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The Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia: Climate goals must not jeopardize development

by AI | 08.Aug 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The Climate Act, which is still in draft form, is supposed to chart Slovenia’s path to climate neutrality by 2045, but warnings are already emerging that it could jeopardize economic development and competitiveness.

Slovenia must adopt numerous measures to achieve climate neutrality, in the photo one of the major air polluters Thermal Power Plant Šoštanj. Photo: Bor Slana/STA

Ljubljana – The draft of the climate law, with which Slovenia wants to ensure a comprehensive framework for more effective implementation of climate policies, is currently under inter-departmental coordination within the government after last year’s public consultation. However, the economy is already warning that it contains ambiguities that could jeopardize the socio-economic development of Slovenia.

“The most striking goal is that Slovenia must achieve climate neutrality no later than 2045. The fight against climate change is a common EU goal, which in the green deal has set 2050 as a milestone year. Slovenia’s contribution is of course important, but from the perspective of the global climate, it is negligible, so it does not make sense for our country to outpace the EU’s common deadlines in achieving this goal,” the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce wrote in a press release on Tuesday.

They added that reckless haste could jeopardize the green transition of the Slovenian industry, and its closure could jeopardize the socio-economic development in the country. They are convinced that the draft law imposes an additional administrative burden on the Slovenian economy, which other EU countries do not have, thus reducing the competitiveness of Slovenian companies. “It is a plan for climate neutrality that energy-intensive activities must prepare in accordance with the EU directive on industrial emissions, but the draft climate law extends this obligation to all entities that trade in greenhouse gases,” they noted, among other things.

The Ministry of the Environment wants the climate law to establish a regulatory framework for increasing resilience to climate change, which is essential for achieving national climate goals. (August 7)