Israel
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
Statement by
Ambassador Uzi Manor
Coordinator for Sustainable Development
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem
During the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting
15th Commission on Sustainable Development
Agenda Item 2c: Policy options and possible actions to
expedite implementation
Air pollution/atmosphere (E/CN.17/2007/4)
(United Nations, New York, 28 February 2007)
Check Against Delivery
1
Thank You, Mr. Chairman.
Allow me, at the outset, to commend you for your leadership of this preparatory
meeting and for the direction of the proceedings.
Mr. Chairman,
Air quality in Israel is impacted by increased electricity production, growing vehicle
use, industrial development, rising standards of living and growing population density.
In the last decade alone, the number of vehicles on the road has nearly doubled as has
electricity consumption. In addition, Israel, located in the arid region of the Middle
East, is exposed to natural dust episodes from the surrounding desert areas.
Israel's air quality policy is based on European policy and standards. It includes several
elements such as prevention of air pollution through the integration of environmental
considerations and physical planning; monitoring and inspection; legislation and
enforcement including ambient and emission standards; negotiated agreements with the
industrial sectors; improvement of fuel quality; reduction of pollutant emissions from
motor vehicles and research and international cooperation.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has been investing efforts in abating air
pollution since its establishment in 1988. The 1990s will be remembered as the decade
in which a national struggle was waged that was successful in significantly reducing
sulfur dioxide emissions, which were one of the most problematic pollutants in Israel.
During the current decade, we are continuing our work and already have succeeded in
improving the quality of fuels, setting new regulations, reducing industrial emissions,
increasing enforcement and promoting the use of economic measures for encouraging
cleaner technologies.
Israel's national air quality monitoring network includes 25 monitoring stations linked
to a national control center that provides real-time information about air quality and
forecasts throughout the country. This information facilitates enforcement of air quality
standards, serves planners on regional levels, and informs the general public about air
quality levels as it is published on the internet and in the newspapers.
In addition, a new and comprehensive air resources management system, based on a
European model, is currently being established. Implementation of the system in the
coming year will mark a major leap forward in managing Israel?s air resources. The
system will provide a variety of tools to forecast the state of the country?s air quality,
analyze pollution events and facilitate policy making and planning. It will cover the
entire country and be based on an emissions inventory from all pollution sources
(power plants, industry, transport, households) as well as on meteorological,
topographical, and geographical data. In harmony with the Ministry's goal of
increasing public awareness, the information from the system will be published on the
internet.
2
Mr. Chairman,
Vehicular air pollution is a severe problem in Israel. It affects large segments of the
population in both densely populated metropolitan areas and in inland areas, which are
exposed to secondary pollutants such as ozone. In recent years, there has been a focus
on improving the fuel quality of vehicles. Today, only diesel and gasoline with a 50
ppm sulfur content is available, following a legislative order prohibiting the import or
production of fuel with a higher content. Some gas stations already carry diesel with a
10 ppm sulfur content for the newer vehicles. Another successful example can be found
in the significant reduction of lead concentration in emissions. In 2004, a new standard
was set that completely phased out leaded gasoline in Israel.
Today, all new imported vehicles must comply with Euro 4 standards, which require a
combination of advanced engine technologies and effective systems for the treatment of
exhaust gases. These standards will substantially reduce the levels of nitrogen oxide
gases and particulate matter emitted by cars. At the same time, however, the continuous
increase in Israel's vehicle fleet and number of kilometers traveled will mitigate the
efficiency of this reduction, requiring complementary steps within the framework of
transportation policy.
From March 2006, all gasoline powered vehicles in Israel (beginning with 1995
models) must undergo stringent air pollution checks within the framework of the
annual car registration test. The new test is significantly different from its predecessor
and calls for concentration measurements of pollutant emissions from gasoline vehicles
at higher engine speeds. The new requirements are based on the provisions of European
Council Directive EC 96/96 on the approximation of the laws of the member states
relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles.
The Ministry of Finance has implemented a higher excise tax rate on diesel fuel. Plans
are on the table for adjusting purchase taxes on new car models, based on the level of
their emissions.
Many of the policies introduced for promoting cleaner transportation measures in the
past years have been aimed at increasing the supply of high quality mass transport
systems, while decreasing the attractiveness of private car use. In 2003, the government
set a five year development plan to significantly upgrade the national rail system. The
international airport has been linked to Tel Aviv by a metropolitan suburban train and
the railroad to Jerusalem was upgraded and reopened. Large investments are also being
made to develop new urban mass transport systems. In Jerusalem, a light rail system is
under construction to be completed by 2009. A light rail is in an advanced stage of
planning in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. In contrast to the notable achievements of
the policies to increase the supply of high quality mass transportation systems,
implementation of those policies aimed at decreasing the attractiveness of car use
remain a national challenge.
