The international environmentalist group Greenpeace has stated that it has seen a step forward in Slovakia's approach to climate protection in 2019. Their positive evaluation is based especially on plans to end coal mining and burning in Upper Nitra, as well as the country's subsequent entry into the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), a coalition of governments, businesses and organisations working to advance the transition from coal power to clean energy. According to the organization, the level of the discussion on climate protection in Slovakia has changed completely over the last year, which it attributes largely to the prioritization of the topic by Zuzana Čaputová, as well as to the growth of the climate movement and the importance of environmental protection in the European elections. The organization points out, however, that Slovakia is still far from having an ambitious climate policy.
Meanwhile, steelmakers in Slovakia have expressed support for measures to reduce emissions such as carbon tariffs, while at the same time warning that such measure could lead to higher prices for industrial products as well as to the escalation of trade conflicts. They identify as a major problem the competitive advantage of non-European producers who may not be required to meet the same environmental standards as they do. President of U.S. Steel Košice James Bruno, therefore, has said he is in favour of introducing a carbon duty at the borders of the European Union in order to meet this problem. Branislav Klocok - managing director of OFZ Istebné, Slovakia's largest ferroalloy manufacturer, has stated that he also sees this as an option, but fears it could lead to the escalation of international trade conflicts that could ultimately result in war.
