The plan of the Ministry of Environmental Protection meets the commitments made at the 2015 Paris climate conference for the transition to a low-carbon economy by mid-century, calls for a 27% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection has drawn up a new plan to combat global warming, with the goal of moving from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy by 2050.
This means that Israel will generate approximately 95% of its electricity from renewable energy, thereby minimizing its greenhouse gas emissions and reducing Israel’s carbon footprint, a major factor in global warming.
“This decision is a revolution in Israel’s goals, strategy and the way it deals with the climate crisis and will allow our economy to prosper in a low-carbon world,” said Minister of 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 almost zero, but will also save the country huge amounts of money.
“We formulated the objectives and the strategy of the plan in a multisectoral process in collaboration with about 1,000 professionals,” he said.
“Implementing this strategy will result in huge economic savings in resource consumption and an almost complete cessation of pollution while utilizing green growth and leveraging the investments required to move to a low-carbon economy.”
World leaders pledged at the Paris Climate Conference in late 2015 to formulate by the end of 2020 a vision, goals and strategy for the transition to low-carbon and even zero-emission economies by 2050.
Some 100 countries that have already formulated a vision and strategy for a low-emission economy, including Germany, Great Britain, France, Japan and China.
One of the plan’s milestones is to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 27% by 2030, from the annual amount measured in 2015.
To achieve this, the ministry proposes a set of changes that include generating at least 40% of Israel’s electricity from renewable energy, a ban on importing vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons that are not defined as clean vehicles, and an additional tax on pollutants. that would drive up fuel prices.
According to the ministry, this will help Israel transition to a more competitive and efficient economy while covering the existing deficit in the state budget.
The plan was formulated 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.
However, the Energy Ministry was less optimistic, saying the plan “is not at all in line with the relevant ministries and contradicts many aspects of the government’s work.”
