In 2025, the Green Phone operated by Sunce Association continued to serve as a key point of contact for citizens wishing to report environmental issues and seek advice on further action. A total of 166 reports were received, covering 171 reported categories, as some cases involved multiple environmental concerns.
During the year, 100 cases were successfully resolved, while a number of reports remain under review. The reports provided valuable insight into the most common environmental challenges in the field and served as a basis for informing the public, strengthening advocacy activities, and communicating with competent authorities.
In addition to an overview of the most frequently reported categories, the Annual Report on the Work of the Green Phone in 2025 presents case studies demonstrating the importance of timely and accurate responses, as well as the need to improve the implementation of regulations and strengthen the accountability of environmental protection authorities.
Most Frequently Reported Cases
The largest number of reports once again concerned waste management issues (46 reports), primarily related to illegal waste dumping and waste burning in the environment. The second most common category was marine pollution (44 reports), with the majority of cases involving pollution caused by wastewater discharges from vessels or from land-based sources.
Issues concerning green spaces (14 reports), water (11 reports), and air quality (10 reports) were also prominent. Topics such as mining, animals, forests, noise, and illegal construction were reported less frequently but remain equally important from an environmental protection perspective.
In 2025, most reports originated from Split-Dalmatia County (75%), while a smaller share came from Dubrovnik-Neretva County (5%). A notable increase in reports from other Croatian counties was recorded, accounting for 20% of all reports. This trend indicates that Sunce’s communication campaigns are reaching a wider audience and increasing both the visibility of and trust in the Green Phone service beyond the area primarily covered by the Association. Regardless of the county from which a report originates, citizens receive advisory support, and cases are forwarded, when necessary, to competent organizations within the Green Phone Network to ensure timely and effective handling.
The highest number of reports was received in July and September, which can be linked to Sunce’s campaign “Where Do You Anchor?” (“A di se ti sidriš?”). The campaign encouraged citizens to actively respond to marine pollution and report observed environmental problems, emphasizing responsible behaviour in the Adriatic Sea.
The upward trend in reporting continued in November, at the beginning of the winter season, when the highest number of reports concerning illegal waste dumping and burning are typically received.
The Stomorska Waste Burning Case
Among the 46 waste-related reports, responses from competent authorities are still pending in 25 cases. Among the resolved cases, the Stomorska case on the island of Šolta stands out as an example that can help educate citizens on how to address similar situations independently—specifically, when to contact municipal services and when to contact the Environmental Protection Inspectorate.
In September, the Green Phone received reports from concerned citizens regarding illegal waste disposal on both private and public land in Stomorska, including incidents of waste burning. Such cases occur frequently, and citizens are often uncertain about which authority is responsible.
It is important to know that when the offender is a private individual or unknown, citizens should contact the municipal warden service. Municipal wardens have the necessary authority to act and initiate proceedings against offenders. When the offender is a legal entity (company), supervision falls under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, which has broad legal powers to investigate and sanction violations. Avoiding identification or cooperation with competent authorities is not possible under the law.
As the winter season has only just begun, citizens are encouraged to report any illegal waste dumping or burning, whether on private or public property. Detailed information on waste burning, its harmful impacts on health and the environment, and reporting procedures can be found in the relevant article.
The “Where Do You Anchor?” Campaign
During the summer of 2025, Sunce continued its “Where Do You Anchor?” campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of protecting the Adriatic Sea. One of the campaign’s objectives was to encourage citizens to report marine pollution incidents.
As a result, 44 reports of marine pollution were received during the summer months of 2025, representing 15 more reports than in the previous year.
These figures provide additional support for advocacy efforts directed toward competent institutions, demonstrating the need for more effective measures and further improvements in the implementation of the existing legal framework.
You can read about the situation on the ground at the LINK.
They also highlight the importance of continuing initiatives that combine education, practical guidance, and the promotion of responsible behaviour, as every citizen report contributes to creating the foundation for meaningful environmental improvements. Detailed guidance on how to report incidents of marine pollution is available HERE.
The Moby Drea Case at Brodosplit Shipyard
Before the vessel Moby Drea became the subject of widespread media attention, Sunce received anonymous information through the Green Phone in July 2025 regarding the planned removal of asbestos-containing materials at the Brodosplit shipyard.
Given the long history of asbestos pollution in the Split area, particularly in Vranjic and the North Port area (LINK), this issue is both familiar and highly relevant to Sunce’s work.
Additional information received from international experts and European organizations raised a number of concerns, particularly regarding inconsistencies in the vessel’s Inventory of Hazardous Materials documentation and uncertainties related to the safe removal and disposal of asbestos in Croatia. The vessel had already been under observation by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
Asbestos remains an issue with serious health, environmental, and social consequences for local communities. Any activity involving hazardous asbestos waste therefore requires a high level of attention, transparency, and strict compliance with applicable regulations.
