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State of Israel COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL Printed on Recycled Paper Special Issue | UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference | December 2009 Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection www.environment.gov.il FROM KYOTO TO COPENHAGEN: A WORD FROM ISRAEL'S MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION A solar "tree" based on concentrated photovoltaics/ photo: Dani Machlis, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Israel is a small, densely populated country charac terized by an expanding population and economic growth against a backdrop of land and water scarcity. Under a "business as usual" scenario, forecasts indicate that mounting energy consumption coupled with escalating traffic congestion will bring about significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Israel is determined to change this trend. Although a small contributor to global warming, Israel regards itself as a full and active partner in global efforts to promote a low carbon economy. Just a little more than six months ago, our cabinet approved the establishment of a Ministerial Committee on Environmental Protection and Climate Change, underlining the new priority given to climate change in Israel. At present, an interministerial directors-general committee is working on formulating a national climate change plan for Israel which will consist of both mitigation and adaptation measures. In parallel, several studies are ongoing on mapping mitigation options, adapting to climate change and preparing a greenhouse gas abatement cost curve for Israel. Since its creation some 61 years ago, Israel has invested major efforts in research and development in order to overcome the country's scarcity of natural resources, especially energy, land and water. It has faced these challenges by developing cutting edge technologies in such fields as efficient management of water resources (including drip irrigation and wastewater reuse), sophisticated agriculture and afforestation, desalination, solar energy, and innovative approaches to prevent and combat desertification. Based on this accumulated experience with limited water resources, intense solar radiation and high temperatures, Israel can well contribute technological solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Today we are ready to serve as a regional laboratory and center of excellence to prepare for and adapt to changing climatic conditions. In recent years, we have begun to take steps to improve the efficiency and conservation of energy systems, effect changes in energy consumption patterns, advance the use of natural gas in power stations and industry, promote clean, public transportation systems, encourage green building and give higher priority to renewable energy sources (with an emphasis on solar energy). Additional steps will be introduced, taking account of both the decisions taken at Copenhagen and the results of our studies on greenhouse gas mitigation options. Israel's delegation to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference includes representatives of government ministries, local authorities, the industrial sector, the electricity sector, academic and research institutions and environmental nongovernmental organizations. All are committed to combating climate change. Their hopes and visions are reflected on the following pages. As we gather in Copenhagen to negotiate the post-2012 climate agreement, we must explore joint efforts for reducing emissions, ensuring global environmental protection, and improving the quality of life for all, regionally and globally. No country can overcome the challenge alone. Protecting our planet from the ravages of climate change requires concerted efforts and mutual assistance. Israel stands willing and able to shoulder its responsibilities to the best of its ability together with members of the global community. At the same time, our advanced technologies provide us with new opportunities to find innovative solutions to the challenges lying ahead, in terms of both mitigation and adaptation, and to transfer these innovative technologies to countries worldwide. MK Gilad Erdan Minister of Environmental Protection, Israel COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL Haifa bay/photo: Ilan Malester PREPARING FOR POST-KYOTO Israel is preparing a program of mitigation, adaptation and technology development to confront the challenges of climate change At the 13th Climate Change Conference in Bali, which took place in December 2007, Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted a road map which charts the course for a future international agreement on tackling climate change, which will come into effect after the commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012. Four major building blocks were identified at Bali as crucial to the process because they will determine how the new agreement, whose draft is expected to be completed in 2009 at the 15th Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, will be implemented: mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance. Israel, for its part, classified as a non-Annex I country under the Climate Change Convention, has taken heed of the message and is going forward on all fronts. Preparing for the Post-Kyoto Era Israel, which ratified the Climate Change Convention in 1996 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2004, does not currently have any binding limitation on its greenhouse gas emissions. This is in contrast to developed countries which are obligated to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by a collective average of 5% below their 1990 levels during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. However, Israel is well aware that climate change mitigation (action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sinks) and adaptation (initiatives and measures to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems to climate change) are no longer options, but rather imperatives. Therefore, it has initiated several steps to prepare for the post-Kyoto era. Efforts are currently focusing on the following areas: › Definition of reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions in all relevant sectors (energy, waste treatment, transport, industry and agriculture). › Preparation