in the country, as deplored by the NGO Amnesty International.
Ljubljana, a green capital of Europe
Winner of the European Green Capital Award 2016, Ljubljana is in many ways a European Green Capital. In the first sense of the term, because the city has carried out numerous tree planting projects, but also the re-classification of car parks and industrial wasteland into green areas. Large wooded parks surround the city and it is very pleasant to walk in them in all seasons. On the question of sustainable mobility, the city has made a real shift from a policy geared more towards all-car use to the promotion of active mobility: self-service bicycles, pedestrianisation of the city centre. In terms of alternative transport, a free electric minibus, Kavalir, runs in the city centre, and electric recharging stations have been installed. As a result, air quality is improving and traffic is calmer. The only shadow in the picture is the car, which is never far away on rainy days, and the rail network, which is not always efficient according to some associations.
Air pollution and energy: sensitive issues
Behind the postcard image, the consideration of the environment in its entirety remains partly insufficient, with shortcomings, particularly in terms of air pollution and greenhouse gas management. Thus, in January 2018, the country was called to order by the European Commission for non-compliance with the limits set for air pollution. This is mainly due to emissions from industries. In addition, domestic, agricultural and industrial wastewater discharges threaten the ecosystems of waterways and ultimately the sea. The energy choices are also in question in Slovenia. Associations have mobilized against the choice of the former government to install three hydroelectric plants on previously undeveloped rivers in order to preserve biodiversity. While the country intends to eliminate thermal engines by 2030 to reduce its greenhouse gases, plans to exploit shale gas through hydraulic billing have surfaced, fought in 2018 by the minister in charge of the environment. Economic issues and migration crises also seem to have pushed ecological issues to the back burner in the country. Thus, the environment was not a mobilizing topic during the 2019 European elections. But activists are watching and remain active, like this Slovenian David defeating the Lafarge Goliath. Uroš Macerl, farmer and environmentalist, has indeed managed, after a fifteen-year struggle, to stop the activity of a plant of the French cement company, which was damaging the environment and the health of the inhabitants of the valley of Trbovje, by incinerating waste. These efforts were enshrined in the 2017 award of the Goldman Environmental Prize
Finally, the arrival on the political scene of Richard Golob, winner of the April 2022 parliamentary elections and former head of an electricity company specializing in solar energy, is a positive sign for the environment.
