Ten Years for a Healthy Environment and a More Sustainable Future – IZO Marks Its 10th Anniversary

Ljubljana, 3 June 2026 – The air we breathe, the food we eat and the effects of climate change we experience all affect our health, yet we are often not sufficiently aware of the links between the environment and health. Institute for Health and Environment (IZO) was founded ten years ago precisely to make these sustainable development issues more visible, easier to understand and, above all, to turn them into concrete change. As it marks its 10th anniversary today, IZO confirms that this was the right direction.

Institute for Health and Environment (IZO) is celebrating ten years of activity today. Over the past decade, the organization has grown from an idea developed by a group of ambitious young people into one of the key actors in the fields of environment and health in Slovenia and a recognized partner internationally. By combining accessible science communication, advocacy, communication, education and the development of practical solutions, IZO has contributed to policy change, greater public awareness and the development of new approaches for a healthier and more sustainable society.

Since its establishment in 2016, IZO has built its work around cross-sector collaboration and partnerships with national and international organizations and institutions, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy (MOPE), the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), municipalities such as the City of Ljubljana, the City Municipality of Celje and the City Municipality of Koper, academia, particularly the Faculty of Geography at the University of Ljubljana, Global Footprint Network, BETA Technological Centre and numerous other partners. Among its key milestones are the co-founding of Impact Hub Ljubljana in 2020, which strengthened the space for social innovation and collaboration, the introduction of the Ecological Footprint Calculator in Slovenia in 2021, and awareness-raising campaigns on sustainability challenges and Earth Overshoot Day.

In recent years, IZO has also made an important contribution to broader public discussions and the development of systemic solutions. In 2022, its “Alcohol Holds Slovenia Back” campaign sparked discussion about the impact of alcohol on health and society, while its Sustainaware project, which promoted sustainability education, received the international Climate Bridges Award. The organization has also strengthened its cooperation with the Slovenian NCD Alliance (ZKNB) on the environmental aspects of noncommunicable diseases and has become actively involved in European processes in the fields of environment and health. As a member of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), IZO has had a representative on the network’s governing board since 2024. In the field of public health, it has also contributed to the adoption of progressive measures to protect the population from the harmful effects of tobacco use, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, especially young people.