Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection

ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN Volume 42/January 2016

8 TargetingTarargetinggetingg Climate Change in Israel: Toward Paris and Beyond

17 RReducingeducing AAirir PPollutionollution iinn HHaifaaifa BBayay

22 BuildingBuiBuil GreenGre in Israel www.environment.gov.il Contents Dear Reader: Volume 42 of Israel From the Minister of Environmental Protection Environment Bulletin focuses on a topic that was at the Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabbay discusses the 3 top of the international close link between economy and environment as he outlines the environmental agenda in ministry’s priorities. 2015 – climate change.

From the Director General The issue opens with interviews with Environmental Incoming Director General Yisrael Dancziger surveys the ministry’s Protection Minister Avi Gabbay and Director General Yisrael 6 Dancziger. Both come to the ministry with wide management main objectives and delineates the main focal points for action experience, a clear vision and strong determination to this year. achieve results.

Targeting Climate Change in Israel: This Bulletin naturally begins with the subject of climate Toward Paris and Beyond change. It surveys Israel’s preparations for greenhouse gas 8 emissions reduction, based on energy efficiency, renewable An in-depth look at Israel’s preparations for greenhouse gas energy and reduction in private car use. Senior officials in emissions reductions and their long-term benefits, featuring the ministry present their insights on the Paris Agreement, interviews with senior ministerial officials. the opportunities opened up by climate change and Israel’s proposed strategy on climate change adaptation. Reducing Air Pollution in Haifa Bay The flagship program for air pollution and hazard reduction Major attention is then given to air pollution abatement in 17 Haifa Bay, a subject at the top of the ministry’s agenda. The in Haifa Bay is at the top of the ministry’s priority list. ambitious program, already in implementation, promises to dramatically improve the lives of more than half a million Building Green in Israel residents by reducing industrial and transport emissions New initiatives by government, local authorities and the 22 while upgrading monitoring and expanding environmental private sector promise to significantly increase the number surveys and research. of sustainable, energy-efficient buildings throughout the country. Additional articles also touch on energy efficiency and emissions reductions. The article on green building focuses on new initiatives to promote green building and Rating Environmental Performance in Israel integrate energy-efficient sustainable buildings in housing The results of Israel’s PRTR and environmental impact 28 projects in Israel. The article on the results of Israel’s PRTR index highlight both achievements and challenges in the and environmental impact index demonstrates reductions environmental performance of industry in Israel. in pollutant emissions while highlighting areas in which improvements are necessary. International Cooperation Finally the Bulletin looks at Israel’s participation in meetings A short summary of activities in 2015, highlighting national, 33 and conferences at a regional and global level, with special regional and international preparations for the Paris Climate concentration on preparations for the Paris Climate Change Change Conference. Conference. To stay updated about other environmental developments in Israel, please visit our English website –

www.environment.gov.il/english Shoshana Gabbay Editor

Inquiries should be addressed to: Israel Environment Bulletin P.O.B. 34033, Jerusalem 95464, Israel Telephone: 972-2-6553825 | Fax: 972-2-6554823 | http://www.environment.gov.il/english E-mail: [email protected] Production: Publications, Information and Internet Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection Cover photo:ISRAEL "Hanging tree" ENVIRONMENT at the Shehoret former quarry near BULLETINEilat/Photo: Doron Nissim | vol.32 Printed on ecological2 paper Back cover photos: Sunrise in Agamon Hula (top), Sands of Samar (bottom)/Photos: Doron Nissim FROM THE MINISTER /Photo: Doron Nissim Doron /Photo: OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: AVI GABBAY Air pollution in Haifa Bay

Minister Avi Gabbay began his service as Minister us a step forward in emissions reduction of Environmental Protection on May 17, 2015. while saving billions of shekels for the He graduated from the Hebrew University of economy and promoting the develop- Jerusalem with a BA in Economics and an MBA in ment of advanced green technologies. Business Administration and previously served as Air pollution will be reduced and every CEO of Bezeq and Bezeq International citizen will benefit from improved health along with savings in electric and gas How does your education bills. and previous experience as an economist influence your Energy efficiency is a key element in decisions and world view? greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The cheapest and cleanest energy is the ener- As an economist, I did not previously gy that is not produced in the first place. recognize the close link between Climate change presents Israel with an economy and environment. However, immediately upon coming to the ministry Minister Avi Gabbay/Photo: Eran Gilvarg I found out differently. I discovered that there is a close link between environment > The correct and economy. way to manage One obvious connection relates to an economy is to unprecedented opportunity to advance greenhouse gas emissions reduction. As and optimize the economy, to reduce we prepared for the Paris Climate Sum- ensure that it is the enormous expenditures on energy, mit, we found that by setting targets for and to increase the competitiveness and emissions reduction, we can strengthen low-carbon and resilience of Israeli industry. The correct our economy. Meeting the targets speci- way to manage an economy is to ensure fied in the government decision will take energy efficient < that it is low-carbon and energy efficient. www.environment.gov.il 3 be rehabilitated and made available for the construction of about 70,000 housing units. In October, the Housing Cabinet approved the proposal of the Finance Ministry and of our ministry to use the Environmental Services Company, a government company under our auspices, to serve as the operational arm for the cleanup project. The remediation of sites previously polluted by the Israel Photo: IlanPhoto: Malester Military Industries as well as of areas in the center of the country which will be freed up following the move of IDF (Israel Defense Forces) bases to the south is an excellent opportunity to meet our national goals.

Air pollution in Haifa Bay/ We are also promoting green building. I believe that government must serve as an example and am trying to convince Have you set new priorities submission of the necessary plans to the relevant authorities that this is an for the Ministry of the district planning committee. Soon economical process that will reduce costs Environmental Protection? afterwards, the committee approved the while improving quality of life and the Can you enumerate them? establishment of two low-pressure gas environment. The idea is to include green distribution lines to four industrial plants building requirements in government My first priority, immediately after in the Haifa Bay region. We intend to housing tenders and in plans for public entering office, was to push forward a continue to facilitate the connection of buildings such as schools. comprehensive five-year plan for pollution additional plants to natural gas instead and hazard prevention in Haifa Bay, one of of polluting fuels. There is a critical At the same time, we are continuing Israel’s most polluted areas. I recognized connection between protecting the many of the ministry’s existing policies environment and the use of natural gas the severity of the problems and fully and programs. This includes the waste and therefore the introduction of natural acknowledged that we must change revolution and the “equal environment” gas to industry, transportation and the situation. I arranged meetings with program which is based on environmental electricity production is a top priority in all of the main stakeholders, including justice. Efforts are now directed toward our air pollution reduction agenda. government and municipal agencies. I transforming Tel Aviv into Copenhagen, listened to everyone including Israel’s with different colored bins for waste and Another priority relates to the remediation green organizations and, of course, the separation at source. However, there are high-level professionals in the ministry. of contaminated lands in order Together we drafted a program, with an to improve the environment appropriate budget, which was approved for people living near these by the government and is already lands and to provide new implemented. Through collaboration housing. The housing crisis in Israel actually provides us with between all parties, I am convinced that an important opportunity we will see concrete results. Our goal is to to remediate contaminated see a 50% decrease in air pollution in the soil. In cooperation with next five years. other bodies, we promoted In addition, I set out to expedite the a project that will enable connection of industrial plants to natural contaminated lands in some gas in the Haifa area. To do this, I contacted of the most desirable areas in the relevant factors to accelerate the the center of the country to Bottle collection for recycling/Photo: Ilan Malester 4 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 > There is a critical of each and every citizen while at the increase of 2°C by 2100, the answer is yes, same time reducing our emissions and I am certain we can. It is in our hands. connection between promoting environmental quality and health. A low-carbon economy is based What guides you in your decision protecting the on renewable energy, efficient buildings, making process? efficient industry and efficient public environment and the My approach has always been to identify transportation. the problem, to meet all stakeholders, to use of natural gas < be open to hearing different viewpoints, You recently returned from to read the relevant materials and to be still places in the country where routine the Paris Climate Change fully prepared to make informed decisions. garbage collection does not even take Conference. Can you share some I believe that the way to move forward is place. It is more important to direct of your thoughts concerning the by setting goals and targets, specifying our efforts toward transforming these agreement and Israel’s part in it? actions and milestones toward their achievement and checking progress. Our localities into Tel Aviv. We plan to increase From the start of negotiations, Israeli actions must lead to the desired results. our activities in localities with poor waste representatives were involved in drafting treatment and recycling in an effort to the new agreement which outlines the For example, our program for pollution reduce gaps and inequalities. global action needed to combat the abatement in Haifa Bay will be closely threats of climate change and calls on monitored with quarterly reports What are your thoughts concerning countries to set ambitious targets and available for public access. We will closely Israel’s role in the international action plans. supervise progress toward the goal to environmental community? make sure that we see actual results in As I said in my speech at the conference, the field. We are making major efforts to align Israel has set an emissions reduction ourselves with stringent international target that will be reached through I also believe in full transparency and environmental standards. For example, energy efficiency, renewable energy am convinced that the information and industry is required to comply with BAT and reduction of private car use but data held by government belong to the (best available techniques), and the also through breakthrough technologies public and must be made accessible to ministry is increasing its inspection and that will change the world as we know the public for study and review. enforcement to make sure plants comply it. I joined the political realm a year with requirements. We are now advancing ago, after twenty years of experience in I have been active in the political arena an integrated environmental permitting the telecommunications field where I for a short time, but I am very familiar law, known as the green licensing witnessed the dramatic changes that with the public sector and intend to law, which will simplify the current telecom technology brought with it. be an active minister. I am here to work bureaucratic system while obligating Therefore, I am very optimistic with along with the highly professional staff in industrial plants to provide us with a great regards to our ability to achieve our the Ministry of Environmental Protection deal of data and to invest in BATs. Even in targets. to advance environmental quality by areas such as greenhouse gas emissions setting goals and expecting results. We reduction, where we still have a way to Technological developments are our are all partners on the same path. go, we have taken a significant step by contribution and our main task in the setting our climate targets in preparation climate change arena. I believe that this for the Paris Climate Summit. agreement marks business opportunities > Technological for investors and for markets, related to After several months in the ministry, the fields of energy efficiency, renewable developments are I fully recognize that climate change energies, and alternatives to polluting our contribution has major impacts on Israel. In order to fuels. Israel can take a significant part in promote health and well-being, Israel the development of new breakthrough and our main task in must become part of the international technologies that will help the world effort. We must take a series of steps reach the targets that were agreed upon the climate change that will strengthen our economy and in Paris. If you ask me whether I think we lead to major savings in the daily life can reach the target of preventing a global arena < www.environment.gov.il 5 FROM MR. YISRAEL DANCZIGER DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL View of Haifa/Photo: Doron Nissim Doron of Haifa/Photo: View PROTECTION

Mr. Yisrael Dancziger was appointed director general of the Ministry of Environmental Protection on August 31, 2015. Mr. Dancziger founded and managed several hi-tech companies and serves on the board of a number of organizations dedicated to the welfare of children, youth and families-at-risk and to promoting employment in the periphery. He is one of the founders of the Kulanu political party, lectures on a wide variety of subjects and has authored a Hebrew book entitled “Initiative: An Israeli Story”