of a national action plan to achieve the targets by 2025. › Preparation of a vulnerability assessment to climate change and an adaptation plan to confront potential risks and opportunities. DECEMBER 2009 › Promotion of research and development and transfer of information and technology in the fields of water, forestation, solar energy, land management, and more. Boosting Research on Climate Change › In 2005, the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued a call for proposals for research studies on the impacts of climate change in Israel and means of adaptation. Ten research projects were approved for funding on subjects as diverse as the impacts of vegetation on the urban microclimate and changes in biodiversity as a result of climate change. › In September 2008, the Chief Scientist issued an additional call for proposals for research studies on climate change on the following subjects: climate change forecasts for Israel until the year 2030, analysis of climate change trends in Israel over the past 30 years and anticipated impacts of climate change until the year 2030 in different areas. › In September 2009, the Ministry of Environmental Protection organized a seminar on climate change in Israel, aimed at assessing expected impacts until 2030-2040, in such areas as temperature, precipitation, evaporation, and biodiversity. Toward Greenhouse Gas Reduction Statistics on greenhouse gas emissions in Israel are not encouraging, to say the least. Based on Central Bureau of Statistics data, Israel emitted more than 76 million tons of greenhouse gases per year (CO2 equivalent) in 2007, a rise of more than 20% since 1996. In contrast to many developed countries, whose greenhouse gas emissions are on the decrease, Israel's emissions are expected to continue to increase under a "business as usual" scenario, largely due to an increase in its population (natural increase and immigration), rise in standard of living and special circumstances including land and water scarcity. Clearly, the challenge lies in stabilizing emissions and changing the trend. WWW.ENVIRONMENT.GOV.IL Emissions of Direct Greenhouse Gases in Israel (tons) 90,000 11.6 11,52 80,000 72,438 70,000 72,683 72,136 73,513 76,770 74,650 11.4 11.2 Waste, 20% 62,705 11,03 11 50,000 10,78 10.8 10,67 40,000 10,69 10,61 10.6 10,58 30,000 10.4 20,000 Transportation, 20% Electricity (generation and oil refining) 56% 10.2 10,000 0 Agriculture Commercial and Domestic, 1% and Forestry, 3% Industry (esp. cement and lime), 12% Total per capita Total 1,000 tons 60,000 Disribution of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector (2007) 1996 2000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 0 Source: Israel Bureau of Statistics Fuel combustion accounts for about 76% of Israel's greenhouse gas emissions, of which some 56% originate in electricity and energy production (some 42 million tons) and another 20% in vehicular emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main component of greenhouse gas emissions in Israel (some 87%), followed by methane (CH4) which is largely emitted by landfills and nitrous oxide (N2O) from agriculture and industry. Contribution of Direct Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Total CO2 eq. Emissions (2007) Methane, 9% Nitrous oxide, 4% Carbon dioxide, 87% Switching to natural gas in the electricity sector › All units approved within the framework of an emergency plan will be based on natural gas operation – 1760 megawatts The switch to natural gas in Israel's electricity generation system will play an important part in Israel's greenhouse gas mitigation strategy Toward Reduced Pollutant Emissions Over the past decade a strategic revolution has taken place in Israel's electricity generation system: a switch to natural gas. Since natural gas was first introduced into the Eshkol power plant in Ashdod in February 2004, the share of natural gas in the electricity production system has reached 40% or some 3,700 megawatts. The move has already reduced emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and will continue to do so in the future. Changes in Israel's Electricity Generation System – 2001-2013 It is anticipated that more than 60% of the Israel Electricity Corporation's installed production capacity in 2013, some 14,000 mg, will be based on natural gas: › Eight units which were fueled by heavy oil (in Ashdod, Tel Aviv and Haifa) were converted to natural gas – 1620 megawatts › Production units which were fueled by diesel fuel have or will be converted to natural gas – 2230 megawatts › 8 combined cycle units were or will be constructed for natural gas operation – 2950 megawatts In parallel to the use of natural gas, the Electricity Corporation expects to invest some 2 billion dollars over the coming decade in the country's existing coal-fired units in order to adapt them to European conditions. These projects are expected to reduce pollutant emissions significantly in comparison to today's levels. According to Electricity Corporation assessments, these steps are expected to bring about a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity generation system in 2030, in comparison to the emissions that were anticipated in a business as usual scenario, based on emission factors for 2005. Calculating Emissions and their Costs in the Long Term As part of Israel's preparations for the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, the Electricity Corporation carried out simulations of different development plans in the electricity generation system for the years 2020-2030 in order to assess the implications of different greenhouse gas emissions reduction scenarios on the electricity sector. COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL What's Been Done to Tackle Climate Change in Israel? › Israel ratified the Climate Change Convention in 1996 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2004. › The Ministry of Environmental Protection in cooperation with the Central Bureau of Statistics publishes its greenhouse gas emissions inventory on an annual basis. › In 1998, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the S. Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology, prepared an initial study on options for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in Israel, based on conditions in 1996. › In 2004, a Designated National Authority for authorizing Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in Israel was established and, to date, 46 projects have been submitted for approval, of which 16 are registered with the United Nations. › In 2005, Israel Standard 5281 for buildings with reduced environmental impact (green buildings) was published by the Standards Institution of Israel. › In 2007-2008, the Ministry of Environmental Protection commissioned updated studies on options for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in Israel, consisting of forecasts for greenhouse gas emissions by sectors and options for mitigation for each scenario, accompanied by cost benefit analyses to the national economy. › In 2007, a landfill levy came into effect in Israel. According to the law, the fees collected are deposited and managed in a separate fund and are used for the development and promotion of alternatives to landfilling which are less harmful to the environment. › In 2007, the Ministry of Environmental Protection initiated the preparation of an adaptation assessment, whose first phase was completed in 2008. › In 2008-2009, several regulations and standards on energy efficiency and energy labeling of electrical appliances were published, in addition to regulations and standards published in previous years. › In 2009, a draft protocol of guidelines for the establishment of a voluntary mechanism for greenhouse gas emissions registry and reporting in Israel was prepared, with expectations that a pilot registry will be launched in 2010. › In September 2009, the Ministry of Environmental Protection commissioned a study from McKinsey and Company for the preparation of a carbon abatement cost curve for Israel that quantifies reduction measures across sectors. › In 2009, Israel began preparing its Second National Communication on Climate Change in Israel to be submitted to the UN. › In 2009, a major energy conservation campaign was inaugurated by the Ministry of National Infrastructures, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Israel Electricity Corporation to raise awareness of energy efficiency among the general public. › In 2009-2010, educational programs on energy efficiency targeted at kindergarten, elementary school and junior high school have and will be incorporated into the formal educational system. › In 2009, an energy management standard, ISO 50001, was distributed for public comment with the expectation that pilot programs in a number of companies will begin in 2010. Photovoltaic panels at BGU's Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center test site/ photo: Dani Machlis, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev DECEMBER 2009 WWW.ENVIRONMENT.GOV.IL Energy-Related Government Decisions › January 13, 2008: Approval of a government proposal on the promotion of clean energy use by means of green taxes. As of August 2009, purchase tax rates on vehicles are linked to the emission rates of five pollutants: carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, particulates and carbon dioxide. › August 21, 2008: Approval of a government proposal on the promotion of research, technology development and energy production in the field of renewable energy. The goals of the new plan, slated for implementation in 2008-2012, are to increase renewable energy sales and increase research and development investments in the field. One proposal calls for establishing a research and development center for renewable energy technologies in the Negev over a five year investment period. › September 18, 2008: Approval of a government proposal on energy efficiency, which aims to bring about 20% savings in anticipated electricity consumption by 2020. The program relates to energy efficiency as a means of tackling climate change. Among the proposed measures: energy savings in the home and in government structures, green building, higher energy efficiency standards for electrical appliances, information programs on wise use of electricity and establishment of an energy efficiency fund. › January 29, 2009: Approval of a government proposal on establishing targets and formulating tools for the promotion of renewable energy, especially in the Negev and Arava arid regions. The decision calls for generating 10% of Israel's electricity from renewable sources by 2020, with 5% by 2014, and for identifying and allocating lands in the Negev and Arava for the construction of power plants from renewable energies. Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is an especially difficult challenge in Israel, a country undergoing economic growth against a backdrop of continuous increases in both population and energy consumption. Yet Israel is determined to address the difficulties. Current efforts are concentrating on assessing greenhouse gas emissions under different scenarios while identifying the steps necessary to reduce these emissions in an economically viable manner. Among the measures which have already been proposed are energy savings, both in buildings and in street lighting, by means of energy efficient light bulbs. Also on the agenda are energy conservation, energy efficiency in power plants, industrial plants and residential buildings, clean public transport and more. Israel's Adaptation to Climate Change Alongside the preparation of inventories, forecasts, scenarios and mitigation measures, adaptation to climate change is on Israel's agenda. Without doubt, there is strong evidence to suggest that global warming has largely been caused by human activities, but whatever the cause, one thing is certain: adaptation strategies must be formulated and implemented in order to address the dire impacts of climate change which are already evident today and will be further aggravated in the near future. And what's more, these impacts, according to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), are expected to be more severe in the Mediterranean Sea basin than in many other parts of the world. In fact, Israel has witnessed a warming trend since the beginning of the 1970s, with average temperatures expected to rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2020 and by up to 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century compared to 1960-1990, based on moderate IPCC scenarios. Recent years have also witnessed an increase in the frequency and length of extreme weather events, including years which are either exceedingly