Limits on air pollution from industrial sources (whether power plants, cement factories,
or quarries) are imposed by a variety of means including administrative directives,
3
business licensing conditions and ambient and emission standards. The Ministry of
Environmental Protection and the Manufacturer's Association of Israel signed a
Covenant on Implementing Standards of Air Pollutant Emissions into the Air at the
beginning of 1998. Within the framework of the agreement, conditions for emission
reductions have been incorporated into the business licenses of the country's 150 major
industries. The Ministry is currently updating the emissions standards for industry
based on Best Available Technology, through policy discussions with the
Manufacturer's Association and the relevant non-governmental organizations.
We are in the process of advancing a proposed Clean Air Act for Israel which should
bring together the different legal frameworks that exist for regulating air quality into
one piece of cohesive legislation. The proposed law will delegate quite a bit of
responsibility to the local authorities for reducing air pollution in their jurisdiction in
the areas of urban planning, mass transit systems and traffic management.
One of the major changes of recent years in the area of energy and air pollution is the
market shift that is underway from heavy fuel oil to the use of natural gas. It is
expected that almost 50% of total electricity generation will be based on natural gas
within a decade. The National Master Plan for the distribution and transmission of
natural gas includes an offshore and onshore route to maximize the possibility of
supplying natural gas to major power plants and to industrial areas.
Increasing the energy efficiency of power stations is of high national priority. Natural
gas plants that use the combined combustion technology with the ?joint heat and
power? method (cogeneration), reaching 75%-80% energy efficiency, are to replace
some of the old plants, which operate at less than 40% energy efficiency. In addition,
the Public Utility Authority (PUA) ? Electricity, has issued guidelines and regulations
providing premium payments to private electricity producers (non residential at this
time), using renewable technologies. Payment of the premiums is based on external
costs of the displaced air pollutants by type and quantity, which is the first step in the
process of administering an environmental quality tariff. To date, ten private producers
of electricity receive the premium for using renewable energy resources.
The lack of local energy resources led Israel to devote efforts to energy research and
development especially in the area of solar energy. Regulations require that all new
buildings be equipped with solar collectors for water heating. Plans are now going forth
in Israel to establish a 100 MW solar power plant in the northern part of the Negev
desert. The technology is available but the cost is still too high to compete with
alternatives, particularly when considering the low cost of natural gas.
Mr. Chairman,
The foremost challenge facing decision makers today is to ensure the availability,
quantity and quality of energy supply, in the short and long ranges, at minimal
economic, social and environmental cost.
4
While we are faced with many challenges we remain committed to achieving our
sustainable development goals. Much progress has been made in recent years and we
shall continue our efforts to mitigate air pollution from all sources ? energy, industry
and transportation.
Statement by
Ambassador Uzi Manor
Coordinator for Sustainable Development
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem
During the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting
15th Commission on Sustainable Development
Agenda Item 2c: Policy options and possible actions to
expedite implementation
Air pollution/atmosphere (E/CN.17/2007/4)
(United Nations, New York, 28 February 2007)
Check Against Delivery
1
Thank You, Mr. Chairman.
Allow me, at the outset, to commend you for your leadership of this preparatory
meeting and for the direction of the proceedings.
Mr. Chairman,
Air quality in Israel is impacted by increased electricity production, growing vehicle
use, industrial development, rising standards of living and growing population density.
In the last decade alone, the number of vehicles on the road has nearly doubled as has
electricity consumption. In addition, Israel, located in the arid region of the Middle
East, is exposed to natural dust episodes from the surrounding desert areas.
Israel's air quality policy is based on European policy and standards. It includes several
elements such as prevention of air pollution through the integration of environmental
considerations and physical planning; monitoring and inspection; legislation and
enforcement including ambient and emission standards; negotiated agreements with the
industrial sectors; improvement of fuel quality; reduction of pollutant emissions from
motor vehicles and research and international cooperation.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has been investing efforts in abating air
pollution since its establishment in 1988. The 1990s will be remembered as the decade
in which a national struggle was waged that was successful in significantly reducing
sulfur dioxide emissions, which were one of the most problematic pollutants in Israel.
During the current decade, we are continuing our work and already have succeeded in
improving the quality of fuels, setting new regulations, reducing industrial emissions,
increasing enforcement and promoting the use of economic measures for encouraging
cleaner technologies.
Israel's national air quality monitoring network includes 25 monitoring stations linked
to a national control center that provides real-time information about air quality and
forecasts throughout the country. This information facilitates enforcement of air quality
standards, serves planners on regional levels, and informs the general public about air
quality levels as it is published on the internet and in the newspapers.
In addition, a new and comprehensive air resources management system, based on a
European model, is currently being established. Implementation of the system in the
coming year will mark a major leap forward in managing Israel?s air resources. The
system will provide a variety of tools to forecast the state of the country?s air quality,
analyze pollution events and facilitate policy making and planning. It will cover the
entire country and be based on an emissions inventory from all pollution sources
(power plants, industry, transport, households) as well as on meteorological,
topographical, and geographical data. In harmony with the Ministry's goal of
increasing public awareness, the information from the system will be published on the
internet.
