- The world is getting warmer. So is Israel. Only more so. Indeed, Israel and its neighbors are considered to be a “climate hot spot”: The planet’s temperatures have increased by one degree during the past decades; Tel Aviv is 2 degrees warmer. Sea level rise on average is up 2.5 mm. a year; in Israel it is closer to 10 mm. Periodic droughts have been significantly greater here than other countries. The crisis requires urgent action. Now.
- For too long, Israel took a path of least resistance on this global crisis. After signing the Climate Change Convention in 1992 and the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, very little was done in terms of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the anticipated impacts like increased frequency of forest fires, flooding, heat waves and droughts.
- Since entering office, Israel’s new “government of change” has lived up to its name and started to move beyond lip services: massive investments in renewable energy, public transportation, electric car infrastructure – even a carbon tax have been adopted. Most importantly, by 2050, on the eve of the Glasgow summit the government committed to “carbon neutrality” or 100% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions within 30 years.
- These new measures are worthy of praise. But they are not enough. Israel will not be able to attain its long-term emission reduction targets unless it takes a series of additional steps and radically changes the way we produce and utilize energy. Even before taking any concrete measures, the climate narrative needs to change. Let’s starts with climate education in the schools; promotional programs and leading by example.
- Methane from solid waste disposal is a major contributor to global warming. Israel’s recycling rate remains an abysmal 24%. While Israel’s environmental ministry has set a recycling goal for 2030 of 51%, that will be difficult to attain with the quantity of garbage produced by Israelis growing each year parallel to population growth, at a rate of close to 2%. Tipping fees and investment in recycling infrastructure need to be increased significantly. Israel should set a goal of reaching 10% garbage burial by 2035… and then do even better!
- Renewable energy levels have increased in the past years, by the end of 2021, the percentage of clean electricity still hovers at a mere 10%, at a time when countries like Denmark are already well over 60%. Israel’s government set a “30% by 2030” renewable electricity goal. Given improvements and reduced pricing in solar energy production and storage, this goal is too modest. Recent research suggests that a 250 -billion shekel investment could provide a local infrastructure sufficient to generate 100% renewable electricity. The United States has set such a goal by 2035; Israel should too.
- Individual behavior and consumption patterns contribute to the collective carbon footprint. Taxes have proven an effective way to change individual behavior. The recently passed carbon taxes in Israel are limited to fuels. They should be expanded to include other products such as: beef and meat products, produce flown into the country, air travel and other high carbon activities. At the same time, subsidies for green buildings, public transport, bicycles and other low carbon activities should be offered.
- At present, there is very little coordinated activity for a national climate adaptation program. The government needs to create a centralized agency with funding and authorities to see that the most critical initiatives are prioritized to reduce the anticipated fires, flooding and heat waves. A recent cabinet decision to dramatically expand tree planting in cities for shading is a good example of something we need to do today to prepare for the dramatic increase in temperatures ahead.
- A climate law is an essential tool for coordinating activities and ratcheting down emissions. While passage of such legislation is part of the new government’s platform, disagreements between related ministries have delayed its passage. It is time that the Prime Minister’s office intervene to ensure that an ambitious statute is passed without delay.
- It is extremely difficult to Israel’s reduce collective carbon footprint when population is growing at a rate of 2% a year. Every new child is born with a legitimate carbon footprint. This means that even if we successful cut back 10% emissions per capita, over the next decade, total emissions will increase by 10%. Demographic stability needs to be integrated into the national discourse over climate policy.