wet or exceedingly dry, with predictions pointing to further increases in the number and frequency of such events (e.g., drought years, floods, heat waves). Precipitation is expected to decrease by 10% by 2020 and by 20% by 2050 while sea level rise in the Mediterranean is predicted to increase by 0.5 meters in 2050 and one meter by 2100. Additional impacts include reduced flows to Lake Kinneret and reduced recharge of groundwater aquifers, agricultural damages, impacts on public health, and biodiversity changes. To address these issues, the Ministry of Environmental Protection set up an interministerial steering committee, headed by the COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL Anticipated Impacts of Climate Change in Israel › Water: Reduction of at least 25% in water availability by the end of the 21st century. › Coasts and seas: A10 cm rise in sea level may lead to coastline retreat of 2-10 meters and to the loss of 0.4-2 square kilometers of coast every 10 years. Bumper to bumper traffic/Photo: Ilan Malester Chief Scientist, to check the potential impacts of climate change on Israel. The objective of the committee was to recommend ways of preparing and adapting to climate change in a way that would reduce potential damages, on the one hand, and promote the development of new concepts and technologies to address the problems, on the other hand. With the aid of working groups, made up of experts in different disciplines, a draft document was presented for comment during a workshop held in the beginning of 2008, with the participation of some fifty experts, directors general of government ministries and numerous stakeholders. By the summer of 2008, the results of the two year process were evident in the form of an initial yet comprehensive report which addresses the anticipated impacts of climate change on Israel and presents interim recommendations on adaptation measures in each of the following sectors: water, drainage, agriculture, seas and coasts, urban environment, public health, biodiversity, energy and the economy. Plans now call for these interim recommendations to be developed into a national plan on climate change adaptation. › Agriculture: Damage to crops due to decrease in water availability and 20% increase in water demand and due to pests better suited to warmer climate. Some crops may benefit from increased CO2 levels. › Biodiversity: Migration of Mediterranean species northward and their replacement by desert ecosystems from the Negev. However, most Mediterranean species seem to be resilient to the forecasted changes, so that the Israeli landscape is expected to remain relatively stable. A sharp decrease in precipitates in the south has caused extensive changes in land cover and underlying biota, creating runoff and soil erosion. › Energy: Average long-term increase in electricity demand in the order of 3.2% per year due to increased demand for air conditioning and cooling. Desertification/Photo: Jenny Rollo Photo: IDE Technologies Ltd. Ashkelon desalination plant/ › Public health: Increase in mosquito populations and their distribution may increase the risk of disease. According to initial estimates, inaction has a high economic cost. Failure to take the necessary actions to adapt to climate change today would carry a high price tag by the year 2020: inaction in responding to the water scarcity problem may cost the economy 450 million shekels per year (about $120 million), neglecting the impacts of sea level rise may cost 6 billion shekels, flood damages are expected to cost 340 million shekels a year, while damages to agriculture may reach some 3 billion shekels a year. Mitigation and Adaptation Technologies Clearly, technology is linked both to mitigation and adaptation, and Israel is poised to play its part in the development and transfer of new technologies to address these twin issues. Today, DECEMBER 2009 WWW.ENVIRONMENT.GOV.IL Hadera power station/Photo: Ilan Malester its initial report on adaptation to climate change is ready, its carbon abatement cost curve is nearing completion and new technologies to meet the challenges of both mitigation and adaptation are being advanced. The emphasis of Israel's climate change mitigation plan and adaptation plan will be on reducing economic, social and ecological damages, on the one hand, and exploiting opportunities by developing innovative technologies and exporting expertise, on the other hand. After 2012, Israel may well be subject to formal commitments for greenhouse gas reductions, but hopefully, it will also have much to contribute to the world community in terms of technology to meet the challenges of climate change. the challenges of developing mitigation options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, on the one hand, and mechanisms for adaptation to climate change, on the other hand, are generating new opportunities for companies in Israel and worldwide to find innovative solutions to the challenges lying ahead. Based on its rich experience in developing cutting-edge technologies in such fields as water management, recycling and reuse of treated wastewater, desert agriculture and afforestation, the challenges presented by climate change may well serve as a lever to position Israel as a regional and global center of knowledge on adaptation to climate change. Dr. Yeshayahu BarOr, Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, strongly believes that "in about 20 years, Europe will experience some of the conditions that Israel faces today. Therefore, Israel has a great deal to offer to the international community in terms of technologies for effluent irrigation, combating desertification, agriculture and forestation in desert conditions and salinity reduction." Developing Israel's Road Map on Climate Change Clean Air Law, 2008 July 22, 2008 will long be remembered as the day in which Israel's Knesset (parliament) passed the Clean Air Law. The law, which was enacted following some three years of deliberation, will come into effect in January 2011. The aim of the law is: "to improve air quality and prevent and reduce air pollution, inter alia, by establishing prohibitions and obligations according to the precautionary principle, in order to protect human life, health and quality of life and to protect the environment including natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity, for the public and for future