You have served as director general issues. If we manage to reduce these costs, of the Ministry of Environmental we will not only improve the environment, Protection for a few months. but will have more money available What drew you to the ministry for educating our children, improving and what are your main goals? our health system, providing for good pensions, promoting culture, and more. The goals and missions of the ministry are extremely important and close to my heart. They are, first and foremost, Have you defined specific ways in human life and health. We in the ministry which these goals can be reached? have a unique opportunity to save lives When examining the policy in light of Director General and improve health. We estimate, for these two foremost goals, it is clearly Yisrael Dancziger example, that there are many hundreds evident that the most significant influence of early deaths in Israel that are related to by far is air pollution. The three sources of Once we defined our objectives, we then environmental causes. If we can bring this air pollution – industry, transportation and identified focus areas for action that will down by even 10%, we would be saving electricity generation – are responsible guide the ministry in the coming years, the lives of people. Who would not want for most of the health damages and for each based on specific steps, milestones to be in such a position? most of the economic waste in Israel. At and timetables. the same time, we must advance in other The second objective is economic areas as well: reduce exposure to radiation, Can you summarize the ministry’s efficiency and resilience. We estimate that reduce exposure to hazardous materials priorities for action? more than NIS 40 billion a year are lost and pesticides, reduce water pollution, to the Israeli economy, to families and to reduce soil pollution and reduce marine First on our priority list is a “Clean Haifa households that relate to environmental pollution. Bay.” We intend to make a revolution in 6 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 Haifa and its adjacent towns (the Krayot), aims to change the way we talk, think transforming the area into the first in and communicate, making our ministry Israel without diesel air pollution. We are > We in the customer-centric and service oriented. initiating groundbreaking programs that We provide services to civilians, municipal are unheard of in Israel – establishing ministry have authorities and businesses and we need a low emission zone, subsidizing the to act accordingly. Plans therefore call for transition of garbage trucks, buses and a unique everything from operating a centralized taxis to low pollution vehicles, setting call center to launching an environmental high environmental standards for industry opportunity to WAZE application that will enable you, with and expanding and strengthening our a push of a button, to see all the significant inspection, monitoring and enforcement. save lives and environmental perimeters in a specific This is a model that will be replicated area. There is a wide list of things that we again and again in other cities in Israel, improve health < are planning to make us friendlier to our with plans for two other cities in 2016. customers and we will be accountable for giving civilians, municipalities and Second on our list is the “Transportation support in order to gain economy of scale businesses fantastic service. Revolution.” We are initiating numerous in authorities that do not have the means measures that should see thousands of to efficiently deal with their waste. At How does your business experience new vehicles that are less polluting on the the same time, we will also help support influence your management country’s roads by the end of 2016. We electricity efficiency projects, such as style and decision making? are using incentives, subsidies, laws and energy efficient lighting in streets and regulations and much more to do this. public buildings, which will lead to major I learned in business that you need to be We are only at the beginning, but I think savings for socio-economically weak extremely focused. If you do too many we will see a big change in the years to localities as well. I am especially excited things to too many people you will not come. about another project which is now in bring results. The toughest job of an planning. It will see the retrofit of dozens executive is to know what not to do. You Our third initiative is “Good Real Estate.” of train-like rows of old buildings that were always have a lot of ideas, all of them Hopefully, the government will market built 50 years ago or more. The idea is to amazing and extremely important. You tens of thousands of homes and public transform them into decent, healthy and know that not doing them will certainly buildings in the next year that will not electricity efficient buildings with pleasant affect someone. But if you really want only be more affordable in accordance surroundings. Since the challenge in such to be a good manager and really want with the housing programs advanced by projects lies in long-term maintenance, to achieve results, and not only talk, you Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, but will our idea is to install rooftop PV panels that need to focus. Your job is to say “no” much also lead to monthly savings in electricity will supply electricity. The result will be a more than “yes.” But when you do say yes, and water consumption and will be less retrofit project with a unique sustainable you must be ready to advance whole- polluting and healthier to live in. Instead model that will fund the ongoing heartedly toward the goal – to make of inventing something on our own, we maintenance of the building by means of things happen. are leveraging on projects that are already PV systems. happening and bringing in our standards, Both Environmental Protection Minister thus enabling us to leave a significant There are two more internal priority areas Avi Gabbay and I bring our management footprint with low cost and low effort. that we are promoting. One, entitled experience to the table. We intend to “Determination in the Environment,” relates make things happen. Our mission is “Growth in the Social Periphery” is our to our determination to increase our challenging but the people in the ministry fourth focus for action. We now have a environmental supervision, inspection and are amazing – committed to making real unique opportunity to reduce poverty enforcement – both in terms of quantity changes. Therefore, I am very optimistic. and help close social gaps. Therefore, we and in terms of visibility. Inspection and are initiating a project that will improve enforcement are needed to make things I have no doubt that with focus, persistence the quality of solid waste treatment while happen, and we will use digital methods and hard work we will be able to make significantly reducing its cost in dozens to publicize our actions and make sure significant changes that will truly improve of municipal authorities in the social they have a big echo. The second relates the life of citizens in Israel. It was a very periphery. The idea is to reorganize and to to the way we relate to the public. Our good move to come to the ministry. And jump-start the initiative with government “With a Face to the Public” initiative this is just the beginning. www.environment.gov.il 7 TARGETING CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISRAEL: TOWARD /Photo: Doron Nissim Doron /Photo: PARIS AND BEYOND Dead Sea view Israel has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions through a series of measures including energy efficiency, renewable energy, transition to natural gas and public transport

The message released from Paris by the UN Climate Change Change Conference, 188 governments had already formulated Newsroom on December 12, 2015 was a message of hope: and communicated their emission reduction targets, known as “An historic agreement to combat climate change and unleash “intended nationally determined contributions” (INDC) for the actions and investment towards a low carbon, resilient and post-2020 period, in accordance with decisions reached in the sustainable future was agreed by 195 nations in Paris today. The Warsaw and Lima climate conferences. Israel was no exception. Paris Agreement for the first time brings all nations into a common cause based on their historic, current and future responsibilities.” The Planning Process for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions The optimistic message may have come just in time. It emphasized the global community’s commitment to confront the challenges Israel ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on of climate change in the face of evidence, as reported by the Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1996 and its Kyoto Protocol in 2004. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that “warming of In recognition of its global responsibility, on the one hand, and the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many the multifold co-benefits associated with GHG reduction, on the of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to other hand, the government of Israel has adopted a number of millennia.” The report goes on to say that “continued emission of resolutions on energy efficiency, renewable energy and GHG greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting emissions reduction through the years. changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts In order to reduce its GHG emissions in line with international for people and ecosystems. Limiting climate change would developments, Israel set up an interministerial, multi-stakeholder require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas committee tasked with assessing the country’s emissions reduc- emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate tion potential until 2030, recommending a quantitative national change risks.” target for GHG emissions and proposing an implementation pro- gram for compliance. The committee included representatives In the face of these significant findings, countries throughout from relevant government ministries, public utility companies, the world, both developed and developing, are required to take industry and commerce, local government, environmental and measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part non-governmental organizations, academia and national and in- of a global effort. Therefore, even prior to the Paris UN Climate ternational experts from various disciplines. 8 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 GHG Emissions (million tCO2e) until 2030 under a “business-as-usual” scenario

100

90

80 AFOLU Equivalent

Buildings 2 70 Domestic Aviation CO

60 F Gases Fugitive Emissions 50 Generation Industry and Other 40 Process Emissions Transport

Million Metric Tonnes Million Metric 30 Waste

20

10

Year 201420162018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030

Source: Assessment of GHG Emission Reduction Potential and Recommended National Target for Israel, Final Report, September 2015

During the course of the committee’s deliberations, the business Following are some of the major findings: as usual (BAU) scenario for Israel was updated along with the development of abatement scenarios using the Long range › GHG Emissions: According to the most recent national GHG Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP model). The BAU inventory prepared by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, scenario reflects anticipated GHG emissions in Israel in 2030 based Israel’s emissions in 2012 were 83.04 million tCO2e (tonnes on current trends, existing government policy and implemented carbon dioxide equivalent) or 10.5 tCO2e per capita. Under a regulations as of 2015. BAU scenario, GHG emissions in Israel are expected to increase by 27.05% from 2012 levels, reaching 105.5 million tCO2e (10 As part of the process, specific working groups assessed and tCO2e per capita) in 2030. A reduction target of 7.7 tCO2e per quantified the costs and benefits of over 120 different abatement capita will result in a reduction of 23.85 million tCO2e in 2030, measures in each of the main sectors in the economy: electricity bringing total emissions down to 81.65 million tCO2e. generation, transportation, buildings, industrial processes, waste and agriculture. This, in turn, led to the identification of about 70 abatement measures that were suitable for Israel and were assessed in further depth. The impacts of potential mitigation measures on energy and emissions savings and the abatement cost for each measure in a given year were assessed along with the associated total costs and benefits of these measures for each sector and for the economy as a whole.

Key Findings Ilan/Photo: Malester The findings of the interministerial committee clearly dem- onstrate that the power sector continues to be the dominant source of GHG emissions in Israel, accounting for about 50% of total emissions, followed by the transport sector, which accounts for some 19% of GHG emissions. plant power Hadera www.environment.gov.il 9 › Electricity Consumption: Under the BAU scenario, electricity related GHG emissions. Emissions in the transport sector will consumption is expected to grow by approximately 60% be substantially reduced due to the construction of advanced in 2030, from 60 TWh in 2015 to 96 TWh in 2030. Within mass transit systems in Israel's metropolitan areas. This, along the context of the interministerial report, 18 measures that with the uptake of alternative-fuel vehicles (such as CNG impact on electricity consumption were analyzed, with and electric vehicles) as well as more efficient conventional findings showing that the greatest savings in both residential vehicles, will reduce the share of petroleum-based fuels used and commercial/public buildings would result from HVAC for land transport. (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) measures. In › Economic Impacts: Reducing GHG emissions in Israel will go industry, where uptake of energy efficient equipment is in hand in hand with significant economic and environmental more advanced stages, the greatest savings can be achieved benefits totaling an estimated NIS 100 billion (about $26 through energy management systems. billion). The greatest economic benefits will be achieved by › Renewable Energy: Under the BAU scenario, renewable reducing private car use due to increased investment in public energy is expected to peak at 10% in 2020 before declining transport (modal shift) as well as energy efficiency measures to 8% in 2030. However, the study forecasts that renewable in industry and commercial, public and residential buildings. energy technologies can account for a much larger share of In addition, the combination of reduction in electricity due electricity generation, with a major growth in PV capacity in to energy efficiency measures and the increase in renewable comparison to the BAU scenario, based on such measures energy generation should save the cost of constructing an as competitive tenders and quotas for renewable energy additional large power plant while reducing air pollution installations. and its associated morbidity and mortality. In fact, of the › Merit Order Switch: At present, the external costs of air total GHG emission reduction potential that was assessed, pollution are not taken into account when costing the approximately 80% was found to be cost-effective without operation of coal-fired power plants. Once externality costs carbon pricing (assuming a carbon price of NIS 0). are taken into account, natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants are expected to be operated up to their full Determining Israel’s Target for GHG capacity, prior to ramping up the coal units. This change in Emissions Reduction (INDC) the merit order of power plants is expected to yield significant While climate change is a global challenge, INDCs allow countries reductions in GHG emissions along with major economic to tailor their national contributions to the global effort according benefits. to their national priorities, capabilities and circumstances. › Transport: Under the BAU scenario, GHG emissions in the transport sector are expected to grow by 15% by 2030, with Israel is a small and densely populated country which is private car use accounting for nearly 50% of total transport characterized by an expanding population and economic

Israel’s National Circumstances

› High population growth rate (~1.8% annually) › High GDP growth rate per capita above the OECD average /Photo: Ilan/Photo: Malester › Electricity generation largely based on fossil fuels › Limited land area available for solar installations and wind farms › No hydro-electric, geothermal or nuclear power › Energy island without grid interconnectivity › Growth rate of electricity demand about 2.5% per year Train alongside Ayalon Highway alongside Ayalon Train

10 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 growth. Therefore, its GHG emissions, which contribute about reduction is both fair and appropriate. Meeting the target will 0.2% of global emissions, are forecasted to increase significantly facilitate Israel’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient under a business as usual scenario while per capita emissions economy. are expected to increase more minimally. Israel’s projected annual population growth rate is 1.8%, three times more than In preparation for the submission of Israel’s INDC, the the OECD average. By 2030, Israel’s population is expected to Ministers of Finance, National Infrastructures, Energy and reach about 10.6 million, as compared to 7 million in 2005 and Water Resources and Environmental Protection submitted 8.4 million in 2015. Its annual GDP growth per capita is high a joint proposal which resulted in a landmark government and continues to grow at a faster rate that the OECD average. decision on GHG emissions reduction and energy efficiency. Considering this projected growth in population and GDP, The September 2015 decision established an economy-wide Israel has decided that a per capita target for GHG emissions target of reducing GHG emissions in Israel.

