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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Reduction of Land-based pollution loads to the Mediterranean Sea, from Industrial and municipal sources

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Government
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#OceanAction41474
    Description
    Description
    A large percentage of Israel's population as well as major industrial infrastructure sites are situated along the Mediterranean coast. As a result, substantial emissions found their way directly or indirectly to the Sea. Domestic legislation allows the issuance of permits for the marine disposal of wastewater containing pollutants, providing a strict set of measures to reduce pollution as much as possible and whereas no suitable land based alternative exists.. Permits are issued by an interministerial committee comprising 8 representatives, including a representative of non-governmental organisations.
    In accordance with the Israeli National Action Plan to reduce Pollution from Land Based Activities we intend to further reduce permitted disposal of pollution loads from all wastewater from industrial and municipal installations which are sources of BOD, nutrients, heavy metals, oils and suspended solids, which are discharging directly into the marine environment. Thus by the end of 2017, we intend to further reduce disposal of pollution loads by 80% from our 2012 baseline budget of pollutants.
    In addition, by 2022, relative to our 2012 baseline, Israel will be reducing indirect atmospheric emissions to the marine environment of NOx and SOx by 90% due to the planned installation of scrubbers in 6 coal powered units of the main coastal power stations as well as the closure of 4 coal power units.
    The reduction from direct effluents to the sea will be effected by limiting permits granted for the discharge of wastewater to the marine environment, by introducing best technological treatment facilities and by providing land based alternatives which are preferable on environmental, economic and feasibility grounds The reduction expected from non-direct atmospheric emissions is forecasted mainly due to the planned closure of 4 of the coal powered units; the installation of emission reduction technologies (SCR and FGD technologies for the reduction of Sulphor and Nitrogen oxides) in the 6 remaining coal powered units and the environmentally sound use of mix of fuels (coal and gas) in the operation of power stations.
    The success of this reduction program will require measurement and verification carried out through an annual analysis of the data received by the industry and municipalities and also by examining data available from Israel's Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry (PRTR) and other available sources of data for cross referencing
    Partners
    Ministry of Environmental Protection (-Government); Inter-ministerial Committee for Marine Discharge Permits (government and non governmental); Dan Region Sewage Treatment Plant Wastewater Treatment Plant (municipal); Israel Electric Company

    Goal 7

    Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

    Goal 7

    7.1

    By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services

    7.1.1

    Proportion of population with access to electricity

    7.1.2

    Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology

    7.2

    By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
    7.2.1

    Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption

    7.3

    By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
    7.3.1

    Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP

    7.a

    By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
    7.a.1

    International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy research and development and renewable energy production, including in hybrid systems

    7.b

    By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support

    7.b.1

    Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)

    Goal 6

    Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

    Goal 6

    6.1

    By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

    6.1.1

    Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services

    6.2

    By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations

    6.2.1

    Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water

    6.3

    By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

    6.3.1

    Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated

    6.3.2

    Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality

    6.4

    By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity
    6.4.1

    Change in water-use efficiency over time

    6.4.2

    Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources

    6.5

    By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate

    6.5.1

    Degree of integrated water resources management 

    6.5.2

    Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation

    6.6

    By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
    6.6.1

    Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time

    6.a

    By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies
    6.a.1

    Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan

    6.b

    Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

    6.b.1

    Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
    80% reduction of direct discharges to the marine environment
    90% reduction of SOx and NOx indirect emissions to the marine environment
    Financing (in USD)
    240000
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Regulation and inspection through air emission permits of coal power plants under the Clean Air Act involving the conversion of coal fired power plants to natural gas and installation of Sulfur and Nitrogen compounds reduction technologies, at an estimate
    Other, please specify
    Sewage sludge treatment facility to recover the municipal sludge into an agricultural resource. An investment by the Dan Region Association of Towns (Shafdan) in an anaerobic sludge treatment reactors and additional facilities of around 290 million USD
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Staff /technical expertise to licence, supervise and ensure compliance , by sampling analysis and supervision of Israel's main permitted dischargers to the marine environment
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
    Reduction of Land-based pollution loads to the Mediterranean Sea, from Industrial and municipal sources
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    Timeline
    01 December 2012 (start date)
    01 December 2022 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ministry of Environmental Protection - Israel
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Haifa, Israel
    Other beneficiaries
    Under the provisions of the Barcelona Convention and specifically the LBA Protocol of 2008 and Israel's National Action Plan for the reduction of marine pollution from land-based sources, Israel has undertaken to reduce discharges to the marine environmen
    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine pollution, Ocean acidification
    More information
    Countries
    Israel
    Israel
    Contact Information

    Ran Amir, Director, Marine Environment Protection Division