Actions taken:
Slovenia is drafting the proposal for the Resolution on the National Programme of Protection against Natural and Other Disasters for the Period 2024–2030 (the programme), which focuses on prevention, disaster risk reduction and preparedness, and on efforts to strengthen the resilience of society and individuals to natural and other disasters. Investing in prevention and disaster risk reduction is still considered to be more effective, sustainable and, over the long term, cheaper than other forms of disaster protection, contributing to a sustainable balance in nature and society and to the safety of people and property. Not all disaster risks can be avoided. Therefore, it is necessary to further develop effective capacities to respond to natural and other disasters.
The involvement of science in all phases of the disaster management cycle is crucial and contributes significantly to more effective disaster risk management. It is also important to bring together decision-makers and those who provide protection, rescue and assistance at national and international levels. This can also be facilitated by the EU’s Civil Protection Knowledge Network; Slovenia has actively participated in its establishment and operation and will continue to do so.
The programme focuses on investment in infrastructure and on upgrading ICT and other systems, digitisation, upgrading the Incident Command System and ensuring other conditions for effective disaster preparedness and response at national, regional and local levels. Further development of rescue, protection and relief forces will be based on voluntary assistance, the strengthening and targeted development of professional structures, modular organisation and adaptability to specific situations. Activities will continue to strengthen the position of paramedics and ensure that they have the right equipment and training. Greater emphasis will be placed on reducing disaster risks, adapting the system’s organisation and response to the effects of climate change, and on monitoring compliance with, and enforcement of, regulations. Activities will also focus on raising awareness and improving the skills of the population to deal with disasters.
The consequences of climate change, which also affect the risk of floods, fires, etc. in Slovenia, are taken into account in the preparation of risk assessments and consequently in the planning of responses to climate-related natural disasters in protection and rescue plans at all levels of planning. The Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Republic of Slovenia continuously carries out activities to raise public awareness about preventive measures and personal and mutual protection in the event of climate-related natural disasters.
In January 2024, the Ministry of Defence adopted the Long-Term Guidelines for Enhancing Climate Resilience in the Defence Sector, which set out the objectives and actions to adapt to, and mitigate, the effects of climate change. The Guidelines cover measures to increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon footprints and other negative impacts, and other measures to protect the environment, as well as measures to establish a system for predicting, preventing and managing risks in a changing climate. They also cover the Ministry’s activities to contribute to international security in crisis areas (e.g. through the provision of environmental advisers to international operations and missions) and to strengthen military support to the disaster protection system and civil authorities in responding to the consequences of natural and other disasters.
The Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) carries out environmental monitoring, which is an important part of monitoring the impact of military activities on the environment and provides the basis for protecting the environment from such activities. Environmental monitoring is also important from the aspect of filtering out other impacts that could ultimately be attributed to the Slovenian Armed Forces, but are caused by other actors in the area.
Environmental aspects of armed conflict are an integral part of international humanitarian law; members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and officials of the Ministry of Defence – both legal experts and personnel deployed on international operations and missions – receive training in this area.
As stated the previous report on pledge submitted by Slovenia on August 16, 2022, one of the priorities for development cooperation and humanitarian aid of the Republic of Slovenia is the fight against climate change, focused on sustainable management of natural resources, water and food security and responding to climate induced natural disasters. In 2022 and 2023 Slovenia contributed 520.000 EUR to WPF (for Sahel, Haiti, Central African Republic, Yemen, and Horn of Africa). Slovenia also contributed 600.000 EUR to Libya as a humanitarian assistance after devastating floods in 2023.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Slovenia is providing financial support to Slovenian NGOs working in the field of safe drinking water and water management with local communities. In 2023 Slovenia contributed EUR 330.000 for projects in Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan (altogether EUR 1.230.000 in the period of 2023-2025).
Sustainable use of water resources has an important role in addressing climate change. Within the EU, Slovenia participates in the Tam Europe Initiative Transboundary Water Management in Africa, aiming to support management of transboundary river basins in Kenya, which will be implemented in the period of 2023 – 2025. Total project value financed by Slovenia is 735.000 EUR
Climate crisis and water insecurity are recognized as major global challenges. They have serious and sometimes severe impacts on security – be it food security, energy security or even hard security. Climate change and water related security issues hamper the efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. Collectively, on the global scale, we have not done enough to keep the 1,5 degrees goal within reach in line with the scientific warnings and the Paris Climate Agreement. On this basis, the Slovenian Government has stepped up its foreign policy efforts in this domain. The Minister for Foreign and European Affairs has appointed the Ambassador-at-Large for Climate Diplomacy and the Ambassador-at-Large for Water Diplomacy. Slovenia has joined many like-minded groups of the most ambitious countries both in the EU and the UN. Recently, we gave joined the High Ambition Coalition, a group formed on the initiative of the Marshall Islands.
Key priorities in the climate diplomacy of Slovenia are climate security, water, the role of women and the protection of the most vulnerable groups, science and technology for climate change mitigation and adaptation and the right to clean, healthy and sustainable environment. On the initiative of Slovenia and other members of the Core Group, this right has been recognised also in the COP27 and COP28 outcome documents.
In April 2023, Slovenia, in partnership with the European Commission and the Chatham House Institute, is organised the 12th International Conference Africa Day, which focused on climate security. The 13th Africa Day, which will take place in May 2024, will focus on energy and scientific aspects of green transition. Similarly, Latin American and Caribean Days have recently put climate related challenges at its forefront. In addition, our Government has enhanced its climate finance through multilateral channels, with a special focus on the support for the least developed states and small island developing states.
Slovenia has, as a member of the Green Group launched a Knowledge Hub on Water Solutions at COP28 – a curated selection of capacity building courses on the most pressing water challenges. Following the principles of Open Educational Resources and Open Science, the courses are easily accessible and cost-free. Slovenian Peace Operation Training Centre organised in April 2023 together with MFEA its first training on climate change, peace and security that was attended by 33 participants from 25 countries. Trainings will take place on an annual basis. Peace Operations Training Centre will also organize a training on Environmental Peacebuilding in September-October this year. We hope to attract interest from African countries.
As a member of the UN Security Council 2024/2025, Slovenia has declared climate and water security one of its priorities. Climate change and increasing water scarcity are risk drivers that can contribute to the existing conflicts, provoke new ones and even threaten the very existence of states. We will strive towards formal inclusion of the CPS to the UNSC agenda, and will mainstream CPS and Water, Peace and Security aspects into the UNSC products. As not all of water-related challenges can be attributed to climate change, we will consider water, peace and security nexus also as a stand-alone issue.