SHULI NEZER ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT

Senior Deputy Director General for The process we set in motion to recommend a national target Industry for GHG emissions reduction was comprehensive. It was led by an interministerial committee, with the participation of The Paris Agreement of December 2015 is dozens of experts from government, academia, consultancy more ambitious than I could have envisioned companies, NGOs, business and more. It was characterized by prior to the Climate Summit. It is a good long-term thinking, and at the end of the day it also led to agreement, with strong principles and a clear review and important conclusions for the short term. updating process. Surprisingly, it also sets the foundation for a global carbon trading market. Clearly, the direction the Everyone involved in the process saw, for example, that the world must take today is of low carbon economies, in which growth rate of energy consumption in Israel is higher than clean technologies will become more prevalent and less the growth rate of the population. Six years ago a cost curve expensive. for the abatement of GHG emissions in Israel identified energy efficiency as a major lever for emissions reduction. This year Even prior to the conference and the agreement, the we confirmed this for the second time . To my mind, efficiency determination of both developed and developing states to equals competitiveness so that by improving energy efficiency, address the climate issue was evident. In fact, 188 countries we will gain both environmental and economic benefits. – both developed and developing – submitted their INDCs, demonstrating their intention to move away from business- We identified over 120 abatement measures this year, and as-usual to GHG emissions reduction policies. We are in a dozens were found to be cost-effective. Full implementation totally different place today than we were just ten years ago of these measures will result in significant benefits to the Israeli when the agendas of developed and developing countries economy estimated at NIS 100 billion. As part of our emissions were completely different. Countries today have shown their reduction plan, we will also create incentive and support readiness to introduce low carbon strategies. mechanisms for Israeli innovation. By transforming Israel into a beta site for climate change technologies, we hope to better We relate to the Paris Agreement as an economic and demonstrate our mitigation and adaptation technologies and environmental opportunity for Israel. If it was once thought to help solve global problems. that GHG emissions reduction disrupts economic growth, our work this past year has broken this paradigm. We showed In the wake of the Paris Agreement, the time has come to that climate change mitigation presents an unprecedented embark on implementation. The agreement sends a clear opportunity to become more efficient, to save, to develop and strong signal that we must revise our policies on energy innovative technologies and to position Israel as a “Start-Up and transportation. We must take the Paris Agreement and its Nation” in the realm of climate change solutions as well. implications into account. We cannot afford to do otherwise. www.environment.gov.il 11 Government Decision: Paving the Way Forward 2030. Emissions reached 72 million tCO2e in 2005, equivalent The government decision on a national emissions reduction to 10.4 tCO2e per capita, and are expected to increase to target along with sector-specific targets was precipitated both 105.5 million tCO2e or 10.1 tCO2e per capita in 2030 under by the requirement to submit Israel’s INDC to the Climate Change a BAU scenario. Israel’s national target therefore constitutes a Convention Secretariat in preparation for the adoption of a new 26% reduction in anticipated GHG emissions in 2030 relative international climate agreement in Paris and by Israel’s recognition to the 2005 per capita level. of the economic benefits associated with implementation of the › Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Establishing targets while protecting Israel’s energy security. national targets for energy consumption reduction and Following are the major provisions of the government decision: efficiency in the economy and for the production of energy from renewable sources for the purpose of meeting Israel's › GHG Emissions: Establishing a national target of 8.8 tCO2e per capita in 2025 and a target of 7.7 tCO e per capita in 2030, national target for GHG emissions reduction, as per the 2 following: which is equivalent to the emission of 81 million tCO2e in

GALIT COHEN ON CLIMATE CHANGE OPPORTUNITIES

Senior Deputy Director General for water solutions – water management, wastewater treatment, Planning and Policy desert agriculture – hold immense opportunities to countries throughout the world as do our innovations in the area of The climate change story is an international renewable energy and energy storage. economic story in which Israel must take part. We are committed to reducing our emissions Clearly, it is the private sector that can bring the greatest because we are part of this world-wide process. And we changes, but what is the role of government? This is where now have the opportunity to do this right, opening up new the world of regulation, finance and information comes in. opportunities for growth. We can become more efficient We must find ways for government to leverage the business within Israel while at the same time offering solutions outside and banking sectors, to fund innovative and even high-risk our country. projects. We must find ways to raise the awareness of both the general public and decision makers and to increase public Energy efficiency, for example, which we identified as a central participation in the field of climate change. Everyone can measure for emissions abatement, opens up enormous make a difference. economic opportunities in every aspect of our lives – using less energy for each unit of product, boosting the competitive edge The Paris Climate Summit sharpened our understanding of Israeli industry by lowering energy costs, and reexamining that government must promote policy and regulations that entire production processes in an effort to reduce energy use. will signal to markets that the new direction is a low carbon, At the same time, it offers an opportunity for our cleantech energy-efficient economy. This means reducing coal use industry to provide energy efficiency solutions for industry, in electricity generation, transitioning to efficient public local authorities, and households – freeing up funds that can transportation, improving energy efficiency in industry, be directed toward social benefits rather than electricity bills, promoting energy efficient buildings. At the same time, the reducing living expenses and improving quality of life. conference highlighted the important role of partnerships, Tackling the challenge of climate change presents Israel both with local government and with the business sector, in with major opportunities. The Israeli economy can enjoy facilitating change. And of course, the international aspect the benefits from both sides, both inside our country and is of utmost importance. Israel has developed outstanding outside of it, by utilizing the technologies in which we excel capabilities in adaptation, mitigation and fuel alternatives, and – smart grid technologies, transition to green ICT, energy we must take part in the international process and in climate management, and much more. And, of course, in the world of financing so that Israeli companies can provide some critical adaptation, we can contribute our many years of experience solutions to the climate change crisis. in overcoming the challenges of land and water scarcity to Climate change is not only a challenge. It is also an opportunity provide technological solutions to a world in which climate to take part in the international effort toward a new world change threatens water depletion and desertification. Our economy. This is our message.

12 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 Highlighting the Opportunities of Climate Change

Israel’s commitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation › Pollution abatement: The reduction of GHG emissions from provides a host of co-benefits which are based, inter alia, on Israel’s industrial, transportation and other sources means pollution innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. The co-benefits of a long-term reduction and provision of clean air and a healthier environment. program for GHG emissions reduction in Israel include: It contributes to reduced mortality and morbidity and their costs and allows resources to be allocated to other fields. › Economic viability: The reduction of GHG emissions › Innovation for economic growth: The reduction of GHG through energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy is emissions through innovative technologies presents an economically viable. GHG emissions reduction leads to major opportunity for economic growth. As a major exporter of economic savings and to lower costs of living for the population, technological solutions to the world, Israel must also implement with dividends both in the short and long terms. its technologies within the country to reduce emissions and › Creation of new jobs: The reduction of GHG emissions enjoy the benefits. As a start-up nation and a world leader in provides major business opportunities including opportunities innovation, Israel can make a major contribution to international for the development of new technologies and for the creation of mitigation and adaptation efforts while reducing its own GHG new jobs. emissions and growing its economy.

a. Reduction of electricity consumption by at least Toward Implementation 17% relative to anticipated electricity consumption To implement the plan, the government approved NIS 300 in 2030 under a BAU scenario. Meeting the target would million (about $77 million) in spending authorization for the reduce total electricity consumption in 2030 from 96 TWh years 2016-2019 and NIS 500 million (about $128 million) in as predicted in the BAU scenario for 2030 to below 80 government guarantees for the years 2016-2025. According to TWh. the government decision, an outline of economy-wide measures b. Reduction of private kilometers travelled by 20% to meet the targets will be submitted. The implementation plan relative to anticipated kilometers travelled in 2030 will include economy-wide regulatory and economic measures under a BAU scenario. Meeting this target would decrease aimed at reducing the consumption of polluting fuels, increasing private kilometers travelled from 55.5 million kilometers energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy. per year as predicted in the BAU scenario to 44.4 million kilometers per year. Recommended measures include:

c. Production of at least 13% of total electricity › Establishment of mechanisms for leveraging private funding consumption from renewable energy in 2025, and together with public funding of energy efficiency and GHG at least 17% in 2030, based on reaching the electricity emissions reduction projects; consumption reduction target. Therefore, by 2030, 17% of the 78 TWh of electricity that will be consumed in Israel › Support of new technologies on energy efficiency, renewable will be produced from renewable energy sources. energy and GHG emissions reduction; › Removal of bureaucratic and regulatory barriers for the uptake of renewable energy; › Promotion of measures to increase the use of natural gas in Israel’s fuel mix; › Promotion of public transportation and reduction of private car use; › Gradual adoption of the Israel Green Building Standard in new building and promotion of an energy rating for residential buildings and offices; › Increasing awareness of energy savings through education Light train in Jerusalem/Photo: CitiPass and information. www.environment.gov.il 13 In parallel, initial steps have begun toward establishing a national and applying cutting-edge technologies for climate change MRV system for measuring, reporting and verifying GHG emissions. mitigation and adaptation in Israel and overseas. Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis will be carried out to track and record progress on implementation of Israel has long been identified as a global leader in innovation the abatement measures and to examine additional policy and in a variety of sectors. In recent years, Israel has also begun to reduction measures to meet the national target. lead in the cleantech sector. According to the Global Clean- Tech Innovation Index 2014, Israel came in first among the forty When relating to the government decision on Israel’s GHG countries that were ranked for the first time in the unique index emissions target, Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabbay especially developed for the cleantech sector. These data accord said: "We are presenting dramatic targets for Israel. Every citizen with a 2013 publication by the Ministry of Economy which puts will feel significant savings in their electric and gas bills, and in the number of cleantech companies operating in Israel at more the reduction of air pollution in the wake of implementation than 350, with the exports of the 200 leading Israeli companies of this program. And we are keeping to targets that will take us in the water sector increasing from $600 million in 2006 to $1,988 another step forward toward the direction of OECD countries, million in 2013. The environmental technology and energy saving billions for the economy and developing advanced green efficiency markets, which have continued to grow despite the economic crisis of 2009, offer Israel and countries throughout technologies." the world a new opportunity for economic growth alongside emissions reduction. The Economic Benefits and Opportunities of Climate Change Paris and Beyond An implementation program for compliance with Israel’s new The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate GHG emissions target presents an unprecedented opportunity Change Convention was a pivotal moment in the global effort for advancing and strengthening Israel’s economy, reducing the to reduce GHG emissions. It called on the world community massive expenditures on energy and increasing the resilience to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change through a and competitiveness of the Israeli economy in the long term. number of steps, including: “holding the increase in the global The implementation of measures to reduce GHG emissions average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial will bring in its wake a host of co-benefits to Israel including levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to air pollution reduction and thus lower morbidity and mortality, 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would energy savings, energy security, job opportunities, and increased significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.” competitiveness, providing new opportunities for developing To achieve this goal, the Paris Agreement stated that countries

