Ljubljana - The green party Vesna has sent an initiative to parties outside the government on the transition to sustainable energy sources to enquire about their views on the matter. The government's stance on this is clear, Vesna said, adding it would now like to get to know the positions of other parties.

The initiative cautions against Slovenia's delaying the switch to sustainable energy sources and highlights the importance of the country becoming energy independent as soon as possible.

Vesna said that the current government swore by dependence on fossil fuels and on nuclear energy, while the other parties were conveying vague messages to the public and at the same time trying to portray themselves as green.

The two presidents of the party, Urša Zgojznik and Uroš Macerl, and one of the vice-presidents Klemen Belhar on Monday unveiled the initiative that urges other parties to adopt a clear and responsible energy strategy for until 2040, a roadmap that the next government would start implementing immediately.

Zgojznik noted that the world currently faced two crises that would only get worse and merge into new crises. "One is the war in Ukraine. It is a human and humanitarian catastrophe with the threat of a nuclear confrontation, which we still turn a blind eye to. Then there is the climate crisis. Both are strongly linked to the use of fossil fuels," she said.

Vesna does not consider nuclear energy to be safe. "Not only because it makes Slovenia dependent on others, first and foremost on those who have fossil fuels, but also because by investing in it Slovenia loses all the other opportunities it has that are more environment-friendly, people-friendly and mean dispersed ownership," Zgojznik added.

Europe should become energy independent and sustainable sources can play a role in this, according to Vesna. "National security can be best enhanced by self-sufficiency and energy independence," Macerl said, warning that economic and energy crises were imminent.

He noted that Slovenia had a great potential when it comes to sustainable sources. "We have a lot of roofs that could be turned into solar farms, but we're the worst in Europe in terms of harnessing sustainable resources."

Macerl also urged that the state should invest in upgrading the electricity grid as he finds it outdated and incapable of making full use of solar energy.