Velenje

Slovenia

Mission city Pilot city
National Mission Ecosystem Slovenia
Velenje Mission City Label
Population 33k
City Area 600.0 km²
City active since June 2022

The City of Velenje's efforts and achievements related to climate change mitigation have been recognised by the 2024 Green Leaf award.

 

The vision of the city to become climate neutral by 2030 coincides with the exit from coal and just transition of the Savinjsko-Šaleška (SAŠA) sub-region. The modern city of Velenje was planned and built in 1950s. Its development was stimulated by the increasing energy needs. The city has grown into an important economic, employment, educational, administrative and cultural centre of the SAŠA sub-region.

 

Today, the Velenje coal mine is the only one left operating in Slovenia and supplies lignite to a thermal power plant (TPP) Šoštanj in the neighbouring municipality, which produces around one third of electricity in Slovenia. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a Strategy for the exit from coal stating that the Velenje coal mine is to close mining operation by 2033 at the latest. Ceasing the use of lignite for production of electricity and for heating is a turning point in history for the City of Velenje, being both a challenge and an opportunity to ambitiously step on a climate neutral path. 

Key Learnings

Urban Pioneers: Systemic Change Amid Livable Environments - Slovenian cities pilot activity

Three Slovenian cities piloted different approaches to systemic change through data-driven solutions and citizen participation. Kranj focused on sustainable mobility, optimising transport flows and deploying Slovenia's first Mobility-as-a-Service application. Ljubljana integrated excess heat into its district heating system while building an innovation hub for energy retrofit awareness. Velenje tackled data fragmentation through community-driven data collection and new governance models. Together, they demonstrated how digital tools, innovation ecosystems, and citizen participation can be woven into broader climate strategies. Cities involved: Kranj, Ljubljana, Velenie

Zero Emission Mobility Initiatives - Pécs, Cluj-Napoca, Velenje ECT activity

ZERO-MOVE addresses the urgent challenge of transport-related emissions in Central European cities by integrating advanced technologies with inclusive governance. The project responds to high car dependency, fragmented stakeholder coordination, and limited data- driven traffic management. It introduces smart sensor networks for real- time traffic and freight monitoring, enabling proactive urban mobility planning. Simultaneously, it establishes Transport Coalitions and Policy Labs to co-create sustainable transport policies and formalize emission reduction commitments. By linking behavioural change, infrastructure upgrades, and stakeholder collaboration, the project builds a replicable model for low-emission urban mobility. Objectives Deploy smart traffic and freight monitoring systems Establish Transport Coalitions and Policy Labs Promote citizen engagement through carbon tracking tools Support green freight and logistics accreditation Raise awareness via city-wide campaigns and educational programmes ECT = Enabling City Transformation
View all Velenje Resources

Latest updates from the city

Pilot project spotlight
Visit Velenje City Website Read Velenje Climate City Contract Eilat City Profile (Twin City)

External projects

City involvement in related European initiatives