generations, while considering their needs." The 97-clause law provides a comprehensive framework for the treatment and prevention of air pollution by setting responsibilities and imposing obligations on the government, local authorities and the industrial sector. Significantly, the law defines a pollutant, inter alia, as a material whose presence in the air causes or is liable to cause changes in climate and weather. The Ministry of Environmental Protection is advancing an integrated policy aimed at reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants. Two parallel developments are helping to meet these objectives: the accession process to the OECD, which is already catalyzing Israel to adopt environmental policies and meet environmental standards that are effective and economically efficient and the enactment of a Clean Air Law in Israel. As Israel prepares for the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention in Copenhagen, Denmark, its initial study on potential mitigation options has been completed, Tower reflector/Photo: Weizmann Institute of Science, Solar Research Unit COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL A CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN FOR ISRAEL In accordance with the decision, a directors-general committee was established, headed by the director general of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Dr. Yossi Inbar, and including the directors general of all relevant ministries. Its mission: to prepare a climate change policy for Israel and to formulate a national action plan which will include a plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and a plan on the country's preparedness and readiness for climate change (adaptation). To facilitate the process, professional working groups on different fields of mitigation and adaptation have been set up. The working groups on mitigation are charged with preparing scenarios and identifying means for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, each in its particular field (e.g., energy, transport, agriculture, planning and building, etc.), including calculating the costs of each means. The working groups will recommend national targets for potential greenhouse gas emissions reduction based on current Israeli studies and on the results of the international climate change negotiations for a global agreement (post 2012). They will specify existing and proposed reduction measures, the reduction potential of each measure, the cost of implementation, recommendations for implementation, action plans and timetables. Working groups on adaptation will concentrate on such areas as climate change models, the urban sector, agriculture, biodiversity, public health, drainage and runoff, water resources DECEMBER 2009 and economic and insurance aspects. They are charged with closing the gaps in existing knowledge on the impacts of climate change in Israel based on different scenarios, surveying available means for minimizing damage and vulnerability and identifying Israeli technologies for dealing with climate change that may assist other countries. More on Climate Change in Israel Global warming and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions call for joint action by countries worldwide. In the Mediterranean Sea basin, even more than in other parts of the world, the impacts of climate change are reflected in warming and drying trends, on the one hand, and in an increase in extreme weather events (floods and heat waves), on the other hand. Since these trends are associated with adverse impacts on the water sector, agricultural production, drainage systems, the energy sector, the coastal environment and more, adaptation and preparedness are prerequisites. Although Israel was classified as a non-Annex I country (a developing economy) under the Climate Change Convention, a comparison of carbon dioxide emissions per capita between Israel and other European countries shows that Israel is not far behind some of the countries with developed economies which are listed in Annex I of the Convention. In order to quantify Israel's mitigation potential, the Ministry of Environmental Protection commissioned an initial study on options for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in Israel. The study anticipated a further rise in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the year 2025, under a business-as-usual scenario, in relation to 2000. More than 90% of the emissions will come from the energy and transport sectors, with the rest coming from industrial processes and waste. WWW.ENVIRONMENT.GOV.IL photo: Dani Machlis, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev It is only apt that Israel's Cabinet approved an important environmental decision on the day its parliament celebrated World Environment Day in June 2009 – a decision to prepare a climate change plan for Israel. The decision followed an earlier resolution, on May 24, 2009, to establish a Ministerial Committee on Environmental Protection and Climate Change, headed by Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan. Photon Energy Transformer & Astrophysics Laboratory (PETAL), largest dish-shaped solar concentrator in the world/ Mitigation and adaptation measures will be at the heart of Israel's climate change action plan CO2 per capita emissions in major countries and in Israel in 2006 (tons) 20.00 19.02 19.00 18.00 16.52 16.00 14.00 12.00 9.15 8.86 8.00 7.61 7.22 6.17 5.97 6.00 4.27 3.97 4.00 2.00 1.13 Calculating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Israel At present, an additional study is being carried out by the Samuel Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology for a cost-benefit analysis of these and additional potential mitigation measures and for identifying the barriers and introducing solutions for these measures. In parallel, in September 2009, the ministry commissioned a study from McKinsey and Company for the preparation of a carbon abatement cost curve for Israel that quantifies a range of measures across sectors. The quantification will have two elements – quantity of carbon abated and cost of abatement per lever. Initial findings indicate that Israel will almost double its greenhouse gas emission by 2030. As Israel prepares for the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention in Copenhagen in December 2009, it remains committed to taking on the