Israel 2019 Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals

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Israel 2019 Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS National Review ISRAEL 2019 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS National Review ISRAEL 2019 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgments are due to representatives of government ministries and agencies as well as many others from a variety of organizations, for their essential contributions to each chapter of this book. Many of these bodies are specifically cited within the relevant parts of this report. The inter-ministerial task force under the guidance of Ambassador Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, Israel’s Special Envoy for Sustainability and Climate Change of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Galit Cohen, Senior Deputy Director General for Planning, Policy and Strategy of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, provided invaluable input and support throughout the process. Special thanks are due to Tzruya Calvão Chebach of Mentes Visíveis, Beth-Eden Kite of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amit Yagur-Kroll of the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Ayelet Rosen of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Shoshana Gabbay for compiling and editing this report and to Ziv Rotshtein of the Ministry of Environmental Protection for editorial assistance. 3 FOREWORD The international community is at a crossroads of countries. Moreover, our experience in overcoming historical proportions. The world is experiencing resource scarcity is becoming more relevant to an extreme challenges, not only climate change, but ever-increasing circle of climate change affected many social and economic upheavals to which only areas of the world. Our cooperation with countries ambitious and concerted efforts by all countries worldwide is given broad expression in our VNR, can provide appropriate responses. The vision is much of it carried out by Israel’s International clear. Our immediate and urgent obligation is to Development Agency (MASHAV) which is dedicated protect and improve our world for all its current to furthering partnerships to increase the scope and inhabitants. We also have the responsibility as effectivity of capacity building. Agenda 2030 has been caretakers for future generations. Israel is fully the catalyst for a fruitful process in Israel which will committed to working in unison with others to continue to develop and progress over time. We look forward to the work that lies ahead, both at home turn the vision into a reality and the SDGs are our and overseas, and to the harnessing of the creativity, plan of action. enthusiasm, and optimism which characterizes Israel’s first Voluntary National Review is the result Israel to the benefit of people everywhere. of a coordinated process by our two ministries with Our vision is to harness our innovation to addressing the contribution of many other bodies. The process global challenges while being mindful that the has been significantly enriched by the expertise benefits must reach all sectors, for inequality within and experience of governmental agencies and countries is as much of a challenge as between non-governmental stakeholders. countries. The vision of building a society which This report surveys Israel’s path toward the mends the world – Tikun Olam - and which leaves realization of Agenda 2030 and its seventeen no one behind has ancient roots in our tradition. Sustainable Development Goals by providing an up- In describing the success and wealth of that wisest to-date view of where we are and, in many cases, of sovereigns, King Solomon, the Bible describes, how we plan to reach the 2030 Goals. It presents in Psalm 72, what is expected from the powerful measures and activities carried out by various actors in return for their good fortune. in Israel and elsewhere to implement the goals we “For he will deliver the needy when he cries, collectively adopted in order to transform our world. The poor also, and him who has no helper… The report presents many accomplishments in And will save the souls of the needy. fields such as education, water, health and the He will redeem their life from oppression economy. However, just as importantly, the report and violence.” highlights those areas where more needs to be done The SDGs give voice to the mutuality and inter- to improve the lives of our citizens, communities dependence of development. They highlight the and families as well as our economy while, at the need for concerted action on all three pillars same time, contributing to the sustainable future – social, economic and environmental - by all of people everywhere. While the countries of the countries at all stages of development and growth. world are united in the common desire to achieve Israel is proud to be an active player and contributor the SDGs, each country has a range of rich national of this global undertaking. characteristics and strengths which will make its path toward realization of the goals unique. Israel will continue to focus on innovative technologies and initiatives but through the prism of minimizing MK Israel Katz, MK Zeev Elkin, environmental degradation and enabling greater Minister of Foreign Minister of access to the benefits of technological advances Affairs, Minister Environmental and increased opportunities for all. of Transport and Protection and As a young country, we recently faced many of the Minister of Intelligence Minister of Jerusalem difficulties currently encountered by many other Affairs and Heritage 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION: ISRAEL’S VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW Methodology and process for the preparation of the review 8 Structure of Israel’s Voluntary National Review 9 Policy and enabling environment 10 Partnering for a better world – Israel’s international contribution toward Agenda 2030 13 2. HARNESSING INNOVATION TO LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND A national priority and an opportunity to effect change in Israel and beyond 15 Broadening the discussion through the national process on Agenda 2030 17 3. GOALS AND TARGETS Goal 1: No Poverty 26 Goal 2: Zero Hunger 37 Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being 54 Goal 4: Quality Education 80 Goal 5: Gender Equality 100 Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation 114 Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy 134 Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 145 Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 165 Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities 183 5 Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities 195 Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production 219 Goal 13: Climate Action 237 Goal 14: Life Below Water 248 Goal 15: Life on Land 262 Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 272 Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals 293 4. STATISTICAL ANNEX: INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN ISRAEL 301 5. SDG RELATED NATIONAL STATISTICS: WELL-BEING INDICATORS IN ISRAEL 392 6. OECD: MEASURING DISTANCE TO THE SDG TARGETS – ISRAEL 403 7. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM NON-GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDERS 407 6 Good Health & Well-Being 1 INTRODUCTION The Bahai Gardens, Haifa/Photo: Fotolia7 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION: ISRAEL’S VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW Israel stands united with all UN member states in the support and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015. As an active partner in formulating the 2030 Agenda, we recognize that the greatest global challenge facing our world today is to eradicate the substantial gaps in access to resources – economic, social and environmental – and to adhere to the universal pledge to ‘leave no one behind.’ Methodology and process for the responsibility. This preparation of Israel’s first VNR preparation of the review also provided an opportunity to introduce Agenda 2030 across government ministries, authorities and Under the guidance of the Director General of organizations, often for the first time. Throughout Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a governmental the process, each ministry was introduced to the team headed by Israel’s Special Envoy for wealth of knowledge, experience, methodologies Sustainability and Climate Change and the Deputy and best practices made available under Agenda Director General for Strategy at the Ministry of 2030, and global cooperation and local relevance Environment Protection was commissioned to and opportunities were discussed. compile Israel’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR) in anticipation of the 2019 United Nations Israel’s urban density and scarcity of land resources High-Level Political Forum, the framework for highlight the centrality of Israel’s urban sustainability presenting the report. to the country’s successful implementation of Agenda 2030. A comprehensive multi-stakeholder One of the team’s two key tasks was the preparation process was led by the Ministry of Construction and of a report including all relevant data and Housing and some of the feedback by stakeholders information related to sustainability and the is included as an annex to the report. As a result of implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The report this process, a new local indicator for urban renewal presents a broad ‘all of government’ scoping is under consideration which could provide the basis and mapping review to best gauge Israel’s status for a global indicator within SDG 11. in progressing towards the 2030 Agenda, to provide for an informed basis for comprehensive and coherent policy decisions for the next stage Stakeholder involvement of implementation, and to serve as a national Although the report is a governmental one, Israel baseline for future progress analysis in the next nevertheless engaged relevant stakeholders in the VNR report. An inter-ministerial committee was process. Representatives of civil society, the private formed and consultations took place over the sector and academia provided their contributions past 18 months. Government ministries were and took part in the discussions. invited to submit their professional inputs on An examination of the means by which each Israel’s progress and activities towards meeting sector can implement and use the goals to guide the targets and goals of Agenda 2030 under their and further their work remains to be carried out, 8 as well as the ongoing stakeholder engagement other government ministries or other agencies.
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