Natural parks, protected areas and green tourism
Slovenia is committed to protecting and enhancing its exceptional biodiversity and landscapes. Proof of this is the Slovenian bear, whose population continues to grow, and the protée, a small salamander, symbol of the country and a bio-indicator of the quality of its ecosystems. Cyclists and hikers will be delighted by the roads and trails of this magnificent country. The government encourages ecotourism and promotes environmental awareness among its visitors. You'll find a whole list of Slovenia Green establishments. Triglav National Park, named after the country's highest peak (2,864 m), is a treasure trove to explore. Visitors will discover unique and grandiose landscapes: glacial valleys, alpine meadows, turquoise lakes, forests, endemic flora and fauna. Regional parks harmoniously complete the list of the country's protected natural areas: the Kozjansko Regional Park, classified as a biosphere reserve, allows you to explore flower meadows, orchards, vineyards and castles. The Ramsar-listed Notranjska Regional Park, a vast plain encircled by mountains, offers a lakeside atmosphere through beautiful cycling and walking routes. The Škocjan Caves Park, not only a Ramsar site but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a unique journey through one of the world's largest underground canyons. The Sečovlje saltworks nature park, close to the coast, is of both cultural interest, linked to the history of the saltworks, and naturalistic interest, for birdwatching. Finally, there's the Goričko nature park, a hilly area between nature and culture, ideal for cycling, and the Logarska dolina nature park, a magnificent alpine park to visit in any season.
Waste management: a successful model
In less than two decades, Slovenia has implemented an effective waste management model, based on education in sorting at school, the involvement of local residents and high-performance facilities. Collection is based on voluntary drop-off points, and waste is then sent to sorting centers. As a result, the country boasts one of the best waste recovery rates in the European Union. In 2015, Ljubljana became the first city in the country to adopt a zero waste approach. In Ljubljana, residents have reduced their annual waste production from 268 kg per person in 2004 to 110 kg in 2019, with a target of 60 kg by 2025.
High quality drinking water
One of the country's proudest achievements is the quality of its drinking water. Anxious to preserve this precious resource, parliamentarians enshrined the right to drinking water in the country's Constitution in 2016. A first in Europe. This means that "everyone has the right to drinking water" and that it is "not a commodity", in the words used. In other words, it guarantees public management of the resource and protects it from speculation and private-sector greed. There is, however, one drawback to the implementation of this right: access to drinking water in Roma family camps has not been implemented in the country, as the NGO Amnesty International deplores.
Ljubljana, a green capital of Europe
Winner of the European Green Capital award in 2016, Ljubljana is green in many ways. In the first sense of the word, because the city has not only planted many trees, but also redeveloped parking lots and industrial wastelands into green areas. Large tree-lined parks encircle the city, and are a pleasure to stroll through in any season. In terms of sustainable mobility, the city has made a real turnaround, moving away from an all-car policy to promote active mobility: self-service bicycles, pedestrianization of the city center. In terms of alternative transport, a free electric minibus, Kavalir, circulates in the city center, and electric recharging stations have been installed. As a result, air quality has improved and traffic is calmer. The only downside is that cars are never far away on rainy days, and the rail network is not always efficient, according to some associations.
Air pollution and energy: sensitive issues
Behind the picture-postcard image, the overall consideration given to the environment remains partly insufficient, with shortcomings, particularly in terms of air pollution and greenhouse gas management. In January 2018, for example, the country was called to order by the European Commission for non-compliance with air pollution limits. Air pollution is mainly due to industrial emissions. Added to this are domestic, agricultural and industrial wastewater discharges, which threaten river ecosystems and, ultimately, the sea. Energy choices are also being questioned in Slovenia. Associations have mobilized against the former government's decision to install three hydroelectric plants on previously undeveloped rivers in order to preserve biodiversity. While the country intends to eliminate combustion engines by 2030 to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, plans to exploit shale gas by hydraulic billing have surfaced, opposed in 2018 by the minister in charge of the environment. Economic issues and migration crises also seem to have relegated ecological questions to the back burner in the country. As a result, the environment was not a mobilizing issue in the 2019 European elections. But activists are keeping a watchful eye on the situation, as in the case of this Slovenian David defeating the Lafarge Goliath. Uroš Macerl, a farmer and environmentalist, fought for fifteen years to put a stop to the French cement company's waste incineration plant, which was damaging the environment and the health of the inhabitants of the Trbovje valley. These efforts were recognized in 2017 with the award of the Goldman Environmental Prize.
Finally, the arrival on the political scene of Robert 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.
