The Environmental Protection Ministry published a special report recently in which for the first time ever it calculated the overall monetary cost of emissions to the Israeli economy: NIS 31 billion (around $9.6 billion) annually. Within this total, the external cost of greenhouse gas emissions, which dramatically impact the global climate crisis, cost the Israeli economy NIS 11.3 billion ($3.5 billion).
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The ministry's report also showed that expanding the shit toward renewable energy resources for electricity production by 40% by 2030 –a goal the ministry believes is not only attainable but imperative to accomplish – will save the Israeli economy some NIS 4.5 billion ($1.4 billion) annually in external costs. The report also indicates that increasing the transition to electric cars by 25% by 2030 will save the economy NIS 970 million ($299 million) annually.
"The report presents an alarming picture and, for the first time, a price tag in shekels for air pollutants," said Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg.
"The conclusion is that fighting the climate crisis lies at the very core of Israel's national and economic strength and needs to guide the government, planning bodies, commercial companies and environmental groups in their assessments of the broader picture of the effects that air pollution and greenhouse emissions have on us. These figures lead to the conclusion that we must raise the Israeli goal for renewable energy to 40% by 2030 and to zero [emissions] by 2050. This is an ambitious and attainable goal, which will save the Israeli economy billions every year," said Zandberg.
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