challenge of implementing mitigation and adaptation measures which will benefit both the country, on a national level, and the global environment. The preparation of a climate change plan for Israel is expected to reduce local air pollution while boosting the Israeli economy, by increasing 10 a di In Ira n Fr an ce Ch in a M ex ico Ita ly Af r ic a S. UK ad a Ru ss Ge ia rm an S. y Ko re a Ja pa n Isr ae l Ca n Au st ra l ia US A 0.00 the number of people employed in the cleantech sector in Israel and by developing and transferring new technologies which will contribute to the global effort to combat climate change. Forecast of Business as Usual CO2e emissions growth, 2005-2030 MtCO2e Israel 140 120 +96% 100 80 60 40 20 0 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL Source: McKinsey & Company 9.49 Source: International Energy Agency 10.00 9.86 10.00 Stack of Ashkelon power plant/Photo: Ilan Malester 11.14 2030 Industry and Climate Change FACING UP TO CLIMATE CHANGE: THE ISRAEL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION SPEAKS OUT The Manufacturers Association believes that the challenge of climate change can be transformed into an opportunity to promote a holistic policy in Israel that incorporates national interest while reaching a "win-win" situation – where economic growth based on efficiency and conservation is a joint interest of both industry and the environment. Israel's national priorities include promoting a market based economy; supporting a diverse industry; providing employment; enabling eco nomic growth and attaining good environmental standards. In line with these priorities, Israel's climate policy should promote a range of binding policy actions, develop market based mechanisms, support technology transfer – emphasizing R&D as a national priority, and maintain competitiveness while securing employment, maintaining growth and preventing carbon leakage. Website: http://www.industry.org.il/Eng/ It is the view of the Israel Manufacturers' Association that an international climate agreement must produce measurable, reportable and verifiable actions. It is the responsibility of every major emitting country to reduce its emissions in order to achieve the results needed to lower the risk of global climate change. This new regime should include, if possible, sector-based agreements with efficient technologies leading to universal targets for emissions cuts. The workshop afforded Israeli participants, including representatives of industry, NGOs and government ministries, an opportunity to learn from the experience of German technology providers and energy efficiency service companies. The presentations underlined the "win-win" implications of energy efficiency: financial savings to companies and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Workshop on Energy Efficiency in Industry June 2009 a German-Israeli Workshop on energy efficiency, initiated and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, took place at the Israel Manufacturers Association in Tel Aviv. Its aim was to demonstrate the considerable energy efficiency potential in the different branches of industry and to illuminate the concrete advantages for companies that participate in the international carbon market. To achieve emission reduction targets it is important to develop an enabling market economy. We should support innovation and competition, a sound and reliable GHG registry, a cap and trade system, fully bankable allowances, sufficient liquidity and access to large international carbon markets (such as the EU Emission Trading Scheme). At the same time, it is important to prevent prices that could cause economic harm and avoid price distortion. In terms of climate change adaptation, investment in R&D of efficient technologies to confront the impacts of climate change should be a national priority, with a view to positioning Israel as a leader in this field. Promotion of desalinization plants and recycling of treated effluents for agricultural uses are only the beginning. The time has come for special efforts to be invested in solar energy which could make a significant contribution, both nationally and globally. DECEMBER 2009 WWW.ENVIRONMENT.GOV.IL Haifa oil refineries/photo: Ilan Malester In 11 Establishing a Voluntary Mechanism for an Accounting and Reporting System of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Israel On February 13-14, 2008, an international workshop on establishing a voluntary mechanism for a greenhouse gas registry and reporting system was convened in Israel. The workshop was organized by the Air Quality and Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Environmental WORKSHOP ON Protection in cooperation GHG ACCOUNTING & with the Manufacturers REPORTING SYSTEM Association of Israel and the IN ISRAEL German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The aims of the workshop included: › To examine the significance of greenhouse gas accounting and reporting; › To improve the capacity of Israeli companies to take part in future emissions trading mechanisms; › To identify projects for reducing emissions in industry and improving energy efficiency; › To examine possibilities for cooperation between Israel and Annex I countries, including Germany; › To improve the capability of Israeli industry to meet the standards set in international agreements such as the postKyoto agreements (after 2012). of Environmental Protection, a pilot project of the greenhouse gas registry is expected to begin in 2010. The accounting and reporting mechanism is expected to serve as an important tool in the management of Israel's greenhouse gas emissions and will help it meet its obligations within the framework of the postKyoto agreements, including the possibility of emissions trading. Clean Development Mechanism in Israel The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows emissionreduction projects in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one ton of CO2. These CERs can be traded and sold, and used by industrialized countries to meet some of their binding emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. Projects must qualify through a rigorous and public registration and issuance process designed to ensure real, measurable and verifiable emission reductions that are additional to those which would have occurred without the project. By the end of 2009, 46 projects were presented for approval to Israel's Designated National Authority (DNA) for the CDM in the areas of waste, agriculture, fuel switch, energy and industrial efficiency. 