2
Mr. Chairman,
Vehicular air pollution is a severe problem in Israel. It affects large segments of the
population in both densely populated metropolitan areas and in inland areas, which are
exposed to secondary pollutants such as ozone. In recent years, there has been a focus
on improving the fuel quality of vehicles. Today, only diesel and gasoline with a 50
ppm sulfur content is available, following a legislative order prohibiting the import or
production of fuel with a higher content. Some gas stations already carry diesel with a
10 ppm sulfur content for the newer vehicles. Another successful example can be found
in the significant reduction of lead concentration in emissions. In 2004, a new standard
was set that completely phased out leaded gasoline in Israel.
Today, all new imported vehicles must comply with Euro 4 standards, which require a
combination of advanced engine technologies and effective systems for the treatment of
exhaust gases. These standards will substantially reduce the levels of nitrogen oxide
gases and particulate matter emitted by cars. At the same time, however, the continuous
increase in Israel's vehicle fleet and number of kilometers traveled will mitigate the
efficiency of this reduction, requiring complementary steps within the framework of
transportation policy.
From March 2006, all gasoline powered vehicles in Israel (beginning with 1995
models) must undergo stringent air pollution checks within the framework of the
annual car registration test. The new test is significantly different from its predecessor
and calls for concentration measurements of pollutant emissions from gasoline vehicles
at higher engine speeds. The new requirements are based on the provisions of European
Council Directive EC 96/96 on the approximation of the laws of the member states
relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles.
The Ministry of Finance has implemented a higher excise tax rate on diesel fuel. Plans
are on the table for adjusting purchase taxes on new car models, based on the level of
their emissions.
Many of the policies introduced for promoting cleaner transportation measures in the
past years have been aimed at increasing the supply of high quality mass transport
systems, while decreasing the attractiveness of private car use. In 2003, the government
set a five year development plan to significantly upgrade the national rail system. The
international airport has been linked to Tel Aviv by a metropolitan suburban train and
the railroad to Jerusalem was upgraded and reopened. Large investments are also being
made to develop new urban mass transport systems. In Jerusalem, a light rail system is
under construction to be completed by 2009. A light rail is in an advanced stage of
planning in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. In contrast to the notable achievements of
the policies to increase the supply of high quality mass transportation systems,
implementation of those policies aimed at decreasing the attractiveness of car use
remain a national challenge.
Limits on air pollution from industrial sources (whether power plants, cement factories,
or quarries) are imposed by a variety of means including administrative directives,
3
business licensing conditions and ambient and emission standards. The Ministry of
Environmental Protection and the Manufacturer's Association of Israel signed a
Covenant on Implementing Standards of Air Pollutant Emissions into the Air at the
beginning of 1998. Within the framework of the agreement, conditions for emission
reductions have been incorporated into the business licenses of the country's 150 major
industries. The Ministry is currently updating the emissions standards for industry
based on Best Available Technology, through policy discussions with the
Manufacturer's Association and the relevant non-governmental organizations.
We are in the process of advancing a proposed Clean Air Act for Israel which should
bring together the different legal frameworks that exist for regulating air quality into
one piece of cohesive legislation. The proposed law will delegate quite a bit of
responsibility to the local authorities for reducing air pollution in their jurisdiction in
the areas of urban planning, mass transit systems and traffic management.
One of the major changes of recent years in the area of energy and air pollution is the
market shift that is underway from heavy fuel oil to the use of natural gas. It is
expected that almost 50% of total electricity generation will be based on natural gas
within a decade. The National Master Plan for the distribution and transmission of
natural gas includes an offshore and onshore route to maximize the possibility of
supplying natural gas to major power plants and to industrial areas.
Increasing the energy efficiency of power stations is of high national priority. Natural
gas plants that use the combined combustion technology with the ?joint heat and
power? method (cogeneration), reaching 75%-80% energy efficiency, are to replace
some of the old plants, which operate at less than 40% energy efficiency. In addition,
the Public Utility Authority (PUA) ? Electricity, has issued guidelines and regulations
providing premium payments to private electricity producers (non residential at this
time), using renewable technologies. Payment of the premiums is based on external
costs of the displaced air pollutants by type and quantity, which is the first step in the
process of administering an environmental quality tariff. To date, ten private producers
of electricity receive the premium for using renewable energy resources.
The lack of local energy resources led Israel to devote efforts to energy research and
development especially in the area of solar energy. Regulations require that all new
buildings be equipped with solar collectors for water heating. Plans are now going forth
in Israel to establish a 100 MW solar power plant in the northern part of the Negev
desert. The technology is available but the cost is still too high to compete with
alternatives, particularly when considering the low cost of natural gas.
Mr. Chairman,
The foremost challenge facing decision makers today is to ensure the availability,
quantity and quality of energy supply, in the short and long ranges, at minimal
economic, social and environmental cost.
4
While we are faced with many challenges we remain committed to achieving our
sustainable development goals. Much progress has been made in recent years and we
shall continue our efforts to mitigate air pollution from all sources ? energy, industry
and transportation.
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