Environmental Innovation Index 5

4

3

2

1

0

USA UK India Italy Israel Japan China BrazilSpain Russia Finland Canada Ireland NorwayFranceAustria Turkey MexicoPoland Greece Sweden Belgium Zealand AustraliaHungaryPortugal Slovenia Romania Bulgaria Denmark Germany Singapore Argentina Indonesia Switzerland South Korea South Africa Saudi Arabia Netherlands New Czech Republic

Source: Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2014

14 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 should "reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible," while at the same time relating to DR. SINAIA NETANYAHU ON such issues as five-year reviews, loss and damage, a global "stocktake," adaptation, GHG monitoring, verification and CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION reporting, financing, capacity building and technology. Chief Scientist In his address to the Paris Climate Conference, Prime Minis- ter Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed Israel’s commitment to the The Paris Agreement reached in De- goals of the conference and focused on one element that is cember 2015 has been hailed as a expected to go a long way toward meeting the global chal- landmark in the struggle against glob- lenge – namely, technology. In his words, “technology gives al warming. Yet, along with the opti- us the ability to do the unimaginable.” This message was reit- mism, the Intergovernmental Panel on erated by Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabbay who Climate Change has reported, again called on the participants to close their eyes and imagine and again, that the effects of climate change will continue for what the world could look like in 2030. He envisioned a world decades, if not for centuries, even if ambitious greenhouse where “the electricity grid will be much more efficient, thanks gas emission targets are met. Therefore, alongside mitigation to smart-grid developments; many of us will be producing measures, adaptation has emerged as a key component of the the energy we consume; all factories will use co-generation; Paris Agreement which calls on parties to “engage in adapta- car companies will manufacture more electric cars than gas- tion processes” and to implement adaptation action plans so powered cars; and public transportation will be smarter and as to better prepare for the impacts of climate change. more efficient.” In recognition of the importance of climate change adaptation, an Israeli Climate Change Information Center (ICCIC) was The international activity around the Paris conference, as set up by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2011 well as the national efforts of countries to comply with the at Haifa University. Its mandate was to compile the existing reduction targets that they set for themselves, create major knowledge in Israel and abroad, to identify knowledge gaps economic opportunities on the road to a sustainable, low- and to submit recommendations to the government on carbon and climate-resilient economy that would be good adaptation measures on both local and national levels. Over for everyone – people, the environment, and the planet. a three-year period, multidisciplinary think tanks, made up The agreements reached in Paris are not an end, but rather a of representatives of government, academia, industry and beginning, as governments move from words to action, from NGOs, compiled and analyzed the existing knowledge on decisions to implementation. Israel is committed to making climate patterns and forecasts and their potential impacts the transition. It is committed to playing its part in the global on water resources, public health, biodiversity and green mitigation and adaptation effort. building in addition to their geostrategic and economic effects. They identified the risks and the knowledge gaps and submitted their recommendations for a national adaptation strategy as well as on adaptation measures in local authorities, research needs, and means of marketing the scientific and technological knowledge on adaptation in Israel and abroad. We are currently finalizing the national climate change adaptation strategy for submission to the government. The proposed strategy is a comprehensive document that was prepared by Israel’s interministerial committee on climate change adaptation, with the full collaboration of all stakeholders in a consensus-building process. All relevant government ministries and numerous other public agencies took part in the process, all recognized the impacts of climate change on their fields of responsibilities, and all owned up to their responsibilities for integrating climate change adaptation in their policies. Minister Avi Gabbay at Paris Climate Change Conference/ Photo: International Institute for Sustainable Development www.environment.gov.il 15 In parallel, professionals in several government agencies have It is significant that several government ministries and agencies integrated climate change thinking into many aspects of their have already begun to implement measures directed at better work. For example, the Israel Meteorological Service recently responding to the impacts of climate change. For example, in published an analysis of extreme events over nearly 100 light of water scarcity forecasts, the Water Authority is planning years of historic observations which presents trends related to increase water production by 15% in order to avoid to droughts and heat waves, rain and flooding and snow and dependence on natural water sources during extreme events. ice. Based on IPCC models that were adapted to Israel, winter Over the past year, we have drafted a national strategy which temperatures are forecast to rise by 1.5°C-3.0°C and summer aims to reduce potential damages and take advantage of temperatures by up to 4.0°C while precipitation is expected opportunities and benefits related to climate change. The to decrease by 10%-20% by the end of the 21st century. In proposed national strategy is based on five main targets: addition, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research published the results of a survey on sea level rise, which shows › Reducing damage to life and property and preventing a 6 millimeter rise each year. losses and investments that are not sustainable; There are two types of impacts that we must relate to: long- › Taking measures to increase ecosystem resilience; range, gradual impacts that will see temperatures climb over › Developing and updating the scientific database necessary time, sea water levels rise and sudden and extreme events that for decision making; will include heat waves, droughts and floods. These forecasts raise a lot of questions. How do we plan for the probability of › Promoting education, awareness and access to knowledge more frequent flooding events? How do we plan for extreme by decision makers and the public; events that will take place once in so many years? How do we › Searching for regional and global cooperation to advance a prepare for scenarios in which localities may be disconnected climate-adapted economy. from the national electricity grid due to extreme events? What The interministerial committee on adaptation invested a lot of does a 6 cm rise in sea level per decade or 60 cm per 100 years time and effort on the strategy, but successful implementation mean in terms of the coastal cliff or coastal power plants? will depend on two important steps: firstly, adaptation will We will have to increase our forecasting capabilities and early have to be mainstreamed into decision making in every field warning system capabilities to better respond to the impacts by different authorities; secondly, a coordinating body will of climate change on nearly every aspect of our lives – from have to be established to lead the implementation process when students can go on field trips to when is the best time and coordinate between government ministries and public to plant crops to how to increase water supply. Based on the authorities. predictions, maintenance and early preparations are essential. At the same time, we know that there is a lot of uncertainty with regards by the types of changes we will experience, their intensity, scope, time of appearance and impacts. Therefore our adaptation strategy and sectoral action plans are largely based on “no regret” scenarios – measures that should be implemented even if the effects of climate change /Photo: Ilan/Photo: Malester prove to be less severe than predicted. Based on our accumulated experience and technological innovations in such fields as water,

Carmel coast Carmel agriculture, desert forestry and energy, I believe that not only will we be able to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change in our own country but we will be able to contribute to the global effort to find climate resilient solutions for the benefit of people everywhere.

16 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 establishment of an air monitoring system in the region some thirty years ago, REDUCING and today the Haifa metropolitan area boasts the densest monitoring network in Israel with 27 continuous monitoring AIR POLLUTION stations that measure criteria pollutants including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulates and more. In 2007- 2008, the system was complemented by IN HAIFA BAY IlanPhoto: Malester the results of a comprehensive survey to characterize air quality in Haifa Bay, especially in terms of “exotic” air pollutants that cannot be continuously measured in the stations. Four series of comprehensive

Sunset in Haifa Bay/ measurements were taken in over 20 points in Haifa Bay, one per season. In An ambitious action plan promises to reduce 2013, periodic environmental sampling was instituted in 14 sampling points air pollution and environmental hazards in throughout the country at a frequency of once in two weeks, with four of the Haifa Bay sampling points concentrated in Haifa On April 28, 2015, the WHO Regional Of- compared with the national average for Bay. fice for Europe and the Organization for respiratory disease, cardiovascular dis- Economic Co-operation and Develop- ease and cancer. Based on the results of monitoring and ment (OECD) published dramatic find- sampling, the Ministry of Environmental ings that made headlines throughout Protection initiated an air pollution reduc- the world: Air pollution costs European Haifa Bay: A tion action plan for Haifa Bay in February economies $1.6 trillion a year in prema- 2008. The plan focused on 15 industrial ture deaths and diseases – an amount Pollution Hotspot plants with high air pollution potential nearly equivalent to one tenth of the as expressed in the emission of non- gross domestic product (GDP) of the en- Haifa Bay has long been considered one methane volatile organic compounds tire European Union in 2013. The findings of Israel’s air pollution hotspots due to its (NMVOC). The results were not long in were made public at the opening of a high concentration of industrial plants, coming. Implementation of best avail- three-day Mid-Term Review Meeting of including an oil refinery and chemical able technologies led to a 65% decrease the European Environment and Health and petrochemical industries, alongside in NMVOC emissions between 2009 and Process (EHP) convened in the northern high transport loads and port activities. 2015. Air quality continued to improve city of Haifa in Israel. The situation is exacerbated by the with the conversion of two units in Haifa’s physical proximity of a wide range of heavy fuel oil based power plant to com- Haifa proved a perfect venue for the hazardous material sources, including bined cycle natural gas units in 2012 and High-Level Mid-Term Review Meeting of an ammonia tank and fuel farms, to with the introduction of natural gas into the EHP. In recent years, the environmen- population centers, and by topographic the petrochemical complex in 2013. tal and health impacts of air pollution in and climatic conditions that aggravate air Haifa Bay captured the headlines in Israel pollutant dispersion. As a result, pollutant At the same time, much remains to in the wake of some disturbing reports. emissions and hazardous material risks be done, especially when it comes to In one, the Pollutant Release and Trans- threaten a population of more than half transportation-related emissions. In fer Register for 2013 placed Haifa at the a million residents living in a 165 square fact, the only exceedance of the annual top of the list of polluted cities in Israel. In kilometer metropolitan area. NO2 standard in Haifa Bay in 2014 was another, data published by the Ministry recorded in a transportation monitoring of Health pointed to an excess of adult Recognition of the environmental and station. Additionally, recent monitoring morbidity and mortality in the region health problems in Haifa Bay led to the and sampling results show a few www.environment.gov.il 17 Air Pollutants in Haifa Bay exceedances of the diurnal standard › Sulfur dioxide: The main source of SO2 emissions in Haifa Bay is heavy fuel oil combustion. Industry is responsible for 99% of the emissions and transportation for for PM2.5, which are mostly attributed to vehicular emissions and dust storms. the remaining 1% with the petrochemical sector the major contributor. Emissions Challenges also remain in other areas as from this sector have been reduced dramatically due to the gradual transition to evidenced by exceedances of the annual natural gas in both power plants and industry. target for formaldehyde and benzo- › Nitrogen oxides: NOX is emitted from transportation (54%) and from industry apyrene. (46%). Emission reductions are especially prominent in the energy and petrochemical sectors due to the introduction of natural gas. In light of the environmental and health data, and in accordance with the › Particulates: PM10 emissions are attributed to industry (74%) and to transportation precautionary principle, the Ministry (26%) while 69% of the PM2.5 emissions are attributed to industry and 31% to trans- of Environmental Protection decided portation. Trends show significant emissions reductions from energy generation and that additional steps are necessary to the petrochemical industry due to changes in the fuel mix in the Haifa power plant significantly reduce pollutant emissions to and the transition to natural gas in the petrochemical industry. the environment while at the same time › Non-methane volatile organic compounds: According to the PRTR for 2013, expanding monitoring and increasing some 4,200 tons of NMVOCs are emitted in Haifa Bay annually, of which industry epidemiological research on air pollution- contributes 1,900 tons per year, domestic uses 1,100 tons per year, transportation 760 related mortality and morbidity in Haifa tons per year, and gas stations 250 tons per year. A 65% decrease in NMVOC industrial Bay. emissions was noted in Haifa Bay over the past six years, largely due to compliance with regulatory requirements of the Clean Air Law and emission permits.