16 CDM projects have been registered with the United Nations between February 2006 and July 2009, with a potential annual reduction of 1.8 million tons of CO2. CERs issued by Israel to date have reached 249,843 tons. In order to achieve the aims of the workshop, the following were presented: › International tools and standards for calculating and registering emissions. › An overall survey of the carbon and CDM market in Israel. › Israeli technologies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Subsequent to the workshop, a professional work team was set up for promoting the establishment of the registry in Israel, with representatives of the relevant ministries, the private sector, local government and the general public. With the aid of the Neaman Institute, which is currently preparing a greenhouse gas reporting protocol for Israel and methodologies on behalf of the Ministry 12 COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL Haifa Industrial Zone/Photo: Ilan Malester › An Israeli initiative on the establishment of a voluntary system for reporting greenhouse gas emissions within the framework of Israel's preparedness for the post-Kyoto agreements. Israel’s cities pledge to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases Main Components of the Convention Recognition that cities are responsible for a significant amount of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, but can also play a central role in providing solutions for climate change and improved quality of life, has prompted the mayors of eighteen major cities in Israel to sign a unique convention in February 2008 – The Convention of the Forum 15 for Reducing Air Pollution and for Climate Protection (CCP Israel). During a festive ceremony, attended by Israel's President, Mr. Shimon Peres, and the country's Interior, Transportation and Environmental Protection Ministers, the mayors signed an Israeli version of the Climate Change Protection (CCP) Campaign, initiated by the International Council for Local Environmental Organizations (ICLEI) – Local Governments for Sustainability, in which they resolved to promote environmental quality and join the efforts of cities worldwide to combat global warming. Forum 15 – The Israeli Forum of Self Government Forum 15 brings together fifteen municipalities in Israel, which receive no financial aid from the government and are managed as closed economies on the basis of their independent financial resources. The cities of the Forum include nearly 3 million residents (approximately 40% of Israel’s population) but it is estimated that more than 80% of Israel's population makes use of the municipal and metropolitan services provided by these cities. The following cities are members of the Forum: Ashdod, Beersheba, Givatayim, Herzliya, Hadera, Holon, Haifa, Kfar Saba, Netanya, Petach Tikva, Rishon Lezion, Rehovot, Ramat Gan, Ra'anana, and Tel Aviv-Jaffa. The municipalities of Jerusalem, Ashkelon and Bat Yam joined these cities in signing the Convention on Reducing Air Pollution and Climate Protection. DECEMBER 2009 In signing the convention, the mayors of eighteen cities in Israel committed themselves to developing municipal master plans for the reduction of air pollution and protection of climate, to joining the CCP campaign, to setting clear, measurable targets for reducing urban greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and to achieving the first results of the following five CCP milestones within three years: › Establish a basic inventory and forecast for key sources of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the city. › Set targets for air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions reduction (no less than 20% by 2020 in comparison to 2000). › Develop and adopt a short to long term local action plan to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. › Implement all measures and actions derived from the local action plan in the city and municipality. › Monitor and control air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and report on the actions and measures implemented within the framework of the local action plan. On the Road toward Implementation To implement the Convention, the signatories are required to follow a detailed course of action, including four main stages, each of which dictates a series of activities: › Preliminary stage – establishing a municipal steering committee, holding training workshops, receiving budget approval, and selecting a professional consulting/ supervision team to accompany the municipality in the preparation and implementation of the plan. WWW.ENVIRONMENT.GOV.IL 13 Ramat Gan National Park/Photo: Forum15 CLIMATE PROTECTION ON THE LOCAL LEVEL Sustainable cties exhibition/Photo: Forum15 Green roof on office building and Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv /Photo: Forum15 › Planning stage – performing an urban survey to map and characterize emissions and their sources, formulating a vision and guiding policy, defining quantitative reduction targets by 2020, preparing an urban master plan and entering into projects that are immediately available. › Integration and implementation stage – Integrating the urban master plan throughout the municipality, planning, budgeting and implementation of individual projects, education and public awareness campaigns, legislation and enforcement, monitoring and control to review compliance with targets. › Re-evaluation and periodic updating of the plan every five years. In order to provide the municipalities with the necessary support tools for implementation, Forum 15 set up a task force for steering and control, consisting of experts from Forum 15, from the participating municipalities, from government ministries, and from environmental organizations and academic bodies – a unique mix of stakeholders working together on behalf of air pollution abatement and climate protection. The Local Sustainability Center (initiated by the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Porter School of Environmental Studies at Tel Aviv University and ICLEI) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection were central partners in the process of developing the initiative and in setting up the task