What unique insights does Paul RYKEN offer about Slovenia's environmental sustainability?

I’ve been pretty blown away by Slovenia, not just for its landscapes but for how it looks after them.

Coming from New Zealand, I don’t say lightly that another country is on par with – or even ahead of – NZ on nature and sustainability, but Slovenia makes a strong case. What really stands out to me is how everyday sustainability feels there, not a special project.

You see it in:

1. Exceptionally clean streets and strong visible recycling
2. A real effort to protect forests, rivers and mountain areas while still making them accessible
3. Policy choices like early EU membership and the Euro that make low-stress, cross-border, train-and-bus travel easier for visitors

In short, Slovenia shows that small countries can punch well above their weight in environmental stewardship – and that New Zealand (and others) could learn from how integrated it is in daily life.

Are you more interested in policy-style sustainability, or in what a regular traveller will actually notice on the ground?