For this reason, Sunce collected available documentation and submitted inquiries to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, the Labour Inspectorate, the Market Inspectorate, as well as Brodosplit and the company Diak.
The aim was to obtain information about the planned works, worker qualifications, supervision measures, and asbestos disposal procedures. Sunce advocates for full transparency in hazardous waste management, consistent implementation of national and European legislation, and the protection of human health and the environment as an absolute priority.
Ultimately, Sunce received information about a decision by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure that prohibited the planned overhaul of the vessel Moby Drea at the Brodosplit shipyard and ordered its removal from Croatian territorial waters. The vessel subsequently left Croatian waters within the extended deadline granted by the authorities.
The case triggered a new wave of inquiries to the Green Phone. Citizens were advised not to remove asbestos themselves but to leave such work to licensed companies. In cases involving small quantities, citizens were advised to use protective equipment, handle materials with extreme caution, and dispose of them only at facilities authorized to receive hazardous waste.
The Moby Drea case once again raised questions regarding asbestos management in Croatia, oversight of hazardous waste operations, compliance with legislation, and long-term asbestos disposal capacities. Sunce maintains that the asbestos issue in Split and its surrounding areas has not yet been systematically resolved and that citizens do not always have access to clear and easily understandable information about proper handling and disposal procedures.
Rejection of the “Gala – Obrovac Sinjski” Solar Power Plant Project
Sunce joined environmental activist and representative of the Croatian Mountaineering Association’s Commission for the Protection of Mountain Nature, Marko Cvrlje, in advocating against the construction of the “Gala – Obrovac Sinjski” solar power plant.
The project envisaged the construction of a solar power facility covering 248.5 hectares of porous karst terrain located only 1.5 kilometres above the Kosinac water source, a key drinking water supply for the Cetina region. According to the Environmental Impact Assessment, the project would have required the removal of 252 hectares of forest and scrubland, potentially leading to the loss of natural filtration functions, increased flood risks, and pollution of water bodies.
The Advisory Expert Committee refused to approve the Environmental Impact Assessment, effectively halting the project for the time being. The project had attracted strong opposition from environmental organizations, scientists, mountaineers, local councils, and farmers.
However, because the area remains designated in the spatial plans of both the City of Sinj and Split-Dalmatia County as a potential solar energy development zone, similar projects may still be proposed in the future.
Upcoming amendments to the Split-Dalmatia County Spatial Plan represent a crucial opportunity for citizens to request the removal of environmentally harmful projects from planning documents. Sunce encourages all citizens to actively participate in public consultations on spatial planning amendments.
The first and often most important opportunity for public involvement arises immediately after the publication of the decision to prepare a spatial plan. At that stage, citizens can initiate meetings with local authorities and request the removal of problematic projects from development plans. Another key opportunity comes during the public consultation phase, when anyone can submit official comments and suggestions regarding draft plans.
Only through active public participation can harmful projects be prevented while creating opportunities for environmentally and socially responsible investments.
Green Phone Projects
The project “Green Phone – Lend Your Voice to the Environment!” continued to receive co-financing from the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of support.
This funding enabled the Sunce team to participate once again in the Split Cycling Event, organized ahead of World Car-Free Day. Approximately 350 citizens attended the event.
The Green Phone information stand served as a place where citizens could discuss environmental concerns with the Sunce team and receive answers to their questions. Special emphasis was placed on encouraging greater citizen engagement, and interested participants received the brochure “Lend Your Voice to the Environment!” Promotional video materials from the event were also produced.
Sunce’s goal is for citizens not to remain passive observers but to become active participants in protecting their environment. The work of the Green Phone continues to highlight systemic problems related to the insufficient enforcement of environmental legislation and slow institutional responses.
These challenges led to the launch of the project “Together – Through Voice and Action for the Environment.” The project is funded by the European Union through the Impact4Values 2.0 programme, under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme.
Among other activities, the project includes monitoring legislative processes, tracking the implementation of laws, and advocating for more accountable public institutions. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition’s Legislative Activities Plan for 2026, a new Environmental Protection Act is expected in the second quarter of 2026, while a new Nature Protection Act is planned for the fourth quarter.
Sunce’s objective is to help build a system in which citizens’ voices are heard and environmental laws are effectively implemented in practice.
Such support enables Sunce to engage in systematic advocacy and institutional reporting. In 2025, the Association submitted a report to the Ombudswoman and contributed comments related to the Aarhus Convention and the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report.
In 2026, the Green Phone team will continue working on reported cases while emphasizing the importance of citizen engagement, which provides valuable insight into environmental conditions across different communities. Public participation remains essential for effective and timely environmental protection.
Environmental issues can be reported via the Green Phone at 072 123 456 or by e-mail at [email protected].
