Over the past decade, Slovakia has undergone a significant energy transformation. A country that once depended heavily on imported fossil fuels has made renewable energy a national priority, investing in solar, hydropower, and wind systems to reduce emissions and improve energy security.
Under Slovakia’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), renewables are set to supply at least 23% of gross final energy consumption by 2030, aligned with the EU Green Deal and designed to create jobs through green initiatives. The plan also addresses energy efficiency in buildings, supported by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.
At the same time, Slovakia is working to address longstanding environmental challenges. The government has set a target to eradicate illegal dumping sites by 2026 and has introduced a landfill tax system, where the tax level is tied to how well each municipality sorts and separates its waste. This approach incentivises recycling at the local level and is backed by educational and awareness programmes.
On the innovation side, Slovakia’s eco-innovation performance is measured across five dimensions, inputs, activities, outputs, resource efficiency, and socio-economic outcomes, and the country is implementing its OECD-backed Circular Roadmap to boost competitiveness while reducing environmental impact.
For an organisation like ADI, based in the heart of Bratislava, these national efforts matter. Sustainability is not just an abstract value for us, it shapes the projects we coordinate, the topics we teach, and the partnerships we build across Europe. We are glad to see Slovakia moving in this direction.
Sources: The Borgen Project (Renewable Energy in Slovakia); European Parliament Research Service (Slovakia’s Climate Action Strategy); EEA Eco-Innovation Index
