Study Resource Efficiency Gains and Green Growth Perspectives in Slovakia Zita Izakovi č ová, Július Oszlányi, Štefan Luby and Martina Lubyová September 2012 n As Slovakia owns only limited primary energy resources(mainly brown coal), it strongly depends on imports of foreign raw materials(e.g. crude oil). Despite some success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, long-term reduction targets seem difficult to reach. Energy consumption ranks still high among the EU27 average. Air pollution, chemical and physical degradation of soil assets, water pollution and dam­ages to vegetation are considered the main environmental problems. n Influenced by EU and other international organisations, there is a comprehensive legislative body concerning climate change and energy issues. However, many meas­ures laid out are still not realised and there is no national strategy for greening economic growth. Besides low public awareness, Slovakia faces a number of other obstacles to implement further sustainable legislation: growing social inequalities and governmental passivity. n The main potential for green growth lies in agriculture and in the renewable energy sector. The potential for the large-scale creation of green jobs seems low, as the share of sectors with high potential(especially agriculture) in total employment has been continuously declining. The main obstacles to green growth include: lack of political interest, unclear competences, lack of financial resources, poor innovation and research capacity, inadequate environmental education, insufficient support system for implementation of measures and increasing regional disparities.