force. At present the municipalities are advancing into the planning stage. They have conducted their baseline emissions inventory and forecast, based on energy consumption and waste generation, and should soon define their annual goals for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This will be followed by the development of a local action plan describing the policies and measures that the local authority will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in four main areas: transportation 14 and fuels, energy conservation and environmentally friendly construction, garbage and recycling, and green spaces. Within each area, the municipalities will undertake specific initiatives such as planting gardens on roofs to reduce carbon dioxide, switching to cost-effective lighting in public buildings, recycling and encouraging alternative transportation strategies such as biking, walking, car-pooling and improved public transport. Adv. Eitan Atia, General Manager of Forum 15, notes that "the convention is a first of its kind initiative in Israel, obligating a governmental authority to measurable, quantitative improvement in air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions, which will be monitored and overseen. To our best knowledge, implementation of this project on both the local and national levels makes it unique, not only in Israel but in the world. The Convention underscores the interdependence of national policy and local policy, based on the understanding that both separate and collective action are required to reach the desired goals.” Israel President Shimon Peres at signing ceremony of Forum 15 Convention/Photo: Forum15 Website: http://www.forum15.org.il/ COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL ISRAEL'S ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs: VOICES ON BEHALF OF CLIMATE ACTION "Paths To Sustainability": Major NGO Coalition Addresses Climate Change The "Paths to Sustainability" coalition is a powerful example of the role that Israeli civil society plays in creating a sustainable future for all of us. The coalition was created in 2002 by a group of more than 25 leading environmental organizations who sought to increase their effectiveness in influencing policy and public opinion, by pooling ideas and resources. The coalition uses a variety of strategies, including production of written policy papers and reports, participation in official committees, national and international forums and conferences, meetings with senior officials and intensive media work, to advocate a more cohesive approach to sustainability and climate change by government. In 2009, the coalition's 7th annual policy paper, "Israel and the Climate Crisis", called the government to move forward boldly in creating a comprehensive climate policy and changing Israel's status from a developing country to a developed country. The paper calls attention to the risks of the climate crisis as well as to economic opportunities, which could allow Israel to build a thriving economy that meets the social and environmental challenges of the 21st century. The coalition member organizations are represented in the inter-ministerial governmental committee on climate change and its sectoral work teams on DECEMBER 2009 mitigation and adaptation policy, voicing the views of civil society and environmen tal NGOs. While they have the opportunity to impact policies as they are being developed, the organizations maintain a watchful eye on the government as it proceeds towards determining its position for the Copenhagen Climate Conference, and will continue to monitor the implementation of climate related decisions. Website: www.sviva.net/develop/eng/ conduct a side-event to share its policy and regulatory recommendations with international counterparts. According to Tzipi Iser Itzik, IUED’s executive director, the time for tackling climate change is right now: “IUED believes that Israel has a moral duty to join the ranks of responsible nations rising to the global challenge. Israel had led the field in innovations in irrigation technologies, desert agriculture, forestation in arid regions, and solar energy. We should now be using this expertise to advance global solutions to climate change.” Website: www.adamteva.org.il Israel Union for Environmental Defense: Advocating for Climate Protection The Israel Union for Environmental Defense (Adam Teva V’Din) has advocated for a national climate change action plan since 2007. As a national environmental watchdog, IUED encourages and catalyzes government action on climate change as a high priority on the national agenda. . IUED is a member of the government’s interdisciplinary committee of experts accompanying the preparation of a national climate change plan, spear headed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. It is monitoring the process and offering alternative scenarios, while drafting regulatory frameworks to speed the implementation of mitigation and adaptation measures. As a recognized observer organization in the UNFCCC Copenhagen conference, IUED will The Israel Energy Forum: Promoting Sustainable Energy for Israel The Israel Energy Forum (IEF), established in 2007, is the only environmental organization in the country focusing exclusively on promoting sustainable energy for Israel. Its primary goals include reducing the environmental damage related to rising electricity consumption, including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Some of IEF's major achievements to date include: › Advocating specific regulatory changes › Shaping public debate › Building coalitions and providing professional knowledge Website: www.energia.org.il/en/home WWW.ENVIRONMENT.GOV.IL 15 MULTILINGUAL WEBSITES NOW ONLINE :למידע בעברית For information in english: www.environmen t.gov.il/english :إلضافية باللغة العربية للتفاصيل ا www.environmen t.gov.il Children's website : www.sababa.sviv a.gov. il http://arabic.sviva .g ov.il Production: Publications, Information and Internet Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection Inquiries: P.O.B. 34033, Jerusalem 95464, Israel. Email: [email protected] Cover photos: Negev views by Dani Machlis, Dept. of Publications and Media Relations, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Editor: Shoshana Gabbay | Graphic design: Studio Gideon Dan, Jerusalem Everything you wanted to know about the environment in Israel