Resolution on the Long-Term Climate Strategy of Slovenia until 2050.

With the Resolution on the Long-Term Climate Strategy of Slovenia 2050, which is adopted for the implementation of the first paragraph of article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the management of the Energy Union and climate measures, sets a clear goal, namely to achieve net zero emissions or climate neutrality by 2050. Since the climate strategy is the commitment and task of all ministries, the entire government and the country as a whole, it is essential in all competent sectors to immediately implement already adopted policies and measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), their upgrading and the cessation of implementation and adoption policies and measures that conflict with the reduction of GHG emissions. For the period up to 2030, the document is based on already adopted decisions defined in the Development Strategy of Slovenia 2030, the Comprehensive National Energy and Climate Plan (NEPN), the Resolution on the National Transport Development Programme in the Republic of Slovenia for period until 2030, Resolution on the National Environmental Protection Program for the period 2020–2030 and other sectoral documents. The climate strategy builds on the aforementioned documents and sets a vision, long-term goals until 2050, and provides directions for achieving them. The climate strategy is a strategic document and does not contain concrete measures. The action plan for the implementation of the climate strategy until 2030 is the NEPN. The two documents were prepared in a coordinated manner and are based on the same professional foundations.
The climate strategy is based on the principles of reducing GHG emissions, efficient use of energy and reducing energy consumption, climate justice, just transition and scientific findings. The goals and measures are justified by the latest and internationally recognized scientific findings and are based on the principles of the law governing environmental protection, among which the main principles are sustainable development, integrity, cooperation, the principle of responsibility of the perpetrator, prevention and precaution. Interwoven among them are the principle of competitiveness, the principle of respecting sectoral goals for easier integration of sectoral policy, the principle of cost effectiveness, the principle of ensuring Slovenia's active role in the international community, the principle of preserving habitats that are important for preserving biodiversity and whose condition is also deteriorating due to climate change. The implementation of the climate strategy encourages measures and the development of technologies that have a positive impact on biodiversity, or those that will have the least impact on it. The vision states: In 2050, Slovenia will be a climate-neutral and climate-change-resistant society based on sustainable development. It will handle energy and natural resources efficiently, while at the same time maintaining a high level of competitiveness of the low-carbon circular economy. The society will be based on preserved nature, circular economy, renewable and low-carbon energy sources, sustainable mobility and locally produced healthy food. It will be adapted and resistant to the effects of climate change. Slovenia will be a society in which the quality and safety of life will be high, and it will also take advantage of opportunities in the conditions of a changed climate. The transition to a climate-neutral society will be inclusive, and the principles of climate justice will be taken into account. The costs and benefits of the transition will be distributed fairly, as even the most vulnerable population groups will be able to implement mitigation and adaptation measures. Achieving climate neutrality means that Slovenia will achieve net zero emissions by 2050, which means that the removal of emissions will be the same as the remaining anthropogenic GHG emissions. The removals comprise emission sinks in the sector Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry and direct capture of GHG emissions. The main direction implemented by the climate strategy is the reduction of GHG emissions. Among the horizontal orientations that apply to all sectors are greater material efficiency, the promotion of low-carbon sources, energy efficiency, sustainable spatial development, sustainable construction and the promotion of digitization, and public administration as a model. Slovenia will not adopt policies and measures and will not invest funds in a way that would harm the commitments of the Paris Agreement. Among the horizontal orientations is the fact that, in addition to the climate crisis, we are also in a biodiversity crisis, so when looking for solutions, it is necessary to look for synergies between the two. Any interventions in the environment must be carried out with as little impact on the environment as possible. It will make a vulnerability assessment for the water sector (or it will integrate the water sector into other sectors), agriculture, forestry, public health, tourism, biodiversity, buildings, energy, transport, spatial planning, industry, urban and rural areas, coastal areas, seas and fisheries, cultural heritage. When assessing vulnerability, Slovenia will prioritize vulnerability assessment in the fields of agriculture, forestry, public health, nature and tourism. Water management plans will also include assessments of vulnerability to climate change (surface, underground and drinking water). In order to create vulnerabilities in the field of water, Slovenia will have to first fill the gaps in the field of expert foundations and studies (e.g. make projections of sea level rise, flood studies - identification of areas, monitoring, intensity of floods) and also adjust land use according to the results. Slovenia will harmonize the preparation of vulnerability assessments as much as possible, and design the system of goals and measures in such a way that it will be possible to achieve synergies and eliminate measures that worsen the situation or the possibilities of achieving the goals in any of the sub-areas. This text sets specific issues and visions regarding different sectors and related activities as follows: energy supply; industry; traffic and mobility; buildings - households and service activities; agriculture; land use, land use change and forestry; waste, agricultural machinery; consumption and production processes for a low-carbon circular economy; food consumption patterns; green financing for the transition to a low-carbon society.