Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 23, 2008 Cheshvan 25, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:15 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Toward greenhouse gas reduction By Zafrir Rinat In recent months the Environmental Protection Ministry has warned a number of times of the impact of climate change on Israel. It has emphasized that Israel must do its part in the international commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, ahead of an important international conference on the issue next year in Denmark. Israel, however, has not shown impressive achievements. On the initiative of the French Embassy, a conference was held last week in Tel Aviv on the implications of climate change for Israel and the region. The representatives of France and the European Union countries, the nations Israel would like to resemble in terms of environmental policies and other areas, explained how during the next two decades their countries intend to meet an ambitious goal of cutting greenhouse gases from current levels. Advertisement Israel, in contrast, has no plans to reduce greenhouse gases. The best it can do - according to the Environmental Protection Ministry - is to reduce the growth rate of such gases in the coming decades. Expected growth according to a business-as-usual scenario (without taking action to reduce gases) is 63 percent in two decades. After various steps such as transfering to natural gas to generate electricity, or preventing the relase into the atmosphere of methane from garbage dumps, the growth rate will be reduced by two-thirds. At the conference, a senior ministry official explained the constraints, among them the meager areas available to build renewable energy facilities, and Israel's inability to depend on nuclear energy as the French government does. For example, solar energy facilities that would produce a significant amount of clean electricity would take up a good deal of space. Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra revealed some Israeli chutzpah at the conference, and not in a good way. He proposed working to increase the Palestinians' awareness of the need to reduce greenhouse gases. We really should have a word about this with the Palestinians in Gaza, whose electricity consumption threatens to drown the world in greenhouse gases. Israel does indeed face many obstacles on the way to achieving far-reaching goals of reducing greenhouse gases, and it must be said that its impact on global warming is minuscule. We cannot fill the Negev, for example, with solar facilities or plant forests of greenhouse-gas absorbers because that would leave little left of the Negev, the last area in the country with significant open space. And yet, despite these difficulties, Israel must present an approach based on extensive changes in planning in energy, transportation and water. Streamlining energy consumption in buildings, reducing demand for electricity and household water, and increasing the use of public transportation are only some of the excellent changes that could further decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Of course, population growth must also be mentioned, which Israel is encouraging in every way possible with no consideration for its impact on the country's meager resources. A democratic country does not dictate its people's rate of reproduction, but it can change the trend by family planning, raising the level of education and bringing women into the workforce. The need to reduce greenhouse gases is not the only justification for an overall policy change in all the areas above; the release of such gases reflects an economy and society not making efficient and economical use of natural resources. Better use is good not only because it helps Israel get accepted to bodies like the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It is essential in a country that has a dense population in an arid zone, but the lifestyle and consumer culture of countries much richer and more developed. Instead of defending itself and arguing that the reduction of greenhouse gases is a difficult goal to achieve, the Environmental Protection Ministry should sell the Finance Ministry a strategy that presents this reduction as streamlining, and therefore economically worthwhile. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Mikaeel Jackson Report: Pop star Michael Jackson converts to Islam. Peace now Abbas calls on Obama to enact Arab peace plan as soon as he takes office.

Read & React 20,000 Jewish pilgrims to descend on Hebron amid settler violence Responses: 222 Experts argue: How close is Iran to its first nuclear weapon? Responses: 135 Video: Prof. Avi Shlaim says settlements turn Israel into Apartheid state Responses: 181 Debate over Museum of Tolerance - an exchange Responses: 23 PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo: The Palestinian people need Obama's help Responses: 76 Gideon Levy: Israeli left was born in sin and died because of a lie Responses: 91 More Headlines 21:39 Settler teens attack Border police in Hebron 21:55 Qassams strike western Negev in latest threat to fragile truce 00:20 Obama's Mideast peace platform is coming into focus 15:00 Abbas calls on Obama to enact Arab peace plan as soon as he takes office 22:13 Top Israeli diplomats in Turkey kicked out of Istanbul university 22:49 Hollywood in Netanya: Ben Stiller and Chris Rock in coastal city for 'Madagascar 2' premiere 01:12 Saudi Arabia denies report it offered asylum to Taliban leader 00:22 Hezbollah: 'Zionist Lobby' behind Germany's decision to ban Al-Manar TV station 10:08 Iran executes man convicted of spying for Israel 23:00 Visiting Argentine president offers Libya help with nuclear power 13:11 Your land is my land 20:47 Report: Pop star Michael Jackson converts to Islam 19:59 Peru police nab Israeli for plotting to smuggle a half a ton of cocaine to Europe 13:10 Report: Hezbollah carries out military drills in south Lebanon 16:10 Syria: No more UN visits to alleged nuclear site Previous Editions Select Day 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov

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