Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection has created a new plan to combat global warming, with the goal of moving from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy by the year 2050.
This means that Israel would generate around 95% of its electricity from renewable energy, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing Israel ‘s carbon footprint – a key feature of global warming.
Smoke leaflets from an industrial center in Ashkelon
(Photo: Roee Idan)
“This decision is a revolution in the goals, strategy and response of Israel to the climate crisis and will allow our economy to prosper in a small world. carbon, “said Minister for Environmental Protection Gila Gamliel.
Dr. Gil Proaktor, head of energy and climate at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said the plan will not only reduce pollution to near zero but also save the country huge sums of money.
“We created the aims and strategy of the plan in a multi-sectoral process in collaboration with around 1,000 professionals,” he said.
“Implementing this strategy will save significant economic savings in resource consumption and virtually stop pollution while harnessing green growth and reaping the benefits of its investments. needed to move to a low-carbon economy. ”
Minister for Environmental Protection Gila Gamliel
(Photo: Yuval Chen)
World leaders at the Paris Climate Conference in late 2015 pledged to formulate a vision, goals and strategy by the end of 2020 for the transition to low-carbon economies and even zero emissions by 2050.
In some 100 countries that have already developed a vision and strategy for a low-emission economy – including Germany, Britain, France, Japan and China.
One of the milestones of the plan is to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 27% by 2030, from the annual estimate in 2015.
To achieve this, the ministry is proposing a set of changes including generating at least 40% of Israeli electricity from renewable energy, banning the import of vehicles with weights up to 3.5 tonnes which is not defined as clean vehicles, and an additional tax on pollutants would make fuel prices more expensive.
According to the ministry, this will help Israel move to a more competitive and efficient economy while covering the current deficit in the state budget.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris will light up with colors and messages of hope on the eve of the 2015 climate change summit
(Photo: EPA)
The plan has been developed in partnership with local authorities, industry representatives, academics, experts and consultants from Israel and around the world, including the OECD and environmental and civic organizations.
The Energy Ministry was less optimistic, however, saying the plan is “not at all in line with the relevant ministries and goes against many aspects of the government’s work.”