Moving Forward vironmental action plan for Haifa Bay in submitted to the government by the 2015 aimed at improving air quality and Ministers of Environmental Protection, – Confronting reducing the risks from hazardous sub- Finance, Transportation and Health. It stances, contaminated land and ground- was approved by government decision the Challenges water. While the link between cancer and on September 6, 2015. pollution cannot be proved, the Ministry While pollution levels in Haifa Bay of Environmental Protection chose to act In accordance with the plan, some NIS 330 continue to show a downward trend with in accordance with the precautionary million (about $90 million) will be invested further decreases expected as a result of principle. In cooperation with the Haifa in improving air quality in Haifa Bay, increased supervision and enforcement Municipality and the Haifa Association increasing inspection and enforcement, and the introduction of natural gas and of Towns for the Environment, it set up a reducing risks to the population, best available techniques, the public joint team, which included the Ministry monitoring pollutants, implementing perception of air quality in the region of Health and the Ministry of Transport, epidemiological research and making continues to be negative. to formulate an action plan to reduce air information more accessible to the pollution and environmental risks in Haifa public. Implementation of the provisions Growing recognition of the risks posed Bay. by the density of pollution and haz- by several ministries is expected to bring ardous substances to the surrounding The draft plan was presented to about a major change for the better in the population led the Ministry of Environ- the public in the summer of 2015 quality of life and the health of residents mental Protection to launch a new en- for feedback and was subsequently of the Haifa metropolitan area.

18 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 THE NATIONAL PLAN FOR REDUCTION OF POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS IN HAIFA BAY

Reduction of Air Pollution from Industry and Stationary Sources The action plan sets regional targets for the reduction of air pollutant emissions from industrial sources in Haifa Bay and Industry at Haifa Bay/Photo: Ilan Malester calls for reducing NMVOC emissions by a further 48% by 2018 relative to emissions in 2014. in stacks and inspections to detect of the fuel vapors during vehicle fugitive leaks. refueling. It is estimated that gas This will be accomplished by: stations are responsible for 8% of › Mandating all gas stations in Haifa › Mandating the use of best available NMVOC emissions in Haifa Bay and Bay to install Stage II Vapor Recovery techniques (BATs) for emissions that installation of the systems will Systems which recover some 85% reduction in each of the facilities and reduce emissions by 270 tons/year. stacks of the 26 industrial plants that are responsible for more than 70% of industrial emissions in Haifa Bay. Pollutant Industrial Emissions Emissions Reduction

› Converting all industrial steam boilers Percentage reduced: Percentage reduced: 2009 2014 2018 to natural gas and clean fuel instead 2014-2018 2009-2018 of heavy fuel oil (mazut) which is currently used by half of the existing NMVOCs 4,540 1,780 930 48% 80%

53 boilers in Haifa Bay. PM2.5 400 360 180 50% 55% › Increasing supervision and inspection Sulfur oxides 7,400 1,600 400 75% 95% of industrial facilities including Nitrogen oxides 4,550 2,500 2,200 12% 51% increasing the number of spot checks

Reduction of Air Pollution This will be accomplished by: emergency response plans, especially from Transportation for vulnerable and high risk groups. › Establishing Israel’s first “Low Emission Vehicles in Haifa Bay contribute more Zone” to restrict the entry of diesel › Providing incentives and support for than half of NOx emissions, a quarter vehicles unless equipped with the installation of particulate filters in of NMVOC emissions and a quarter of particulate filters. diesel vehicles (especially trucks and PM2.5 emissions. Although responsible buses) in Haifa Bay. for only 20% of the kilometers traveled, › Launching a pilot project for at least › Promoting the movement of trucks diesel vehicles are responsible for 75% of 30 public transport buses powered by in Haifa’s Carmel Tunnels by means the fine respirable particles emitted by natural gas, including the maintenance of lower tariffs in order to minimize transportation. Implementation of the and fueling infrastructure. truck traffic in the city’s most densely action plan is expected to make Haifa the › Providing guidelines to the public populated area, thereby reducing first city in Israel that is free of polluting and to civil servants on heat waves population exposure to pollution and diesel smoke. and cold waves and preparing noise by 97%. www.environment.gov.il 19 the number of samplings, the num- ber of pollutants sampled and the number of sampling points (from four to eight).

Increasing Environmental and Health Surveys and Research Studies The Ministry of Health collects informa- tion on mortality and morbidity which are linked to air pollution in the scientific Roadside vehicular pollution spot checks/Photo: Yuval Hendler literature. However, existing registers do not specifically relate to the health effects › Supporting the purchase of 22 new to shore-side electricity while at berth of environmental pollution. It is necessary trucks powered by natural gas and in the new ports of Haifa and Ashdod, to establish a collection, processing and installing about 12 particulate filters in thus enabling vessel engines to be analysis system for morbidity and mortal- the rest of the diesel truck fleet, thus switched off, in accordance with EU ity data in Haifa Bay in order to check the making Haifa the first city in Israel to recommendation 2006/339/EC. impacts of air pollution on health and the operate a low-pollution garbage environment and serve as a basis for deci- sion making. collection fleet. Expanding Air Quality › Supporting the operation of 500 Monitoring and Sampling This will be accomplished by: electric taxis through financial While Haifa Bay’s air monitoring system is › Conducting health surveys including incentives. especially dense, continuous monitoring epidemiological surveys to assess methods are not yet available for many the impacts of different air pollutants Reduction of Air Pollution of the pollutants emitted in Haifa Bay. on the health of different population from Vessels To complement the system, periodic air groups in different parts of Haifa Bay. sampling is undertaken to determine Vessels are known as major polluters due the concentration of such air pollutants › Conducting research and surveys to their use of marine heavy fuel oil with as NMVOCs, heavy metals and poly- on air pollution, soil contamination high sulfur content and lack of emissions aromatic materials. Both systems should and river pollution so as to assess the reduction systems. It is estimated that be expanded in order to provide a more impacts of environmental pollution vessels contribute 5% of particulate comprehensive knowledge base on air on the different environmental media emissions, 4% of nitrogen oxide emissions pollution trends and population exposure and the different ecosystems in Haifa and 2% of sulfur oxide emissions in Israel. to pollutant emissions. Bay. The aim is to reduce air pollution emitted from vessels in Israel’s ports including This will be accomplished by: Reducing the Risks of Haifa port. › Increasing the monitoring of Hazardous Materials transportation sources and improving This will be accomplished by: Due to the density of industrial facilities the geographic distribution of › Enacting air pollution emission dealing with hazardous materials and monitoring stations so as to identify regulations for vessels based on their proximity to the population in the most polluted areas and focus Annex VI of MARPOL 1973/1978, the Haifa Bay, measures must be taken to efforts on these regions. International Convention for the reduce risks including expansion of Prevention of Pollution from Ships. › Increasing the number of air pollutants the knowledge base and removal of that are continuously monitored, › Promoting compliance with European risk factors from populated areas. One including PM , black carbon and BTEX Directive 1999/32/EC on reducing the 1 measure which is already in advanced (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and sulfur content of marine fuels. planning is the removal of the 12,000 xylene). ton ammonia storage tank from Haifa › Promoting the establishment of an › Doubling the scope of periodic en- Bay and the establishment of an infrastructure for connecting vessels vironmental sampling by increasing ammonia production plant in southern

20 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 Israel that will supply the ammonia Transparency and This will be accomplished by: needs of the country. The aim is to Accessibility of Environmental reduce risks to the population from Information to the Public › Providing the public with an accessible, hazardous material events. clear and understandable database The perception of environmental quality which will be available on the Ministry This will be accomplished by: in Haifa Bay is negative and the informa- of Environmental Protection’s website tion available is not clearly communicat- and will include updated information › Conducting an aggregate risk survey ed to the general public. on emission sources and air quality in on all sources of risk in Haifa Bay in Haifa Bay, pollutants emitted to air and order to assess their impact on the To help remedy the situation a public their health impacts, preparedness for population in case of hazardous conference aimed at making environ- and prevention of emergencies, and material events in industrial facilities or mental information more accessible to contact information on practical steps during hazardous material transport. the public was convened in January of to be taken during emergencies. › Removing hazardous material 2015, which was followed by a poll on › Publishing annual reports on inspec- facilities from Haifa Bay including public needs later in the year. The aim is tion and enforcement on the minis- reviewing alternatives for relocating to improve the quality of information on try’s website, including the results of fuel farms and tanks to suitable sites air quality that is available to the public spot checks and enforcement. that are further removed from the and to make it accessible and easily un- population. derstood.

Reaching for sub-micron particulates and black car- particulate filters and much more. The bon. Air sampling points have been dou- market can then decide which emission- the Goal bled from four to eight. Inspection and reduction technologies best fit its needs.” enforcement have been fortified. And the Implementation of the Haifa Bay action list goes on and on. One thing is already certain. Air quality plan is expected to bring about an 80% improvement in Haifa Bay is at the top of reduction in NMVOC emissions from in- One of the greatest challenges remains the priority list of the ministry, as stated by dustrial sources and to cut carcinogenic transport-related air pollution, especially Minister of Environmental Protection Avi particulate emissions from transporta- diesel pollution, based on the recogni- Gabbay: “The situation in Haifa Bay must tion by half in 2018 relative to 2009. And tion that exposure to fine and sub-mi- change. We are continuing to work with progress is already underway. Stringent cron particles of diesel exhaust presents the Ministries of Transportation, Health, requirements for the installation of ad- a major health risk. “The World Health Finance and local authorities on behalf of vanced pollution abatement technolo- Organization has classified diesel en- the hundreds of thousands of residents of gies are being incorporated into the busi- gine exhaust as carcinogenic. Therefore, the Haifa metropolitan region who have ness licenses and emission permits of 26 major efforts are focusing on reducing a right to clean air and quality of life.” of the region’s largest industrial plants emissions from diesel vehicles, espe- with the greatest pollution potential. Va- cially buses and trucks. We want to ‘sell’ por recovery systems have already been the vision of Haifa as a diesel free city. installed in 90% of Haifa Bay’s gas sta- Our motto is Haifa first, then the rest of tions. Plans for the operation of 30 buses the country,” says Amir Zalzberg, Head of by natural gas have been advanced by the Transportation and Fuel Department Egged, the largest transit bus company at the Ministry of Environmental Protec- in Israel. The first phase of a Low Emis- tion. “I don’t believe in one silver bullet,” sion Zone was launched, restricting entry he goes on. “The idea is to promote the of heavy trucks to Haifa's lower city. Two penetration of a wide range of alternative additional mobile monitoring units have environment-friendly technologies to the been added to the monitoring system market – electric buses, buses powered that will also measure concentrations of by compressed natural gas, retrofits with Industrial air pollution monitoring/Photo: Yuval Hendler www.environment.gov.il 21 BBUILDINGUILDING GGREENREEN IINN IISRAELSRAEL Elad Gonen / Photo: Rakafot Green Building SchoolRakafot Green

