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"The addition does not cover the huge gaps": statements by the Ministry of Environmental Protection - and reality

According to Minister Zandberg, "NIS 625 million will be allocated to the plan to fight the climate crisis and half a billion to Arab society."

Despite the amounts in which she is female, some of them do not appear at all in the budget proposal.

A senior member of the Zalul organization: "We are talking about billions, but they did not allocate even a small amount to close the polluting factories."

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• Ministry of the Environment

• State budget

Yoav Itiel

Thursday, 04 November 2021, 23:00

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In the video: Environmental activists demonstrate in a call to prevent the next environmental disaster (Photo: Roni Knafo, editor: Assaf Drori)

The bulk of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's budget will be devoted to the fight against the climate crisis, as well as to a comprehensive environmental plan for Arab society - according to Minister Tamar Zandberg, who told Walla!

"NIS 625 million will be allocated to a program to combat the climate crisis, which includes treatment of air pollution, promotion of renewable energies, beyond clean transportation and green technologies. More than half a billion shekels will also be allocated to a comprehensive program for Arab society, with an emphasis on waste."

However, it appears that about NIS 250 million of these sums were counted twice, both in the budget intended to deal with the climate crisis and to close gaps in Arab localities, and they are defined as funds for dealing with the climate crisis in Arab society. It also explains the gap between the 300 million that the minister declared at the launch of the program, and about half a billion shekels that she is mentioning these days. It also shows that some of the sums that the ministry allocates to deal with the climate crisis do not appear at all in this budget proposal, and senior ministry officials say that these are funds that the Treasury will still have to approve and bring to the Finance Committee for approval.

Climate change poses a significant risk to the economy and society and in a proposal placed on the Knesset table it is excellent to deal with the climate crisis and its effects on ecosystems at the top of the goals of the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

"Climate change is expected to have far-reaching and lasting effects worldwide, especially in our region, which is considered particularly sensitive," the proposal notes.

However, in the bottom line and despite the amounts mentioned by Minister Zandberg, only an additional NIS 50 million is earmarked for this issue and these will also be allocated only in 2022.

Under the budget proposal, the ministry could commit to an additional 150 million.

The funds are intended to finance all the ministry's ambitions in promoting climate programs, promoting actions to reduce emissions and encouraging energy efficiency, as well as budgeting programs for climate change preparedness.

This deployment will require the adoption of a wide range of policies and reforms in the energy, transport, industrial and agricultural economies while preserving ecosystems.

This is in order to moderate climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions they cause and preparing for their impact.

"The budget is a big line for the State of Israel."

Zandberg (Photo: Reuven Castro)

"There is no doubt that the forthcoming budget is in line with the State of Israel, especially in the field of climate and environment, which indicates the government's commitment to the issue," added Minister Zandberg, referring to the budget proposal for the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Hayarkon and Kishon, Ariel Sharon Park Company, Beer Sheva River Park Authority and the Coastal Cliff Company.

The main points of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's budget proposal plan for 2021 and 2022 amount to NIS 2.6 billion, of which NIS 834 million is in net expenditure, and NIS 1.8 billion in income-based expenditure. The total authorization to commit is about NIS 1.2 billion.

The ministry, which leads the climate change preparedness directorate, is promoting the government's readiness for the effects of climate change. The ministry is promoting the implementation of the necessary measures to meet Israel's targets for reducing the updated greenhouse gas emissions, which it has committed to under the Climate Convention, including the implementation of a carbon pricing mechanism that will tax fuels in a gradual internalization of external environmental costs. There may be an additional income from there to fund the programs in question.

"All of these investments in preparing for climate change are important, but it cannot replace budgeting for other tasks of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, including basic tasks," said Dr. Yuval Arbel, director of governance relations at Zalul. In standards and budgets, there is not enough supervision and not enough enforcement against polluting factories, marine pollution and waste in the open areas and therefore the budget increase does not cover the huge gaps between what is needed and what is given.

It should be regretted and corrected as soon as possible. "He criticized the statements of the ministry's staff. There is no place for this toddler amount in the state budget. "

"Investments in preparing for climate change are important but cannot replace budgeting for other tasks" (Photo: Official website, no)

At the top of the priorities - improving the state of the environment in Arab society

Another goal that is at the top of the priorities of the Ministry of Environmental Protection is the plan to improve the state of the environment in the communities of Arab society, which the Minister announced four months ago in the amount of NIS 300 million and now estimates it at NIS 500 million.

According to the ministry's budget proposal, its effort "joins and contributes to a horizontal government effort to invest in infrastructure and the environment in the Arab sector authorities and improve the quality of life of the residents in these authorities."

The budget proposal states that the preparation of the plan will be based on public participation and prior consultation with relevant parties, including local authorities, their residents and the organizations that operate in them.

It will also be based on strengthening local government capabilities, improving service provided to residents, increasing environmental supervision and enforcement in Arab society localities, encouraging local leadership, raising awareness and building environmental capabilities among the population, and ensuring the continuity of environmental program activities over time.

More on Walla!

The last 7 years have been the hottest in history: "Far-reaching consequences for future generations"

To the full article

Environmental activists demonstrate at the entrance to the refineries in Haifa (Photo: official website, without)

The ministry's budget proposal also emphasizes "improving the environment and life for the population in the urban space" and explains that "Israel is a small and one of the most densely populated countries in the Western world. About 93% of Israel's population lives in localities defined as urban. And reduces excess public investment due to the existence of centralized infrastructure. "

The ministry says that "concentrating on cities also reduces the damage to open spaces, which is beneficial both for their accessibility to the public, for the existence of natural systems and for leaving land for development for future generations. To nature sites, open spaces and quality clean and green space within walking distance of the house. "

In the urban space, the ministry "works to reduce air pollution from transportation and industrial areas near cities through a variety of policy tools including restrictions on polluting vehicles, promoting alternative motives for transportation, monitoring the urban environment, determining air pollution-deductible areas, establishing regional end solutions for waste, separating municipal waste. And more. "

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