The Green Phone was established in 1992 within the environmental association Zelena akcija. The Green Phone Network of Croatia was founded in September 1999 with the goal of enabling citizens of Croatia to easily and free of charge report problems related to environmental and nature protection. It is a national network of civil society organizations that jointly act as the first point of contact for citizens concerned about environmental issues in their local communities.
The Green Phone functions as a free tool through which problems can be reported, such as illegal landfills, pollution of the sea, air, and soil, tree cutting, (mis)management of hazardous waste, and other environmental threats. By calling the unique number 072 123 456, citizens are automatically redirected to the association responsible for their county.
Local experiences, national impact
Sunce has been a member of the Green Phone Network since 1999 and covers the areas of Split-Dalmatia County and Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Other associations operate in the remaining counties, together with Sunce forming this strong, interconnected network.
- Šibenik-Knin County: Ecological Association “Krka” Knin
E-mail: [email protected]
- Zadar County: Eko Zadar
E-mail: [email protected]
- Primorje-Gorski Kotar County: Žmergo
E-mail: [email protected]
- Istria County: Green Istria
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
- City of Zagreb, Bjelovar-Bilogora, Sisak-Moslavina, Brod-Posavina, Krapina-Zagorje, and Zagreb County: Zelena akcija
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
- Karlovac and Lika-Senj Counties: Eko Pan
E-mail: [email protected]
- Međimurje, Varaždin, and Koprivnica-Križevci Counties: Nobilis
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
- Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, Virovitica-Podravina, and Požega-Slavonia Counties: Green Osijek
E-mail: [email protected].
The key goals of the network are to empower citizens to actively participate in environmental protection and to encourage institutions to resolve reported cases more effectively. In addition, all member associations regularly cooperate, share experiences, and jointly raise the visibility of environmental issues. In this way, the Green Phone Network represents a valuable support system that connects local experiences into a broader picture, identifies patterns, and advocates for changes that go beyond the local context. Thus, this network has a threefold role: as a tool for public participation, as a mechanism for putting pressure on institutions, and as a platform for educating and empowering citizens in environmental protection.
Through its activities in the Green Phone Network, Sunce contributes to:
- empowering citizens (by providing legal assistance, advice, and information about their rights in environmental protection)
- resolving specific reports (by contacting institutions, monitoring administrative procedures, and, if necessary, going into the field)
- raising public awareness (through public campaigns, education, and media communication)
- networking environmental organizations in Croatia (through experience exchange, creating joint national reports, and identifying strategic environmental cases)
- increasing pressure on decision-makers (based on report analyses and identification of recurring environmental issues).
As part of its work in the Green Phone Network, Sunce shares specific experiences from Dalmatia, learns from the good practices of other members, and continuously strengthens its capacities to advocate for sustainable development and environmental protection at both the local and national levels.
