In the framework of United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which will be held from 7 July to 16 July 2020, 47 countries will present their actions in terms of meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. Slovenia is presenting its review already for the second time. According to the SDG Index, developed by Bertelsmann Stiftung and UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Slovenia ranks 12^th among 166 countries and according to the index of the response to COVID-19 it ranks even higher, namely 7^th.        

Slovenia has been dedicated to meeting SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development from the very beginning, said Minister Černač. “Three years ago Slovenia was one of the first countries to adopt its national development strategy by 2030 in which it also incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. Our commitment to transparent and inclusive implementation can also be seen in the fact that Slovenia is presenting its Voluntary National Review of the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals already for the second time” said Minister Černač. He was pleased to observe that Slovenia has made progress since the last review.     

“With consistent and strategically oriented policies, Slovenia strives to pave the way for sustainable development. We have recognised that creativity, heritage, knowledge and diversity are the key values of development and that culture is their common denominator” underlined Minister Černač by adding that Slovenia, as we see it in 2030, is a community, a country that preserves its green image, clean nature, drinking water and many natural habitats. On the other hand, it is a society of knowledge, new technologies and a society with a high culture of living. He stressed that even though we live in a time when confronting many challenges and uncertainties has become the reality, Slovenia is aware that many development challenges also bring new opportunities. “We see Slovenia as the community based on justice and solidarity, a society providing equal opportunities for all” added Minister Černač.

Slovenia has made progress in almost all of the 17 goals, in particular with regard to goal 1 – End poverty in all its forms everywhere. Over the last three years the at-risk-of-poverty rate and the social exclusion rate have dropped from 19.2% to 16.2%. Also, the share of utilised agricultural areas with organic farming has increased over the last three years. The level of recycling has also risen with significant improvement also being made in other areas.    

Minister Černač underlined that Slovenia’s commitment to sustainable development is not only demonstrated in the political sense but also in the inclusion of a wide range of stakeholders. The preparation of the first as well as the second review was inclusive; indeed, Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy especially listened to the representatives of youth, the vulnerable and marginalised groups. “Slovenia is confidently entering a new decade of concrete actions for realising the set goals” highlighted the Minister at this year’s meeting with the theme Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.  

In line with United Nations’ initiative Slovenia’s national review also includes a section covering its successful and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the relevance in terms of the 2030 Agenda.

Link – Second Voluntary National Review of the Implementation of SDGs by the Republic of Slovenia