High-level event commemorating this year's Earth Overshoot Day
A new initiative motivating Slovenia’s businesses to align their strategies with the reality of persistent ecological overshoot
State Secretary Uroš Vajgl and dr. Janez Potočnik (photo: STA)
Marking a new chapter in environmental stewardship, Slovenia's Environment Minister Bojan Kumer, recognizes the Ecological Footprint as a pivotal metric. This tool drives environmental action, guides the country's development trajectory, and serves as a compass for regional development planning. "Earth Overshoot Day is a line we cross far too early, underscoring the unsustainable course of our development. However, it is not a cause for despair but a call for action," Minister Kumer emphasized.
"We are now deciding what kind of country we want to live in for the next 20 or 30 years." said the President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar, calling for action to ensure that Slovenia becomes "a modern, green and technologically innovative country in the coming decades; a country which young people will no longer wish to leave, but one where they will be able to live and work in a safe, attractive and creative home environment."
State Secretary Uroš Vajgl unveiled the One-Hour Initiative. The new initiative leverages the Ecological Footprint method to stimulate innovation, fortify Slovenia’s economy, and secure the country’s enduring prosperity. It aims to increase knowledge in Slovenia’s private sector about environmental accounting and reporting while empowering them with means to track and contribute to the transition towards a sustainable economy. "Slovenian companies that produce goods and services while also reducing global overshoot are set for future success. The One-Hour Initiative provides the springboard for the private sector’s contribution to the Footprint reduction target and successful execution of the European Green Deal,” affirms State Secretary Uroš Vajgl.
The event drew influential supporters, including UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 and IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak and Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel at UNEP Dr. Janez Potočnik.
“All too often we act in a way that shows that we are still not well aware of the seriousness of the situation and that we are - for the comfort provided by the ecological overshoot - still willing to risk our future and the future of next generations. The current economic model is wasteful and unfair. It is not sustainable, and the key question is how to provide efficiently and fairly for people's needs by using less energy and less raw materials. This is, of course, a path that requires a good understanding of the problems and systemic change” highlighted Dr. Potočnik.
Al Mubarak underscored, “The crucial point is this: As we move towards moving the date, we have the opportunity to fortify our cities and countries. The real question lies in whether we possess the courage to seize these opportunities.”
“Slovenia’s official commitment to measure and reduce its Ecological Footprint, as bolstered by today’s launch of the One-Hour Initiative in partnership with Global Footprint Network, demonstrates true political leadership towards sustainability. We're thrilled about the government’s encouragement of the private sector's participation and eagerly anticipate collaborating in these future engagements," commended Global Footprint Network CEO Steven Tebbe.
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About Republic of Slovenia’s Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy
The Slovenian Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy is addressing the present and future challenges in the fields of environment, energy and climate change. Its key priorities are efficient energy supply, introduction of modern energy policies, with an emphasis on increasing the share of renewable energy sources. These are key measures for protecting the environment, the country’s energy self-sufficiency and tackling climate change. The Ministry is also responsible for public passenger transport, sustainable mobility and transport policies, which will importantly contribute to Slovenia’s green transition.
About Global Footprint Network
Global Footprint Network is an international sustainability organisation dedicated to creating a world where all can thrive within the Earth’s means. This includes responding to climate change, biodiversity decline, and unmet human needs. Since 2003 we’ve engaged with more than 30 cities, 50 countries, and 70 global partners to improve their resource security by delivering scientific insights relevant for high-impact policy and investment decisions.