Bennett recycles Netanyahu’s pledge on Israel’s zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Energy Minister Karine Elharrar announced their decision to raise the threshold for reducing greenhouse gas emissions so that by 2050, Israel will reach zero emissions, essentially recycling similar pledges made by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the Knesset winter session opening in the assembly hall of the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Oct 4, 2021. Photo by Shalev Shalom/TPS
Bennett made the statement Friday, ahead of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, which he will be attending this week with a large Israeli delegation.
Netanyahu already stated in April 2021 during the Leaders Summit on Climate Hosted by US President Joe Biden that Israel will reduce its carbon footprint with complete a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy by 2050, and by 2025, Israel will no longer be burning coal.
“I am convinced that Israeli science and Israeli ingenuity will enable us to play our part in the global transition to a net-zero carbon economy,” he said.
He made a similar pledge in December 2020 during the Climate Ambition Summit conference hosted by the UK, France and the United Nations.
“Israel is totally committed to a successful transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy by 2050.”
In July, the government recognized the importance of reaching the goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
However, Bennett said this was a “new goal,” and “Israel is lining up alongside the developed countries that are already taking action to attain the goal of zero emissions, and is redoubling its commitment to the Paris agreement and the international agreements on the issue.”
Most of the developed countries, which are responsible for 70% of global emissions, have declared that by 2050 they will achieve zero emissions, including the US, Canada, France, Australia, Germany, and Ireland.
Actions that the government will take to achieve zero emissions by 2050 include the storing of renewable energy that can be used throughout the year, developing carbon-trapping abilities and developing Israeli innovation and research initiatives in green energy.