A flurry of new initiatives Government Decisions › Promoting the dissemination of information on green building to the Buildings in Israel are responsible is helping to promote and public; for more than 60% of the country’s advance energy-efficient electricity consumption and 40% of its › Establishing a knowledge center on and healthy buildings in water use. It is no wonder, therefore, that green building to deal, inter alia, with green building has emerged as a major advancing academic knowledge Israel lever for climate change mitigation and through research, training and adaptation alongside energy efficiency course development and compiling Green building makes sense – environ- and savings. In recent years, within information on green building mentally, socially and economically. Sus- the framework of a 2010 government including the number of buildings tainable buildings reduce waste and con- decision on greenhouse gas emissions built according to the standard serve natural resources, lessen energy and reduction, a host of pilot projects on and the impact of green buildings water consumption, and improve health, new green buildings and retrofits of on rental and sales prices and on wellbeing and even productivity. existing buildings were introduced. They insurance costs; were crucial in collecting data on the In Israel the move toward green building environmental and financial effectiveness was spurred both by the climate crisis of different strategies. and the economic crisis, both of which > The challenge led to a change in thinking worldwide. In July 2014, the government reaffirmed Israel’s voluntary green building standard the importance of green building by today is to – Israel Standard 5281 – was born in 2005, resolving to integrate green building in underwent major revision and expansion Israel’s construction sector “in order to integrate green in 2011 to cover a wide range of buildings, reduce living expenses, protect the health and is now undergoing yet another of the country’s residents, reduce resource building in the upgrade. At the same time, recognition of consumption and advance Israel’s energy the impacts of buildings on greenhouse independence.” The government decision government's gas emissions and energy consumption allocates NIS 31.8 million (more than $8 efforts to solve the led Israel’s major municipalities to make million) for the program during a three- compliance with the green building year period (2014-2016) by means of the housing crisis < standard mandatory in their jurisdiction. following steps: 22 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 › Training professionals from different conventional buildings. A more recent what’s more, as is the case in other parts disciplines on green building, includ- project, initiated in 2015, is checking the of the world, insurance premiums may be ing planners, architects, building en- energy rating of 15 buildings situated in lowered for houses or apartments with a gineers, contractors, green building different parts of the country with the smaller carbon footprint. inspectors and real estate and financ- aim of using this information as a basis for ing personnel; policy and decision making on improved Introducing Net Zero- energy performance. › Promoting the preparation and Energy Buildings updating of green building standards Another major initiative, implemented by Plans for net zero-energy buildings – by the Standards Institution of Israel. the Israel Defense Forces, relates to the buildings that produce as much energy In addition, the decision calls on the construction of a new city in the middle of as they consume over the course of a Ministry of National Infrastructures, the Negev desert, known as the “training year – are also moving forward. University Energy and Water Resources to update base city” (Ir Habahadim). All buildings at students from Israel proved the concept and promote compliance with the the site comply with the green building during the Solar Decathlon China 2013 Israeli standards on the energy rating of standard alongside a wide range of competition, an international competition buildings ( IS 5282), energy performance environmental solutions – from solar which challenges collegiate student of buildings (IS 5280) and thermal panels to gray water reuse to automatic teams to design, build and operate insulation of buildings (IS 1045). lighting and temperature controls. solar-powered houses that are net zero- energy buildings and are affordable, And hopefully, not far in the future, energy-efficient and attractive. The Promoting Green an energy rating system for buildings Israeli team, made up of students from Building in Practice will be in place that will allow energy four academic institutions, took second “As a government ministry, we are work- considerations to enter the decision- place in the architecture competition ing with the major players in the housing making processes of potential buyers or and fourth place overall. They designed a market to increase and mainstream green renters of homes, apartments or offices. four-room, modern home that thrives on building in Israel. We have initiated major At the end of the day, the intention is solar energy, reusable gray water, a solar- projects in cooperation with the Gov- for every building to have an “energy thermal heating system, windows paned ernment Housing Administration, which efficiency identity card.“ “In Europe this with photovoltaic cells and an external is responsible for managing more than changed the market and in Israel we skeleton that can be disassembled and 5000 government owned or rented prop- are now taking the first steps toward reassembled with ease. Plans call for the erties, and even with the Israel Defense this direction,” says Arch. Avraham. And house to be presented to the public in Forces,” says Arch. Ran Avraham, head of the Green Building Unit. As a result of this collaboration, the Government Housing Administration has committed to imple- menting the green building standard in new government construction and major renovation projects. Tens of thousands of square meters of government offices are already being built according to the standard – from the new Tel Aviv District Court to the new government building complex in Jerusalem.

One of the pilot projects undertaken in cooperation with the Housing Administration was initiated in 2013. It analyzes data on building processes in 28 new residential and educational buildings and compares them with Simulation of zero-energy Air Force building / Photo: Knafo Klimor Architects Oil spill cleanup/Photo: Roy Talbi www.environment.gov.il 23 Israel to demonstrate the benefits of cities, plus three others, committed to in the coming years in accordance with green buildings, in general, and net zero- reducing greenhouse gas emissions the green building standard. energy buildings in particular. by 20% by 2020 compared to 2000. Most importantly, in recognition of the Green School Buildings More recently, plans for a zero-energy major impact of buildings on emissions building also reached Israel’s Air and energy consumption, the Forum “A school has a special character. It is Force. With a team of professionals took a major step in 2013. It approved a multi-user ’public building’, which accompanying the process, including the an initiative to gradually build all new does not necessarily have ’an owner’ Ministry of Environmental Protection, the projects in their cities in accordance with – someone who checks that everyone Air Force is pioneering a new building the green building standard, beginning turns off the light at the end of the school in one of its bases. Based on passive in the first stage with high-rise residential day. It is even possible for air conditioners planning and design methods alongside buildings (15 stories or more) and public to operate throughout the weekend smart systems that monitor and control offices and institutions. without anyone knowing about it,” electricity uses and a host of state-of- says Arch. Avraham. Therefore, as major the-art technologies, construction of the The historic decision led to a major consumers of energy, especially due to building aims to prove the feasibility of change. By 2014, 4000 residential units lighting and hot and cold air conditioning net zero-energy buildings. out of 40,000 were built in accordance systems, schools are perfect candidates with the standard – either by Forum 15 for green building. municipalities or by individual compa- Local Authorities nies or contractors who made a business While the initial costs of energy-efficient While the green building standard is still decision to build green. In all, some 140 schools are higher, experts estimate that voluntary, Israel’s major cities have taken buildings were built green in 2014, most the extra cost will gradually be offset it one step farther. In 2008, they signed of them residential buildings, with anoth- by electricity savings. In fact, green the Convention of the Forum 15 for er 600 in different stages of building. school buildings can lead to a 20%-40% Reducing Air Pollution and for Climate reduction in energy consumption within Protection, a local version of the ICLEI – “Since building processes take a long five years compared to conventional Local Governments for Sustainability’s time in Israel, we are just now beginning schools. In addition, by adding water- Cities for Climate Protection campaign. to see the results of implementing the efficient devices, faucets that shut-down Forum 15 brings together fifteen standard, with numbers expected to automatically and dual-flush toilets, major major municipalities which receive no rise as more and more buildings are water savings are expected. And the financial aid from the government and completed,” says Arch. Avraham. In Tel focus on natural lighting in green school are managed as closed economies. Aviv alone, municipal plans call for the buildings offers a wide variety of benefits Within this framework, the fifteen construction of 100,000 residential units that go beyond energy savings alone and /Photo: Elad Gonen /Photo: Rakafot Green Building SchoolRakafot Green 24 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 Green BuildingGrowth GrowthRate Rate Ministry of Environmental Protection. Some 2000 professionals have already 300 participated in these training programs. 254% The growing importance of green 200 building was clearly manifested in a Green Building Week, held in Israel on 100 September 6-10, 2015. The week, which 39% 0% 9% was organized by the IGBC and the 0 Ministry of Environmental Protection, 2011 2012 2013 2014 included tours, workshops and a major conference, all of which were widely covered by the media. In his address to the conference, Environmental Protection include improved concentration, health Building Council (IGBC), an NGO which is Minister Avi Gabbay said: “Green building and productivity of students. supported by industry, government and is a central value in implementing academia with more than 250 member a climate economy. It leads to cost A recent example of a green school build- organizations, runs a green building reductions, energy security, decreases in ing is Kiryat Bialik’s Rakafot Elementary school and offers a wide range of courses, morbidity and mortality and, at the end School situated in the Haifa District. De- seminars, workshops and special events of the day, also to significant savings in signed by Knafo Klimor Architects, the to individuals, organizations and local the lives of each and every one of us.” 2700 square meter building creates a authorities in cooperation with the comfortable learning environment while reducing the environmental impact of the building. It combines three separate wings and is based on passive planning combined with an active smart system Green Building Awareness on the Rise to conserve natural resources. Major emphasis is given to the connection be- The results of green building information and education campaigns tween interior and exterior spaces by us- and programs are making an impact as evidenced by the results of a ing courtyards, a patio and a green roof, recent survey by the Geocartography Knowledge Group in Israel: and the large openings of the building al- low light to penetrate the classrooms and › Awareness of green building is on a constant rise, growing from 23% in 2012 outdoor spaces. to 65% in 2015. › Some 56% of the respondents that plan to buy an apartment are aware of Promoting Professional Training green building – a 50% increase in just three years. and Public Awareness › Among those not looking for an apartment, awareness of green building in- While Israel is a world-renowned creased from 14% in 2009 to 49% in 2015 – a 3.5 fold increase. leader in technological innovation, its › The percentage of respondents who heard about green building but do not building sector remains conservative. understand what it is about decreased from 44% in 2012 to 12% in 2015. Therefore, a major objective of the country’s green building program is › Some 53% of the public said it was ready to pay at least NIS 25,000 more for to significantly increase professional green building and 30% was ready to pay NIS 35,000 more to live in a sustain- training and awareness. The program able home. focuses on the training of professionals › Some 70% of the public is ready to invest between 5%-10% of the cost of from every field – from architects and renovation to add green building elements to their apartment, and 30% are engineers to financing, investment willing to pay even more. and insurance experts. The Israel Green www.environment.gov.il 25 In parallel to the training of professionals, concept either to the building industry major efforts are invested in information or to the general public in Israel. A major and education. The goal is to transmit problem is that while the developer reliable information about the added of a housing project is responsible for value of green building and to provide investing the extra funds for a green incentives for green building without building (although these may represent One of the highlights of the conference endorsing a particular company. In one a very small increase over the price of was the inauguration of a special label for initiative, the Ministry of Environmental a conventional building), the one who green buildings for display on buildings Protection has already created an reaps the benefits in terms of energy and that were built according to the standard interactive map presenting the locations water savings is the buyer. With soaring and certified as green buildings. of all green buildings in Israel. The green housing prices and growing demand by an ever-growing population, the housing Soon after the Green Building Week, in building map which is accessible on the October 2015, the IGBC and the ministry ministry’s website features 200 green market in Israel has not yet moved toward joined forces once again in organizing buildings throughout the country. In green building on a wide scale despite its a retreat for academics in the field of addition, the ministry will soon launch an economic advantages. architecture, engineering and design internet portal to explain green building aimed at promoting green building, principles and their advantages to the Yet another challenge in a country such sustainability and knowledge sharing. public while providing a database of as Israel is the existing stock of buildings, Dozens of lectures covered a wide knowledge in the field, replete with the many of which were built hastily to provide range of topics, including presentations results of research studies. shelter to the waves of immigrants who on innovative new tools, methods and flocked to the country. It is estimated that initiatives such as a new website platform more than 50% of the buildings in Israel, Overcoming the Challenges for information sharing among lecturers, especially those built between the late institutions and faculties known as Eco- While the benefits of green building are 1970s and the early 1990s, are not properly Demia. clear, it has not been easy to “sell” the insulated. Since research demonstrates that insulation of the building envelope can reduce up to 26% of a building’s consumption of electricity for heating and cooling, insulation plans for existing buildings offer major savings.

