30. 01. 2025News

2024 in review

2024 was one of our busiest and most impactful years. This review highlights the projects, programmes, and activities that shaped our work. Our work centered on sustainable mobility, resilient cities, governance support, and community empowerment, advancing a just social and environmental transition through key projects. Thank you for being part of this journey!

Sustainable Mobility

As we reflect on the past year, sustainable mobility has remained at the heart of our work. Understanding the challenges of changing daily travel habits, we focused on promoting active commuting to schools and workplaces. We worked with stakeholders and the public to develop Municipal Sustainable Mobility Plans across Slovenia, further strengthening our expertise in both local and international sustainable mobility planning.

Active Mobility

A significant part of our sustainable mobility efforts has been dedicated to promoting active travel. Through the LIFE IP CARE4CLIMATE, we launched campaigns encouraging sustainable travel habits while also improving traffic safety.

With our “For less than two kilometers, leave the car at home” campaign, now in its third year, we used humor to highlight the impact of excessive car use for short trips.
The national Bike to Work Campaign encouraged cycling for everyday commute, attracting a record 2,000 cyclists and 55 employers.
The “I Drive 30” campaign in Trbovlje effectively raised awareness of the new 30 km/h zones, enhancing traffic safety in the area.
In Medvode, the introduction of a School Street also enhanced safety, with data showing a reduction in dangerous maneuvers near schools.

As part of the Active Travel to School and Healthy City programme we promoted active mobility and healthier environments with our partner organisation CIPRA Slovenia, Association for Protection of the Alps.

We engaged schools and municipalities to gather data on school children commuting habits. The findings revealed a significant gap: while 72% of nearly 12,000 school children wanted to walk or cycle to school, only 37% actually did.
The Walking Bus and Bike Train initiatives reached 4,000 children in 72 schools and 3 kindergartens across 38 municipalities last year, with nearly 170 schools participating since 2016.
We completed a training cycle on walkable and health-friendly environments, and invited three new municipalities to develop local walkability plans using participatory planning tools.

*A map of schools organising Walking Bus and Bike Train since 2016.*

Mobility Planning and Management

Last year, our team significantly contributed to developing Municipal Sustainable Mobility Plans for several Slovenian municipalities. We focused on public and stakeholder engagement, conducting 80 workshops, 30 public debates, 50 surveys, 300 interviews, and 6 focus groups. We also tested innovative participation methods at an international street theatre festival in Ljubljana, and a major summer festival in Kamnik. We contributed to national guidelines for urban and municipal parking policies, and shared its insights at Polis and SKoPPI international conferences. Additionally, we joined a transport study for BTC, Ljubljana’s largest shopping area, focusing on a comprehensive parking strategy. As part of the Coalition for Sustainable Transport Policy, we contributed to solutions for public transport, benefiting both commuters and public finances. Through our “Slovenia in Sync” initiative, we debunked myths and demonstrated the feasibility of introducing a clock-face schedule for public transport in Slovenia. We presented a timetable proposal for synchronised public transport, which could be implemented by 2025, and the development plan for phased railway infrastructure improvements for the next decades.

Last spring, we successfully concluded three projects funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism: Predjama Sustainable, SmartMOVE, and Trata 2.1. All three projects were designed to promote sustainable commuting practices among employees. As part of the Pop Up Urban Spaces project, we supported Ferrara, Bamberg, Krems, and Kamnik in preparing and implementing tactical urbanism interventions. We focused on public and stakeholder engagement, collaboration with local cultural actors, and knowledge exchange among cities. In the Streets for Citizens project, we support partners from seven countries in using tactical urbanism to create pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly cities. Our role includes designing, implementing, and evaluating pilot interventions.

Governance Support

Beyond mobility planning, we have also been actively involved in governance support, ensuring sustainable urban development is integrated into broader policy discussions. We continued our work as a National URBACT Point supporting URBACT networks through participation in partner meetings across Slovenia. In November, we co-organized a two-day URBACT Campus in Celje with two URBACT experts, sharing key knowledge for project implementation and funding with participating cities. We also welcomed the validation of new URBACT good practices, including five from Slovenia. As part of our role as Urban Initiative (EUI) Urban Point,, we hosted representatives from Urban Points and National URBACT Points across Europe in Ljubljana, facilitating knowledge exchange on programme achievements and future initiatives. In November, we organized the international conference “The Power of Nature in Cities“, which was well-received by participants. The event explored green and blue infrastructure, importance of nature in cities, and the social aspects of urban greening. By learning about best practices across the globe, attendees developed ideas to implement in Slovenian context. Among the speakers were renowned experts Lilli Lička and Cecil Konijnendijk.

