Israel targets 85% cut in emissions by 2050
The Israeli government announced on July 25 it would target a 85% reduction in the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 from the level in 2015, while setting out specific goals for the transport, electricity and municipal waste sectors.
The government said this marked the first time it had set joint national goals and declared a national strategy to shift to a low-carbon economy, "thus aligning Israel with the other developed countries in the global fight against the climate crisis." It is targeting a 96% reduction in emissions from transportation, a 92% cut in emissions from municipal waste and an 85% decrease in electricity sector emissions.
The majority of Israel's power, nearly 65% in 2019, comes from gas-fired power plants, supplied from offshore fields. And the share is only set to grow as the country continues to phase out coal-fired generation, which accounted for 31% of the total two years ago. Israel's energy ministry said it would set new targets for expanding renewable energy use by 2050 within 12 months approving its climate plan, and establish a mechanism for ensuring that government policy is line with its climate goals and low-carbon development.
Israel also said it would strive towards a 27% reduction in emissions from the 2015 level by 2030 as an interim target, with power-sector emissions set to fall by 30% by that point. It will also limit emissions from new vehicles weighing up to 3.5 metric tons that are registered from 2030 to 5% of the average level of vehicles registered last year.
Israel's environmental protection ministry said separately on July 25 that the implementation of a pipeline deal to bring UAE oil to Europe via Israel would be delayed, after it rejected an environmental risk survey. Israeli pipeline firm EAPC signed a preliminary agreement with MED-RED Land Bridge, a company with both Israeli and Emirati owners, in October on the project, which would involve building a 254-km pipeline connecting the Red Sea city of Eilat with the Mediterranean port of Ashkelon.