ABSTRACT
The chapter's starting point is Slovenia's commitment to on the one hand the norms set out in the EU's green transition and on the other hand the multiple challenges on the path to decarbonisation and climate neutrality. The chapter examines the factors responsible for Slovenia's (in)action on the required green transition and focuses on two examples: renewable energy deployment and coal phase-out, which are cornerstones of the medium-term European Green Deal (EGD) target. The chapter also draws attention to a little-discussed aspect of the green transition at the EU level – a potential conflict between the requirements of the Union's long-term climate (and energy) targets and nature conservation. The chapter finds that compliance with the EGD objectives is influenced by the national political and socioeconomic context, including the struggle with planning, and conducting participatory decision-making processes, both of which are integral to the required green transition (the coal phase-out case). The country's large area of natural protected areas also presents a challenge to the achievement of climate and energy targets (the renewable case), while domestic political interests account for slow progress and lack of ambition.
