Minister Tamar Zandberg: The climate conference will be dramatic

In an email she sent to her circulation, she writes that until now the government has neglected the treatment of the climate crisis, but now that a global understanding of the severity and urgency is emerging, Israel must also act

From an email published by the Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg ahead of the climate conference in Glasgow that opens today:

"Next Sunday we will go to a dramatic climate conference. World leaders will gather in Glasgow in the shadow of growing climate disasters, and in the shadow of a narrow window of opportunity to prevent collapse. "We are the first generation that understands the severity of the crisis, and the last generation that can prevent it," said US President Obama several years ago. Since then, world leaders have done too little, but in recent months a global understanding is forming that the climate crisis is serious, urgent, and that action must be taken now."

"The State Comptroller's report on the climate crisis published this week, expresses clearly: the State of Israel has so far failed in dealing with him. The good news is that there is already a significant change. In the last four months, the government has done what its predecessors have never done. We made dramatic decisions that moved Israel several steps up in the fight against the climate crisis."

"From today, the State of Israel joins the advanced countries in the world and commits to zero net emissions by the year 2050. It did not come easily. There were objections and skepticism, but in the end we managed to convey the message that Israel can and should reach a 100% reduction in emissions along with the rest of the world."

"It is not enough to declare. If we want to meet the goal, we have to change. We must stop developing gas oil, and dramatically accelerate the transition to renewable energy. We must change the structure of our economy, adapt the world of investments, taxation and technology to the new reality that the climate crisis is shaping. We must prepare for the climate disasters to come."

"We in the government this week approved a climate package that will lead Israel to a low-carbon era, which includes decisions in the fields of energy, transportation, innovation, finance, education and preparation for the climate crisis. I also presented a comprehensive national action plan to combat the climate crisis, of 100 concrete steps with a budget of approximately NIS 15 billion."

"This important plan includes reducing the use of polluting fuels and energy efficiency; promoting a transition to clean private and public transportation; An advanced waste strategy that emphasizes separation at source and recycling; Encouraging Israeli climate innovation so that it becomes a global leader; promoting urban renewal and green and sustainable construction; preservation and restoration of the natural systems and biodiversity; Education for the climate crisis in school, youth movements and organizations and also in higher education; and promoting a sustainable diet while reducing the consumption of animal food and improving the conditions for raising animals".

The MLA began to refer to the climate crisis in the scenarios it examines

"For the first time in the State of Israel, and following my demand and insistence and that of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the climate crisis has also entered as a threat in the MLA's attribution scenario. Just like other security threats, here too there is a real danger to Israel's national security. A danger to our food, water, land and air, and a complete challenge to the existing situation in all possible aspects."

There is no doubt that this is a real leap forward for Israel in dealing with the climate crisis, and we still have a way to go. My first task and that of the government after the climate conference in Glasgow is to enact an ambitious and effective climate law, one that will for the first time create a joint governmental organizational framework to deal with the climate crisis. I will also continue to push for the declaration of a climate emergency, especially in view of the fact that Israel is warming at a rate 3 times greater than the world average, and the unique danger for our region which is extremely dry and hot.

The rate at which the understanding that the climate crisis is the greatest challenge we face now, as a country and as humanity, is percolating is dizzying. At the climate march in Tel Aviv today, I met thousands of Israeli men and women, of all ages and from all corners of the country, who came to raise a clear and sharp voice - the climate crisis is already here, and we all must and must do much more to deal with it and prepare for it."

"I thank everyone who came to march for the ball, life and our future. I will continue to push the entire government to understand that correctly dealing with the climate crisis is an economic, national and political interest of the first order. I am convinced that we will return from Glasgow full of inspiration and with the push that Israel needs."

So much for the minister's words, but many critics say that without a budget and a precise schedule for implementation, these decisions do not have much meaning.