OECD TO Slovenia: Progress is visible; implementation remains the biggest challenge
SLOVENIA, September 11 - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) presented its environmental performance review of Slovenia in Ljubljana today, highlighting a number of major achievements. Slovenia has succeeded in decoupling certain environmental pressures from economic growth; emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and greenhouse gases have decreased significantly, and Slovenia has the largest share of protected land areas among OECD countries.
The Environmental Performance Review of Slovenia was presented by Director of the OECD Environment Directorate Jaime de Bourbon de Parma and Head of the Division for Environmental Performance and Information at the OECD Environment Directorate Nathalie Girouard. Slovenia contributed an extensive range of data and expert explanations to the preparation of the review. The process involved the participation of experts from the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning and bodies within the Ministry as well as experts from other ministries and institutions.
At the presentation, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Polona Rifelj stressed that the value of the review lies not only in assessing what has been achieved, but above all in showing where Slovenia is still falling short: "We should not downplay the achievements or gloss over the shortcomings. The key question is how to translate the target we have set into results on the ground more quickly and effectively."
From strategies to implementation
One of the key messages of the review concerns the country’s capacity to implement policies. The OECD points to the need for better interministerial coordination, more clearly defined responsibility for implementing measures, systematic monitoring of results and greater capacity to implement policies at regional and local levels.
Minister Rifelj stressed that the Ministry's objective was to achieve progress in this very area. For each key measure, the objective, who is responsible, the deadline, the main obstacles and how the results will be measured must be clearly defined.
The same applies to spatial planning, construction and environmental procedures.
"Faster procedures do not mean lower environmental standards. They mean clearer rules, less duplication, better interinstitutional cooperation, digitalisation, fixed deadlines and clearly responsibility for decisions taken."
Fiscal policy must better support the green transition
The OECD recommends that support linked to energy prices be better targeted, that carbon pricing be gradually strengthened, and that environmentally harmful subsidies be phased out.
Further measures are need to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution
Slovenia has substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but it will require further efforts to achieve future targets. The 2025 Climate Law brought forward the national goal of reaching net-zero emissions to 2045, five years ahead of the European Union's common goal.
The transport sector remains the most challenging. Greenhouse gas emissions from transport have yet to drop, while several existing measures still encourage the use of personal vehicles. Despite progress, air pollution still has serious health impacts, particularly as a result of household wood burning and road transport.
The floods have highlighted the cost of being unprepared
An in-depth chapter of the review also addresses adaptation to climate change. Slovenia has achieved significant progress, but adaptation planning is generally still at an early stage.
Slovenia has suffered the greatest economic damage in the European Union as a result of the risks associated with climate change, particularly due to the floods of 2023. Consequently, the OECD recommends redirecting funding to prioritise damage prevention over disaster response, and considering an increase in public funding for adaptation.
Since 2023, significant progress has been made in water management, restoration and flood risk reduction. According to the Ministry, the next step is clear: more resources and measures must be directed towards damage prevention and strengthening resilience, not just dealing with the consequences.
"We need to focus less on recovery efforts and more on preventing damage. Climate risks must be taken into account from the very start with spatial planning, infrastructure and investments."
Wastewater legislation must deliver investments and results
The OECD also draws attention to Slovenia's delays in expanding municipal wastewater discharge and treatment systems. In 2025, Slovenia introduced a new legislative framework, however it must now turn the requirements into actual investments and measurable results.
The Ministry intends to clearly identify which obligations remain unfulfilled, which investments need to be prioritised, how much they will cost, who is responsible for them, and how they will be funded. As the Minister stressed: "Legislation is an important step, but it's not yet a result."
A large share of protected areas does not necessarily mean that nature is in good condition
Slovenia has an exceptional natural heritage and a high proportion of protected areas. Nonetheless, the OECD notes that biodiversity remains under pressure.
Outstanding issues include improving knowledge and the economic valuation of ecosystem services, targeting measures in Natura 2000 areas more effectively, and addressing the potentially harmful environmental impacts of certain forms of support.
The Minister emphasised that effective nature protection is not feasible without the people who live and work in these areas. Evidence-based measures, clear rules and cooperation with local communities, farmers and landowners are required.
Slovenia recycles a significant share of its waste The next step is to generate less waste and improve circularity
According to the review, the focus of waste management and the circular economy needs to move up the waste hierarchy: from collection and recycling towards waste prevention, reuse, more effective extended producer responsibility and measurable circular-economy targets.
"We should not only measure how much waste we have properly treated. We must also measure whether we are generating less waste, whether products are staying in use for longer, whether we are using resources efficiently, and whether we are actually returning materials to the economy," said Minister Rifelj.
The recommendations should not remain on paper
The Ministry intends to turn the OECD's review into an operative evaluation of the implementation of recommendations. For each recommendation, the following will be specified: the lead and participating ministries, the current situation, existing gaps, necessary measures, deadlines and the method for assessing results. Recommendations regarding transport, energy, taxation, agriculture and forestry will require further inter-ministerial collaboration. In conclusion, Minister Rifelj said: "The purpose of this review is not just to get a good assessment on paper. Its purpose is to improve environmental policy in practice. We don't need yet another document sitting on a shelf. We need results."
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