Many of Israel’s substandard buildings are candidates for renovation or rebuild- ing within a number of frameworks. One is National Outline Plan 38 for reinforcing buildings against earthquakes. The mas- ter plan is already in implementation and

/ Photo: Shai Epstein / Photo: encourages deep retrofit of existing build- ings, providing an excellent opportunity to improve their energy performance at the same time.

In yet another initiative, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has partnered with the Israeli Forum for Energy, the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel, and the Ministry of Construction and Housing in an energy renovation project in a neighborhood renewal

LEED Platinum and IS 5281 certification for the Porter School of the Porter and IS 5281 certificationLEED Platinum for University Aviv Tel Studies at Environmental project in Sderot in Israel’s south. The 26 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 rehabilitation project went far beyond improving the aesthetics of the building by increasing the level of insulation of Green Building Research the entire building envelope, including roof and windows, and installing energy Since 2010, the Chief Scientist’s Office of the Ministry of Environmental savings measures so as to demonstrate Protection has published four calls for research studies on green the economic feasibility of the project. building, with the latest call for papers, budgeted at 1.5 million shekels, aimed at helping to consolidate ministry policy on To address these and other challengers, preferred green building actions and technologies. In the latest new ways of cooperation between the call for papers, the following research studies were approved: public and private sectors as well as out- of-the-box tools and incentives that are › The economic feasibility of green building in residential buildings and educa- adapted to conditions and major players tional buildings. in Israel are being examined. The Milken › Economic incentives for green renovation of existing buildings. Innovation Center at the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, which focuses › Costs of green building in renovation projects within the framework of Na- on developing market-based solutions tional Outline Plan #38 on strengthening existing structures against earth- to Israel’s challenges, is working with the quakes. Ministry of Environmental Protection in › The use of incentivizing strategies directed at decision makers in the field to examining the obstacles to green building encourage green building. and recommending potential solutions, including a wide variety of financial › Review and use of behavioral economics tools to promote green building in incentives. Israel. › Zero-energy building models and their potential for implementation in Is- Towards the Future rael. “Just five years ago, green building in Israel › Obstacles to developing the green building market in Israel. was only of interest to a few. The first green › Incentives for green building worldwide and their adaptation to Israel. building in Israel was built in 2008 and in 2011 the first residential building was › Implementation of green building according to IS 5281. awarded the standard. Before 2013, less › Use of greywater in green roofs. than 40 green buildings were built. Today we passed the 200 mark. In 2014 alone, over 3000 residential green building units were built, representing 7% of all units and Housing, who are planning major the construction of schools, public build- completed in that year. Another 600 are building projects throughout the country, ings and infrastructure for new neighbor- in different stages of building,” says Arch. to introduce green building into tenders hoods so as to facilitate the marketing of Avraham. for the ‘buyer’s price’ program.” The residential units while easing bureaucratic program, which encompasses thousands impediments. The challenge today is to integrate of apartments, is aimed at increasing the green building in the government’s supply of affordable housing by means of Green building conserves resources and efforts to solve the housing crisis. The tenders in which contractors compete for saves money, reduces greenhouse gas Ministry of Environmental Protection the lowest price for each apartment. emissions, improves health and quality of believes that the challenge of new and life and promotes productivity in schools affordable housing can be met. At the In parallel, efforts are also focusing on and jobs. Green Building Conference in September, integrating green building in other new Minister Gabbay said: “As a government, I housing initiatives in Israel such as roof Israel believes that through a variety of believe that we have to provide a personal agreements. These agreements between regulatory, financial and information example – therefore, we are urging the local authorities and government minis- measures, the transition to green building Ministries of Finance and Construction tries ensure funding to municipalities for can be transformed from vision to reality. www.environment.gov.il 27 /Photo: Daniel Sharon /Photo: RRATINGATING ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL PPERFORMANCEERFORMANCE IINN IISRAELSRAEL Mishor Industrial Zone Rotem

The integration of PRTR and inventory data with environmental impact ratings for industries and gas stations provides an updated, comprehensive picture of environmental performance in Israel

Israel’s Pollutant Release and Transfer Emissions to the Air: Pollutant emissions from power plants Register (PRTR), published for the third Achievements and Challenges have mostly decreased due to changes year running, requires some 500 of Israel’s in the fuel mix used by the Israel Electric The PRTR demonstrates that recent years major sources of emission – including Corporation (IEC), especially drastic de- have witnessed a significant reduction in industrial plants, landfills, wastewater clines in the use of fuel oil and crude oil the quantities of pollutants emitted to treatment plants and other entities – to and increases in the use of natural gas. In air, water and wastewater in Israel. These report on their pollutant emissions and addition, gas-based private power plants reductions are largely attributed to: transfers. As per the requirements of the have begun operating over the past two law, since January 2015 the Ministry of › The gradual transition to natural gas years, producing some 13% of Israel’s Environmental Protection also calculates as an energy source in large industrial electricity consumption. and publishes inventories on pollutant plants and power stations; releases to air from transportation, However, when it comes to transpor- household uses, agricultural vegetation › More effective control and enforce- tation, it is difficult if not impossible to waste (orchard prunings and stump ment including a requirement for quantify and collect reports from hun- burning), quarries, gas stations and best available techniques (BAT) and dreds of thousands of vehicles. Therefore, industrial uses which are not included compliance with EU standards as pre- the emissions calculation is based on an in the PRTR. The combination presents requisites for air emission permits; inventory – a professional assessment a comprehensive picture of pollutant › Implementation of the 2014 Water carried out by the ministry. "All heavy emissions in Israel. and Sewerage Corporations Rules on the discharge of industrial wastewater There’s both good news and bad news in into the sewage system that enable > The index the latest emissions report published at financial charges to be imposed for the end of October 2015. The good news sewage deviations not permitted creates a major is that emissions of major pollutants to under the rules; the air have decreased by 18%-53% rela- incentive for › Growing awareness of environmental tive to the first year of reporting (2012). responsibility among industy and The bad news is that Israel has not yet companies to energy companies – as well as of their reached its potential for emissions reduc- exposure to financial damages. improve < tion.

28 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 vehicle and bus companies are required down emissions by as much as 80%. Until to reduce pollutant emissions to the air," then, a new instruction by the National says Dr. Tzur Galin, Head of Air Quality Infrastructures, Energy and Water Minis- and Climate Change at the Ministry of try mandates a 15% reduction in coal use Environmental Protection. In addition, in these stations. the ministry is already implementing or introducing additional measures to re- "We are pushing for natural gas to be duce vehicular pollution, including green introduced into all sectors," continues taxation, transition to public transporta- Dr. Galin. "Currently, some power plants tion, shuttles between employment cen- operate on natural gas and a large portion ters and local authorities, biking paths of heavy industry has switched to gas, but and even plans for low-emission zones in there are at least another 450 plants that urban centers. we want to be connected to natural gas in urban areas – bakeries, nursing homes, While pollutant emission trends in Is- hotels and more." rael definitely show improvements, Is- rael fares less well when its SOx and NOx Environmental Impact Index: emissions per capita are compared to Industries and Gas Stations EU levels. “The IEC’s coal-fired plants in Hadera and Ashkelon are responsible for For the first time this year, the Ministry two-thirds of the country’s emissions of of Environmental Protection published nitrogen and sulfur oxides,” says Dr. Galin. its PRTR and inventory data together However, these coal-fired power plants with its environmental impact index are installing flue gas desulfurization which ranks 42 public and government scrubbers and selective catalytic reduc- companies, about 100 industrial facilities tion units which are expected to bring and about 1000 gas stations. The index,

Did You Know?

› The burning of agricultural › Greenhouse gas emissions decreased vegetation waste (orchard prunings by 14% between 2012 and 2014. and stumps) is the main source of › Emissions of sludge from the Dan PM2.5 emissions, emitting 1,880 tons Region Wastewater Treatment Plant Ram /Photo: Greenwald per year. (Shafdan) to the Mediterranean › Household uses (cleaning products, Sea decreased by nearly two-thirds medical products, insect control, between 2012 and 2014, with a full painting, etc.) are the main sources stop expected in mid-2016. of NMVOC emissions, emitting › Discharge of pollutants in industrial 20,470 tons per year. wastewater has dramatically de- › Emissions of chlorinated VOCs from creased and dozens of plants are al- industry decreased by 64% between ready implementing BATs for reduc- 2012 and 2014. ing and preventing the discharge of industrial wastewater, with plans for › PM emissions from industrial 10 expanding this requirement to 145 sources decreased by about half large plants. between 2012 and 2014. Phoenicia Glass factory the Zipporit Industrial at Zone www.environment.gov.il 29 > The PRTR which is based on the UK’s Operational and marine environment sensitivity); Risk Appraisal (OPRA), reflects the demonstrates › Level of compliance with regulatory potential for risk rather than the quantity and permit requirements; that recent years of emissions and is based on a number of parameters: › Voluntary environmental activity such have witnessed a as environmental management and › Quantities of pollutants or waste that reporting. significant reduction are emitted or transferred (as reflected in the PRTR); This year’s environmental impact index in the quantities of is made up of an industry index and a › Risks of using or storing hazardous gas station index, and the news in both materials; pollutants emitted instances is both good and bad. On the to air, water and › Environmental sensitivity of the one hand, several of the companies and location (including proximity to facilities that were high on the “red list” wastewater in Israel < population centers and hydrological in 2013 improved their score. On the

Dead Sea Periclase factory at Mishor Rotem/Photo: Somaya Falah

30 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 Ton/Year Reduction in emissions to air 18% 29%

31%

2012

2013

2014

36% 53% 46% 53% 15%

CO2 NOx SOx CH4 CO TSP PM10 N2O NMVOC other hand, they still have a long way to use of the index," adds Dr. Carny. "We performance of gas stations compared go to reach the required environmental will continue to implement actions that to last year, with a 12% increase in the performance that would reduce their promote transparency for the benefit of number of stations that have already environmental risk level. the public in general and the business installed vapor recovery systems. sector in particular.” One of the main objectives of the index Installation of a vapor recovery system is to present the public, investors and the This year’s gas station impact index is for vehicle refueling in a gas station companies themselves with a reliable especially worthy of note. It examines minimizes the emission of fuel vapors measure of the environmental impact the environmental performance of fuel at a significant scope of 6 tons per year of each company. This both encourages companies as the mean score per gas per urban station. Due to this decisive companies to reduce the environmental station, obtained by adding the points contribution to the environment, the impacts of their activities and helps reduce given to each of the company’s stations Ministry of Environmental Protection the financial risks to which investors are and dividing them by the total number requires all gas stations to install vapor exposed. According to Dr. Ohad Carny, of gas stations. The score is based on recovery systems by the end of 2016. Director of Regulatory Policy at the three criteria: non-compliance with Ministry of Environmental Protection, environmental legislation; number of Yael Oren, Director of Industries and this objective is already being met. The gas stations in which a vapor recovery Business Licensing, notes that the index is increasingly used by investment system to prevent fuel evaporation index – published in previous years in a houses and banks, especially when it during vehicle refueling does not exist; different form – creates a major incentive comes to risk management in relation to and positive points for voluntary activity for companies to improve, as witnessed the exposure of companies to financial with a positive environmental impact. by the significant changes made in gas damages due to their environmental risks. The results demonstrate significant stations in 2014-2015. "Twenty years "We see that these bodies make business improvements in the environmental of inspection and enforcement of gas www.environment.gov.il 31 Electricity Production

