The Prime Minister, the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Environmental Protection traveled to the International Conference to War on the Climate Crisis in Glasgow.
An important act and of course their presence at the conference was critical as part of the State of Israel's effort to be a leader in dealing with the climate crisis.
In his speech, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that Israel will set a target for resetting carbon emissions by 2050, as other countries have stated.
An important and significant statement without a doubt.
But is that enough?
For decades, residents of the Haifa Bay area have been suffering from air pollution and suffering from it and other serious environmental hazards, which harm their health and the health of their children and affect the future of the entire area.
For years, Israeli governments have made statements and made decisions about "saving" Haifa Bay and "rehabilitating it," but on the ground, the world, as is its custom, and factories continue to pollute.
Only recently were we informed again, this time in the report of the environmental impact of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, that the polluting factories in Haifa Bay are the most polluting factor in Israel. 2018. That is, the pollution emitted from the factories of the BZN Group has worsened and increased year by year. BZN plants have only recently been fined a ridiculous amount and it seems that their emissions trend will not improve soon. In fifth place on the list is the Carmel Olefins plant, which showed a 1% increase in points compared to last year. The hours in which production facilities operated without the operation of the air emissions treatment facility along with many other violations and innumerable hearings.
This news did not surprise any of the residents of the area, and probably not the owners and managers of these factories either. This was not so surprising that the heads of state hardly saw fit to comment on this publication. Present, past and probably also future prime ministers will continue to declare under any polluted tree that this is the irresponsibility of the State of Israel towards the health of the residents of the region. And how they acted or will act against the polluting factors in order to reduce the pollution emitted from them.
Mr. Prime Minister and esteemed Minister, the mandate is in your hands.
The international conference in Glasgow for the war on climate crisis has ended, this is an opportunity to announce the moves that the State of Israel will take in the near and long term in the war on climate crisis and to prove its actions.
First, an administration must be set up to evacuate the polluting factories from the area, preferably one hour earlier.
Second, measurable annual targets must be set for reducing emissions until the closure of factories.
At the same time, a plan must be put in place to rehabilitate the area and cleanse it of pollutants, along with a plan that includes employment solutions for factory workers.
I am sure that all the residents of Haifa Bay will mobilize for any effort that will bring them a clean future and preserve our health and the health of our children.
We suffocated from statements, it was time for action.