In spring, we explored strategies for vibrant city centers at a national good practice exchange. We learned from initiatives in Kamnik, Bohinj, Ljubljana, and Celje, highlighting efforts to revitalize urban spaces. We also published a Catalogue Cities-to-Cities #4, showcasing and celebrating 13 Slovenian good practices in sustainable urban development. In collaboration with Focus – Association for Sustainable Development and the PIC – Legal Center for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment, we examined the challenges of wind farm siting in Slovenia. Through a case study, we identified key obstacles and provided recommendations to improve spatial planning and implementation, engaging diverse stakeholders.

Resilient Cities

Last year, we concluded the Climate Programme of the network Mreža za prostor – Slovenian network of NGOs and initiatives in the field of sustainable urban planning. With the event and publication “The Power of Nature for Resilient Settlements and Communities,” we promoted nature-based urban planning and advocated for better management of public green spaces.We introduced initiatives to safeguard mature urban trees and promote community-led hedgerow conservation efforts. Additionally, we held a second Climate Planning training for urban planners, with key insights compiled in the publication. At the end of 2024, in cooperation with the Ljubljana Urban Planning Institute (LUZ) and PIC – Legal Center for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment), we began developing an expert framework to enhance the management and maintenance of green spaces and urban trees. We also served as scientific consultants for Bunker’s Shared Landscapes event at Ljubljana’s Mladi Levi international contemporary performing arts festival.

Community Empowerment

Strengthening urban resilience goes hand in hand with empowering local communities. Over the past year, we have expanded our efforts in revitalizing town centers. In Slovenj Gradec, we assisted in the planning phase of the Main Square renovation as consultants and facilitators, bridging communication between the municipal administration, residents, and stakeholders to develop shared solutions. In Slovenska Bistrica, as part of the HUB-IN project, we coordinated small-scale placemaking actions with high school students, revitalising the courtyard and co-working space in Crouzet, a historic municipal building shared by multiple users.

As the Climate Programme of the network Mreža za prostor activities concluded, we reflected on and celebrated the success of Climate Pilote Actions—small projects carried out by Network’s members over the years.

Communication, Engagement, and Advisory Participation

To further strengthen public engagement, we focused on addressing misconceptions about urban development. Through a creative campaign, we tackled widespread myths about sustainable urban planning, helping shape more informed discussions in the media and public sphere. Illustrator Jernej Žumer brought these misconceptions to life, and their explanations were featured on national radio Val 202. “Urban progress is great, they say—it boosts the economy and creates jobs.” // “I take my child to school by car because the road is busy and unsafe.” // “The whole country is stuck in traffic—wider roads are the only answer!” // “So what if we cut down an old tree? We’ll just plant a new one!” In 2024, we continued our work in government advisory bodies and joined new ones. Our team contributes to climate, sustainability, housing, and urban planning councils, ensuring NGO representation in key policy discussions. In 2024, alongside various projects, we strengthened our organizational structure, engaged in professional training, and participated in international events and conferences as speakers and attendees, including Urban Future (Amsterdam), Walk 21 (Lisbon), the European Forum for Urban Forestry (Zagreb), and Polis (Baden-Württemberg).

What’s Ahead in 2025?

In the first half of the year, we will prioritize finalizing Municipal Sustainable Mobility Plans, conducting a parking analysis for Celje, and developing a parking policy for Ljubljana’s BTC shopping area. Through LIFE IP CARE4CLIMATE, we will again promote cycling to work and support a Slovenian municipality in implementing sustainable mobility measures. Whereas, in the Active Travel to School and Healthy City program, we will continue to help schools and municipalities organize Walking Bus and Bike Train initiatives. We are also preparing a publication about community-based planning for a walkable and healthy environment. In March, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands, we will host an event on public transport communication and intermodal hub planning, featuring Dutch experts. As part of Interreg projects Pop Up Urban Spaces and Streets for Citizens, we will continue supporting tactical urbanism in cities. We are expanding efforts to improve green space and urban tree management, working with partner organisations to organize focus groups and training for urban planners and green space managers, alongside developing expert guidelines. We have also started developing a local housing strategy for Kranjska Gora Municipality, focusing on affordability and quality of living with locally tailored solutions. In Kranj, we will support participatory and communication-based initiatives to enhance local government’s understanding of its climate commitments under the 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. We are pleased that Celje was selected for the European Urban Initiative’s innovative projects call. In the MAG-NET project, we will coordinate stakeholder engagement and lead participation processes for sustainable mobility. Through our National URBACT Point activities, we look forward to exploring and sharing 116 URBACT good practices. The most relevant practices for Slovenia will be featured in the Catalogue Cities-to-Cities #5, alongside other national and international knowledge exchange activities. Follow us for more!