Climate has its natural variability over time, but the mankind – through the emissions of greenhouse gases – has caused an unprecedented increase in global mean temperature in recent decades. Climate change is now one of the biggest threats to humanity. It is no longer avoidable, so we should respond to it appropriately and in a timely manner.

Slovenia contributes to combating climate change at both national and international levels. By establishing the Government Office of Climate Change of the Republic of Slovenia in 2009, Slovenia has demonstrated an ambitious political stance. This is a new central body of state administration for interdepartmental guidance and coordination of policies and measures of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia related to climate change.

The work of the Government Office of Climate Change is based on the climate science showing that global mean temperature is rising, entailing many adverse impacts. It results in change of weather patterns with more severe droughts and more intense precipitation, changes in water regime, sea level rise, shifting of vegetation zones and plant communities, increased possibility of heat waves and other adverse consequences. These changes are already underway, although relatively slow and muffled in stochastic patterns of natural processes. It is possible to adapt to them at relatively low costs provided that they are taken into consideration in long-term plans and investments; they can, however, bring about high costs and damages if we don’t address them adequately. The EU is promoting ambitious near-, mid- and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction goals so that the rise of the global mean temperature would be stabilised below 2°C relative to preindustrial levels (which would still mean 3-4 degrees increase in Southern Europe, including Slovenia).

The Kyoto target of Slovenia is a reduction of annual greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2008 – 2012 on the average by 8 % compared to the base year 1986. For the future, Slovenia works as a member of the EU towards an ambitious, legally binding and fair agreement to be reached at a global level within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In this sense Slovenia associated itself with the Copenhagen Accord after the Copenhagen conference in 2009, and in 2010 joined the REDD+ Partnership (REDD+: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation + Preservation, sustainable forest management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries).

To meet the commitment of an 8 percent reduction in GHG emissions under the Kyoto Protocol,  the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Operational Programme for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2012 (OP GHG) in December 2006. In July 2009, on the basis of the evaluation of the implementation of the Programme, the Government adopted a revised Operational Programme (OP GHG-1), defining the measures required to meet the obligations assumed by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. It is likely that Slovenia will fulfill part of its Kyoto obligations though the use of flexible mechanisms. The implementation of the measures defined in the OP GHG is monitored on an annual basis.

In order to provide leadership and good example of the state administration, the Office has launched a programme called “Environmentally Efficient State Administration” with the approval of the Recommendations for an Environmentally Efficient State Administration by the cabinet of ministers in mid 2010. Environmental measures have already been introduced in office operations of some governmental bodies, which, after a short period of review, have produced positive results. These bodies are already recording reductions in electricity consumption, consumption of paper and cartridges, and other office supplies. In addition to reduced pollution, funds were saved. The Government wishes to extend these environmentally friendly office operations to the entire state administration, primarily on voluntary basis.

In 2010, the Government Office of Climate Change is drafting the Climate Change Act and is preparing the long-term low-carbon strategy of Slovenia to determine the national policy of climate change mitigation and adaptation till 2050. The purpose of both documents is to provide a framework for attaining long-term climate objectives and the implementation of a low-carbon society as well as meeting the objectives of sustainable development.

The draft Climate Change Act has been subject to extensive public debate and is expected to be adopted by the National Assembly in the first half of 2011.

The proposed new act mainly targets the non-ETS sectors through the system of planning, including the long-term climate strategy adopted by the National Assembly, and medium-term (most probably linked to internationally defined commitment periods) operational programmes for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Such programmes should be adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of the national strategy. Both the long-term climate (low-carbon) strategy and the next operational programme should be adopted in 2011 and 2012.

The draft act includes proposals on:

• regulating carbon footprint of activities (voluntary), products and plans and programmes,
• taking into account the external costs of GHG emissions,
  carbon budgets for the non-ETS sectors (set in the operational programmes),
• funding of climate related measures in developing countries,
• and monitoring of progress.

Government of the Republic of Slovenia

Gregorčičeva 20-25

Si-1000 Ljubljana

T: +386 1 478 1000

F: +386 1 478 1607

gp.gs[@]gov.si 

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