The Slovak Republic annually prepares and submits Information message on Emission Inventory (SK IIR), which represents the official document on the Slovak Republic's emission inventory under the Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution (LRTAP Convention) and at the same time according to Directive (EU) 2016/2284 (NEC Directive) on the reduction of national emissions of certain air pollutants. This important document, prepared by the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) and approved by the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic (MŽP SR), provides detailed information on the process of preparing an emission inventory and ensures a transparent view of the reported data.

Although the report primarily focuses on air pollutant emissions, its content is also closely linked to the issue of climate change. The emissions inventory covers a wide range of sectors, including energy, industry and product use, agriculture and waste management. These sectors are also significant sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that directly contribute to climate change. The report thus serves as a key basis not only for assessing air quality, but also for monitoring and planning measures to reduce emissions with an impact on the climate.

One example of the link to climate change is the mention of the national inventory system of the Slovak Republic for greenhouse gas emissions and removals according to Article 5 of the Kyoto Protocol. SHMÚ, as the only national entity for emission inventories, is responsible for the annual submission of data not only on pollutants, but also on greenhouse gases.

In the sector agriculture (Chapter 5) the report explicitly states that it reports greenhouse gas emissions and Tiers according to CRF categories. The N-flow approach, which is in line with IPCC guidelines, is used to calculate N2O emissions from straw used as bedding. This underlines the importance of the agricultural sector not only for ammonia (NH3) emissions but also for greenhouse gas emissions.

An important sector with a direct impact on climate-related emissions is energy (Chapter 3), with Annex III containing a detailed energy balance of the Slovak Republic. This balance tracks the production, import, export and final consumption of various fuels and energies, including coal, natural gas, oil, as well as renewable energy sources such as wood, biogas, wind, hydro and solar energy. Changes in fossil fuel consumption and the share of renewable sources have a direct impact on emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases from combustion processes.

In the sector of transport The report describes the methodology for calculating projections based on the COPERT model. The “roadmap to zero carbon road transport” is also mentioned, which explicitly points to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this sector. Changes in the composition of the vehicle fleet and the fuels used, such as the increasing share of CNG in bus transport and the use of biofuels, are part of the trends monitored.

The report also addresses the sector waste management (Chapter 6). The document mentions biological waste treatment, including anaerobic digestion in biogas plants and composting. The ban on landfilling biodegradable waste from parks and gardens, in force since 2006, is a measure that directly contributes to reducing emissions of methane, a major greenhouse gas, from landfills.

The report also summarizes planned improvements methodology and completeness of reporting, which is important for increasing the accuracy and reliability of emission inventories and projections.

In conclusion, the Information Report on the Emission Inventory of the Slovak Republic 2025, while primarily focused on air pollutants, provides essential data and context for understanding and managing emissions in key sectors with a significant impact on climate change. Detailed information on activities in energy, transport, agriculture and waste management, together with references to greenhouse gas reporting and emission reduction plans, underline its relevance to national and international efforts to combat climate change. Spring