100% = 2012 Reduction in emissions to air

100%

CO2 80% NOx PM 60% 10

40%

20%

0% 2012 2013 2014 2012 2013 2014

Significant reduction Increase in natural gas in pollutants emissions for electricity production from electricity production instead of crude oil and gas oil

stations did not do what publication of In line with the Ministry of Environmental “With time, we are learning the remark- the index did," adds Dr. Arieh Pistiner, in Protection’s policy of transparency, the able capabilities of the PRTR,” says Shilhav. charge of oil pollution prevention at the results of both the PRTR and the environ- “We didn’t expect such benefits when we ministry. mental impact index are published on its first began, but we are using the data to website and are widely covered by all the identify policy needs and to follow up on media. implementation.” A Basis for Improvement “The PRTR is gradually serving as the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s compass. It directs the ministry to areas in which policy is inadequate or targets are not yet being met and points the way to improvement,” says PRTR Coordinator Uri Shilhav. “Thus, for example, we learned that the national targets for 2015 set in the National Program for the Reduction and Prevention of Air Pollution in Israel have not yet been reached. In addition, because of its uniform structure, the PRTR also serves as an excellent tool for international comparisons. It shows, for example, that our recovery rates for hazardous waste are still much lower than the EU average. And, in perhaps the most significant development, this year the PRTR served as a central database for developing the Action Plan to Reduce Pollution and Environmental Risks in Haifa Bay.” Industrial pollution monitoring and inspection/Photo: Yuval Hendler 32 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

International activity on environmental issues continued in 2015, with special attention to preparations for the Paris Climate Change Conference. In parallel, a host of workshops, conferences, seminars, visits and meetings took place in Israel and abroad, focusing on everything from biodiversity to green growth, prevention of Mediterranean Sea pollution to environmental enforcement. Israeli representatives took part in a wide range of events sponsored by the European Union, OECD, UNESCO, Mediterranean Action Plan, and other organizations. Experts and policy-makers traveled abroad for study visits, and environmental officials from countries round the world visited their counterparts in Israel to promote cooperation towards environmental improvement.

Climate Change: sions from different sectors HCFCs and HFCs was held as part of the effort to draft Moving Toward a and from the economy as a in Tel Aviv, with the partici- the text for a new global New Agreement whole, and review the po- pation of government de- climate change agreement tential and costs of different cision makers and experts, prior to the Paris Climate Without doubt, international abatement measures, took refrigerant engineers, tech- Change Conference in De- activity worldwide and in Israel place in Israel. Led by Char- nicians, and service provid- cember 2015. lie Heaps, developer of the ers. focused on climate change › Conference on Sustain- software at the Stockholm issues in 2015, with Israeli › Ad-Hoc Working Group able Innovation – To- Environment Institute, the representatives taking part in on the Durban Platform wards the UN Conven- workshop contributed to the process of finalizing the for Enhanced Action tion on Climate Change: the formulation of Israel’s Paris Agreement. Following are (ADP): In February, June, In July, a sustainable in- economy-wide GHG emis- some highlights from the past August and October, an novation conference was sions reduction strategy. year: MoEP delegation took part convened in Israel to › OECD Working Party on in working group meet- commemorate 50 years of › Climate Change Adapta- Climate, Investment and ings in Geneva and Bonn, Israel-Germany diplomatic tion Indicators: In March Development (WPCID): and in October, workshops In May, Israel’s representa- on developing climate tive to the WPCID took part change adaptation indica- in a Paris meeting on the Focusing on Climate- tors were convened in Isra- utilization of financial tools Friendly Refrigerants el within the framework of to tackle climate change, a joint project between the including means of rais- A three-year project on the use of climate-neutral substances MoEP and Israel's Central ing the necessary capital that do not deplete the ozone layer in the cooling sector Bureau of Statistics, funded and tracking government was launched in 2014. The project partners the Ministry of by and in cooperation with and private climate financ- Environmental Protection with the Bavarian State Ministry the European Environment ing. Israel’s representative, of the Environment and Consumer Protection, the Bavarian Agency and the Austrian the director of the MoEP’s Environment Agency and the German Society for International Environment Agency. Economics and Standards Cooperation. It focuses on supermarkets and hotels and Division, was selected to includes study visits to Germany and technical workshops for › Long-range Energy Al- experts from the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. ternatives Planning: In co-chair the WPCID Bureau March, a capacity-building in 2016. A Joint Declaration of Intent to cooperate on GHG emissions workshop, funded by Cli- › Climate-Friendly HCFC reduction was signed between the MoEP and the Bavarian maSouth, on the uses of Alternatives: In May 2015, Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection in LEAP software to model a workshop aimed at rais- December 2015. It focuses on the transition to climate friendly refrigerants in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, the energy supply and demand ing awareness of proven use of natural gases as refrigerants, and the preparation of in different sectors of the and viable climate-friendly policy measures and requirements regarding F-gases. economy, forecast emis- technology alternatives to www.environment.gov.il 33 Environment Minister Dr. derstanding of the climate (Israel’s parliament), local Barbara Hendricks. At the change negotiations. authorities, environmen- conference, the MoEP first tal NGOs, academia, and › Climate Change Adap- presented its recommen- industry. At the Leaders tation Conference: In dation for GHG emissions Event on November 30, September, a conference reduction in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ben- on climate change adap- jamin Netanyahu hailed cli- › Climate Technology Cen- tation took place in Israel, mate change as one of the ter and Network (CTCN): with topics including the “pivotal issues of our time.” On August 10, 2015, Israel formulation of a strategy He went on to say that At the Paris Climate Change Conference/ was accepted as a member and action plan on climate “technology gives us the Photo: Ayelet Rosen of the CTCN, established by change adaptation in Isra- ability to do the unimagi- the UN Framework Conven- el, climate trends and fore- relations and to discuss in- nable” and that the goal is tion for Climate Change to casts, expected impacts of novative technological so- “to optimize our resources; enhance the development climate change and adap- lutions to climate change. optimize the way we al- and transfer of climate tation efforts. The conference was host- locate our resources.” In technologies and to assist ed by the MoEP, the Ger- › 2015 Climate Conference his address to conference developing countries with man Federal Ministry for – COP 21: The December participants, Environmen- such technologies. the Environment, Nature 2015 Climate Conference tal Protection Minister Avi Conservation, Building and › OECD Climate Change in Paris represented both Gabbay presented Israel’s Nuclear Safety (BMUB), and Expert Group (CCXG): In a culmination of national emissions targets, empha- Israel's Ministry of Econ- September, an MoEP repre- and international efforts sizing that “technologi- omy, with opening ad- sentative joined delegates and a beginning. Israel’s cal developments are our dresses by Israeli Environ- at the CCXG in Paris to dis- delegation included some contribution and our main mental Protection Ministry cuss key climate change 70 representatives from task in the climate change Mr. Avi Gabbay and Federal issues and to enhance un- government, the Knesset arena.”

2015 Climate Change Conference: Side Events

Three side events were organized by members of the Israeli cal solutions that can be readily applied for high ambient tem- delegation at COP 21. They included: peratures to replace HCFCs without increasing GHG emissions. › Technological Break-Through in the Refrigeration and › National and Regional Adaptation to Mediterranean Air Conditioning (RAC)Sector – New Cost Effective and Climate Change: Forests, Landscapes and Beyond: The Energy Efficient Solutions: The side event was organized by side event was organized by the Jewish National Fund and the the MoEP, the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Montenegro Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It Consumer Protec- focused on adaptation to climate change in the Mediterranean COP 21 Side Event tion, the German region and highlighted, among other things, threats to Monte-

Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, Society of Interna- negro’s forests, Israel’s climate change adaptation strategy and Bavarian Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit, tional Cooperation rehabilitation of degraded areas and tree planting in the north- Environmental Investigation Agency

cordially invite you to the side event: (GIZ Proklima), and ern Negev region of Israel. Technological Break-Through the Bavarian Envi- in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Sector › Israeli Innovation in Response to Climate Change: The New Cost Effective and Energy Efficient Solutions ronmental Inves- Innovative and proven technologies exist for reducing GHG emissions in the high ambient side event was organized by Israel’s Foreign Ministry and by temperature refrigeration and air conditioning sector. We will present environmental and tigation Agency. It energy efficient solutions that can be readily applied for high ambient temperatures, thereby the Green Energy Association of Israel. It highlighted innovative promoting a cost effective transition to a low carbon economy. highlighted environ- Friday, 11th of December 2015 renewable energy and climate change technologies that were Hall 4 Observer Room 2 mental and energy- 13:15 – 14:45 developed by eight Israeli companies. Refreshments provided efficient technologi-

34 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN | vol.32vol.42 Joint Declaration of Intent on Best Available Techniques In the wake of the first EU-MoEP Twinning project, a new agreement was signed between the MoEP and Germany’s Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). The declaration of intent, signed on July 14, 2015 by Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabbay and his German counterpart, Dr. Barbara Hendricks, institutionalizes and strengthens the continued cooperation between the MoEP and BMUB on the implementation of Best Available Techniques (BATs) in the industrial permitting process. Implementation of BATs is one of the conditions that will be required in Israel's new integrated "green" licensing process, which will streamline existing environmental Ministers Gabbay and Hendricks sign the permits into one integrated permit. Declaration of Intent/Photo: Aviad Weitzman

Twinning Project: The project is a partnership sues: air, hazardous sub- Environment Promoting between the MoEP, Germany's stances, hazardous waste, and Health Environmental Federal Ministry for the Envi- industrial wastewater, con- Management, ronment, Nature Conservation, taminated soil, agricultural More than 200 representatives Regulation and Building and Nuclear Safety waste and monitoring and from some 40 countries, UN Resource Efficiency (BMUB), the Austrian Environ- reporting, with special fo- organizations, the European ment Agency (UBA), and the cus on the needs of small Union, the OECD and NGOs A second Twinning project Northern Ireland Cooperation and medium enterprises came to Haifa in April 2015 for aimed at improving and imple- Overseas (NICO), with the Ger- (SMEs); a task force mid-term review menting the environmental of the World Health Organiza- man ministry serving as senior › Eco Management and regulatory and management tion's European Environment partner. Audit Scheme: The aim is framework for industry and and Health Process (EHP). The develop guidelines for business, was launched in Israel EHP brings together 53 coun- The three components of the systematic environmental with a kick-off event in Septem- second Twinning project in- management to improve tries, including Israel, to ad- ber 2015. Budgeted at €2.08 clude: the environmental per- dress key environment and million, it aims at helping the formance of industries in health challenges. MoEP to upgrade and imple- › Development and op- Israel, including the intro- ment permitting, inspection, eration of a regulatory duction of such systems as Members of the task force and compliance and enhance framework: The aim is to the EU Eco-Management discussed progress on envi- environmental management develop guidelines for en- and Audit Scheme (EMAS); ronment and health, includ- in Israel, with special focus on vironmental permitting and ing topics such as provision of small and medium enterprises. inspection on different is- › Promotion of resource safe drinking water and sani- efficiency: The aim is to tation, elimination of asbestos develop a national policy related diseases, exposure to Launch of the Twinning Event/Photo: Benjamin Rosendahl and tools for resource ef- toxic chemicals, the impact of ficiency, taking account of climate change, and more. the cross-sectoral dimen- sion of resource efficiency, The decision to hold the mid- including energy efficiency, term review in Israel, which food and plastic material was fully supported by EHP streams and a knowledge members, demonstrates the center on resource use ef- appreciation for Israel’s com- ficiency. mitment to the process and its For further information: efforts on behalf of health and http://twinning-israel.info the environment. www.environment.gov.il 35 Israel's Environment at a Glance

Everything you wanted to know about the environment in Israel