KAZALCI OKOLJA

Environmental indicators in Slovenia


Environmental indicators are based on graphs, maps and assessments and as such present environmental trends in Slovenia. The indicators represent one of the four pillars of our environmental reporting, and are prepared in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act. The Environmental Indicators in Slovenia website enables users to browse among 180 indicators. They are based on numerical data and they indicate the state, characteristics and trends of environmental development in Slovenia. They are prepared using a systematic approach based on data and monitoring, as shown in the information pyramid.

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Neutral

Both the residents of the EU-27 countries and the residents of Slovenia are only partially aware of the problem of increasing transport and its consequences for the environment and health. Public awareness of the impact of transport on the environment is still relatively low, although the differences between European countries are considerable. People's awareness of the environmental problems of transport does not automatically lead to changing their travel habits, even though this would contribute to their better health.

Bad

Trends in annual precipitation are not as obvious as temperature trends. Changes between years and differences between regions are significant. According to climate change projections, annual precipitation will slightly increase while changes in seasonal precipitation will be noticeable. The most worrying are summer conditions, because less precipitation and higher temperature might result in higher frequency of droughts. In winter, more precipitation may lead to an increase in flooding events.

Bad

Temperature in Slovenia is increasing faster than global average. Increase in the annual average temperature is most evident in the last three decades. Warming of the atmosphere will continue according to the climate change projections. The result of warming is an increase in sea level (due to melting of glaciers and thermal expansion), increase in level of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (contributes to warming), and many extreme weather and climate events (like floods, droughts, hail and heavy wind), which will influence the quality of our lives.

Bad

Temperature observations show increasing trend of maximum and minimum absolute temperature in between 1961 and 2022, reflecting a global warming. Number of hot days is increasing, including the frequency of extreme hot days with daily maximum temperature above 35 °C. In the summer of 2013, the highest temperature so far was measured in Slovenia, and local temperature records were observed at many meteorological stations. A record number of hot days was observed in 2022. Number of days with temperature below zero show a decline.

Neutral

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children and one of the major causes of hospitalization to the age of fifteen. In 2019, in EU countries, the share of people reporting asthma was 5,7 %, and for Slovenia it was 4,8 %.  In the period 2017-2021, the municipalities of Kostel, Kobilje and Cankova stood out in terms of the number of hospitalizations for asthma. Recent evidences support relationship between exposure to air pollution and exacerbation of asthma, mainly due to exposure to particulate matter (PM10).

Neutral

Comparison of periods 1961-1990 and 1991-2020 on the chosen representative stations around Slovenia shows decrease of heating degree days by around 10 % and multiple increase of cooling degree days. With projected continuous temperature raise until the end of 21st century, those trends are expected to continue. Thus, in Slovenia, energy demand for cooling will increase in the warmer period of the year, while the energy demand for heating will decrease in colder period of the year. Same trend is projected for Europe in general.