The government is expected to approve a resolution on Sunday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85% by the year 2050, essentially making Israel a low-carbon economy in the fight against global warming. The decision also determined an interim goal of reducing emissions by 27% by 2030.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and ministers Ayelet Shaked, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, Tamar Zandberg, Karine Elharar, Merav Michaeli and Orna Barbivay drafted the resolution, which will be presented to the government for approval at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.
The resolution's approval represents Israel's implementation of its commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, joining the dozens of other countries that have already decided to move toward low-carbon economies, spearheaded by the United States, European Union member states, Canada, Japan and China.
As stated, to meet the final goals, the resolution proposes a series of targets for 2030 and 2050 respectively, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector by 96%; reducing them by 85% in the electricity sector; and reducing them by 92% in terms of municipal waste by 2050.
The Environmental Protection, Finance, Transpiration, Energy, Economy and Interior ministries have all allocated special budgets to meet the 2030 goals, including the purchase of electric buses, building additional charging stations throughout the country, investing in reducing greenhouse emissions by factories, businesses, municipalities and more.
The resolution further states that Energy Minister Karine Elharar will work to set renewable energy goals for 2050 within 12 months of the resolution's approval and establish a mechanism to ensure that the government's policies remain in line with Israel's national climate objectives and with developing an energy-efficient, low-carbon economy.
"This is a historic moment; Israel is taking a step up in the fight against the climate crisis," said Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg.
"The government's decision outlines goals for the first time, the, along with a comprehensive strategy for Israel to contend with the climate crisis that threatens our future in Israel as well as the entire planet. The objectives and the strategy we've formulated allow Israel to implement its international commitments as an OECD country and to compete and prosper in a low-carbon world," Zandberg added.
