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

In 2018, more than half of Slovenia's land area was covered by forests (56% or 58% including shrubland), while other mostly natural vegetation accounted for 3%. Farmland occupied 34% of land area, while slightly less than 4% was artificial land, and less than 1% was water. In the periods 1996–2000, 2000–2006 and 2006–2012, land cover and land use changes were relatively small (they occurred on 0.12%, 0.13% and 0.09% of the entire territory, respectively). In the latest period 2012–2018 land cover and land use changes slightly increase (they occurred on 0,44 % ot the entire territory).

Good

In 2022, 75% of energy supply in Slovenia was available to end-users, marking the highest level observed in the period. This percentage is largely influenced by the efficiency of electricity and heat production. In thermoelectric power plants and combined heat and power plants, almost half of the input energy was lost in 2022. Compared to the EU-27 countries, Slovenia ranked in the lower third. Electricity production from combined heat and power plants accounted for just over 6% of total production in Slovenia in 2021, with this share declining in recent years.

Bad

Foodborne infections remain a significant public health concern in Slovenia and globally. In 2023, the incidence of these infections in Slovenia decreased by 7% compared to 2022, with viral intestinal infections being the most common. Among bacterial pathogens, Campylobacter, Clostridioides difficile, Salmonella, and pathogenic E. coli are predominant. The World Health Organization estimates that at least one in ten people worldwide contracts a foodborne infection each year, representing a substantial burden on public health.

Neutral

In 2022, drinking water monitoring was carried out for 93.8% of Slovenia's population across 863 supply zones that serve 50 or more people. Large and medium-sized zones, serving more than 500 inhabitants, generally maintain a good water quality. The greatest issues are found in smaller zones (50-500 inhabitants) with a higher percentage of fecally contaminated samples. Chemical contamination was detected in two zones, mainly due to exceeded levels of lead and the pesticide desethyl-atrazine.

Neutral

In Slovenia, between 2012 and 2022, 1 to 3 waterborne outbreaks were reported annually, except in the years 2015 and 2017–2020, when no outbreaks were reported. In individual outbreaks, between 3 and 355 cases were reported. In about half of these outbreaks, the causative agent was not identified. Confirmed causative agents included Cryptosporidium parvum, Escherichia coli, rotavirus, norovirus, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Francisella tularensis.

Neutral

The average concentrations of dioxins and dl-PCBs in fish and seafood are the highest among all foods, followed by other animal-derived foods. Long-term average exposure of the Slovenian population to dioxins due to fish consumption does not exceed the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI), except for infants and toddlers, indicating a higher health risk for the most vulnerable groups. When considering only fish consumers, exposure to dioxins and PCBs exceeds the TWI in all age groups.