Over the past decade, Slovenia has reduced emissions of most air pollutants, but air pollution continues to have serious health and economic consequences. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) is associated with around 500 premature deaths per million inhabitants, well above the European Union average, according to the OECD in its latest Environmental Performance Review of Slovenia 2026.
This is the second comprehensive environmental assessment of Slovenia carried out by the OECD. The report evaluates the country’s progress over the past decade and makes 43 recommendations to Slovenia, with a particular focus on climate change and air pollution.
Emissions of greenhouse gases and major air pollutants have declined since 2008, and Slovenia has met its existing EU targets for reducing air pollution. However, air quality remains problematic, particularly in winter, when wood burning and the accumulation of pollutants in basins and valleys lead to higher concentrations of particulate matter.
The main source of PM₂.₅ emissions is buildings, primarily due to the burning of woody biomass in households. Emissions of these particles from buildings decreased by 45 percent between 2005 and 2023, but Slovenia must achieve a 60 percent reduction by 2030 compared with 2005 levels. The OECD highlights old heating appliances, burning under unsuitable conditions and the use of insufficiently dry wood as particular concerns. Modern wood-pellet stoves produce fewer emissions, but they still pollute the air more than heat pumps.
Transport also remains an important source of pollution. Slovenia is highly dependent on private cars, while the use of public transport is below the EU average. In 2024, 49 percent of passenger cars were diesel-powered. Transport is the largest source of nitrogen oxide emissions and a significant source of particulate matter, particularly in heavily trafficked urban areas.
Agriculture is responsible for almost all of Slovenia’s ammonia emissions, while industry is the main source of non-methane volatile organic compounds. The OECD estimates that, with the measures currently in place, Slovenia is unlikely to meet its target of reducing ammonia emissions by 15 percent by 2030 compared with 2005 levels.
The OECD recommends that Slovenia provide greater financial support for alternatives to wood burning, particularly heat pumps, strengthen controls on improper burning practices and improve public awareness of the health impacts of air pollution. In the transport sector, it proposes gradually phasing out tax advantages for diesel fuel, reforming commuting cost reimbursements, taxing free workplace parking spaces, and increasing investment in public passenger transport, railways and cleaner vehicles.
At the presentation of the report, the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning announced that it would translate the OECD recommendations into an operational review of measures, setting out the responsible authorities, deadlines and methods for monitoring results. According to the OECD, the key challenge is no longer merely setting targets, but ensuring their effective implementation.
