Last update - 00:00 08/10/2007
MK hands Peres a plan to fight global warming
By Zafrir Rinat
As part of the Israeli green groups' push for a government commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the head of the environmental-social caucus in the Knesset, Hadash MK Dov Khenin, presented President Shimon Peres a national plan to combat global warming yesterday.
Environmental groups in Israel are attempting to extract a government commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020, and 60 percent by 2050.
The plan, compiled in cooperation with environmental organizations, recommends the establishment of a national authority to oversee energy conservation and to form a multiyear plan to reduce energy consumption.
The report cites numerous instances where Israel can reduce its energy consumption: green building regulations for public buildings; street lights powered by solar electricity; frequent inspections of pollution emissions from buses and cabs; hourly rentals of electric-powered cars and bicycles for city residents; higher parking costs in public city lots for non-residents and a halt to the construction of new parking lots altogether.
Israel is not currently obligated by any international treaties to reduce greenhouse gases. However, according to the report submitted by Khenin "local response to a global crisis" stipulates that Israel should be a partner in the international effort to deal with the phenomenon.
The reduction of greenhouse gases would also help Israel save energy and water, thereby decreasing its dependency on foreign energy sources.
The report maintains that these objectives can be reached without adversely affecting economic growth, as long as the program employs intelligent planning and the use of local technologies based on the utilization of the sun's energy, the reduction of water consumption and the planting of trees that absorb carbon dioxide.
The report calls on the transportation sector to drastically reduce its gas emissions through the use of "clean" cars and fuel, and by encouraging the public to refrain from using private cars. Possible tools include tax breaks for residents who don't own cars and increases for those who own several cars - reflecting the cost of the space the cars take up.
Peres said at the meeting that today's leaders cannot afford to ignore environmental issues.