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National Implementation of Agenda 21
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Information Provided by the Government of Israel to the
United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and
Sustainable Development
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This country profile has been provided by:
Name of Ministry/Office:
Date:
Submitted by:
Mailing address:
Telephone:
Telefax:
E-mail:
Note from the Secretariat: An effort has been made to present all country profiles within a common format, with an equal number of pages. However, where Governments have not provided information for the tables appended to Chapters 4 and 17, those tables have been omitted entirely in order to reduce the overall length of the profile and save paper. Consequently, there may be some minor inconsistencies among the formats of the different country profiles.
All statistics are rendered as provided by the respective Governments.
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| APELL | Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level |
| CFC | chlorofluorocarbon |
| CGIAR | Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research |
| CILSS | Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel |
| EEZ | exclusive economic zone |
| ECA | Economic Commission for Africa |
| ECE | Economic Commission for Europe |
| ECLAC | Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean |
| ELCI | Environmental Liaison Centre International |
| EMINWA | environmentally sound management of inland water |
| ESCAP | Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific |
| ESCWA | Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
| GATT | General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade |
| GAW | Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO) |
| GEF | Global Environment Facility |
| GEMS | Global Environmental Monitoring System (UNEP) |
| GEMS/WATER | Global Water Quality Monitoring Programme |
| GESAMP | Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution |
| GIPME | Global Investigation of Pollution in Marine Environment (UNESCO) |
| GIS | Geographical Information System |
| GLOBE | Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment |
| GOS | Global Observing System (WMO/WWW) |
| GRID | Global Resource Information Database |
| GSP | generalized system of preferences |
| HIV | human immunodeficiency virus |
| IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
| IAP-WASAD | International Action Programme on Water and Sustainable Agricultural Development |
| IARC | International Agency for Research on Cancer |
| IBSRAM | International Board of Soil Resources and Management |
| ICCA | International Council of Chemical Associations |
| ICES | International Council for the Exploration of the Sea |
| ICPIC | International Cleaner Production Information Clearing House |
| ICSC | International Civil Service Commission |
| ICSU | International Council of Scientific Unions |
| IEEA | Integrated environmental and economic accounting |
| IFAD | International Fund for Agricultural Development |
| IGADD | Intergovernmental Authority for Drought and Development |
| IGBP | International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (ICSU) |
| IGBP/START | International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme/Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training |
| ILO | International Labour Organisation |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund |
| IMO | International Maritime Organization |
| INFOTERRA | International Environment Information system (UNEP) |
| IOC | Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission |
| IPCC | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
| IPCS | International Programme on Chemical Safety |
| IPM | integrated pest management |
| IRPTC | International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals |
| ITC | International Tin Council |
| ITTO | International Tropical Timber Organization |
| IUCN | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| MARPOL | International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships |
| OECD | Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development |
| PGRFA | plant genetic resources for agriculture |
| PIC | prior informed consent procedure |
| SADCC | South African Development Co-ordination Conference |
| SARD | sustainable agriculture and rural development |
| UNCTAD | United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNDRO | Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator |
| UNEP | United Nations Environment Programme |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| UNFPA | United Nations Population Fund |
| UNICEF | United Nations Children's Fund |
| UNIDO | United Nations Industrial Development Organization |
| UNU | United Nations University |
| WCP | World Climate Programme (WMO/UNEP/ICSU/UNESCO) |
| WFC | World Food Council |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WMO | World Meteorological Organization |
| WWF | World Wide Fund for Nature (also called World Wildlife Fund) |
| WWW | World Weather Watch (WMO) |
1. Name of Key National Sustainable Development Coordination Mechanism(s)/Council(s). The Ministry of Environment
Contact point (Name, Title, Office): Mrs. Nechama Ronen, Director General, Ministry of Environment Telephone: (972) 2 6701411 Fax: (972) 2 611898 /2 513945 e-mail: Mailing address: 2 Kaplan Street, Kiryat Ben-Gurion, P.O. Box 6158, Jerusalem, Israel 91061
2. Membership/Composition/Chairperson: 2a. List of ministries and agencies involved:
2b. Names of para-statal bodies and institutions involved, as well as participating of academic and private sector bodies:
2c. Names of non-governmental organizations involved:
3. Mandate role of above mechanism/council: The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for National Environmental Policy and coordinating sustainable development projects, together with other concerned Ministries and organizations.
4. If available, attach a diagram (organization chart) showing national coordination structure and linkages between ministries:
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NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Non information
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 3: COMBATING POVERTY
Immigration to Israel since 1990 raised the proportion of the
population aged 15 years and over that was in the civilian
labour force from 52% in 1992 to 54% in 1994. In general, women and
old people have had greater difficulty in finding
jobs. To help overcome this disparity, many immigrants have
attended special occupational training or retraining courses.
The percentage of unemployed people among the civilian labour force
was relatively high in the first years of the last
wave of immigration and reached 11.2% in 1992. It decreases to 7.8%
in 1994 and 6.3% in the middle of 1995; the
lowest rate since 1989. The percentage of married women in the
civilian labour force rose to 50.2% in 1993 from 41.6%
in 1983.
The majority of the labour force is employed in the services sector
(67%), 29% is in manufacturing, and 4% in
agriculture.
Highlight activities aimed at the poor and linkages to the
environment
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 4: CHANGING CONSUMPTION PATTERNS
Private consumption per head was 14% higher in 1993 than in 1989,
with a 3% growth per year. According to family
expenditure surveys, the share of health expenditure increased in
total expanditure increased from 5.3% in 1987 to 7.1%
in 1993.
National targets
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 5: DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
The population density increased from 106 inhabitants per Km2 in
1960 to 242 in 1993, and the urban population has
risen from 85% to 91% of the total population during the last three
decades.
During the last wave of immigration, the arrival of 539,900 new
immigrants increased the resident population by 12%.
Of these immigrants, 462,800 were from the former USSR and 28,700
from Ethiopia. In 1990-1993, the Jewish
population had an average growth rate of 3.9% per year, of which
immigration accounted for 69%. In contrast, only 8%
of the annual increase of 1.5% was due to immigration in 1983-89.
For the non-Jewish population, immigration
accounted for 26% of the overall increase of 4.2% per year in
1990-1993, but only 2.0% of the overall increase of 3%
per year in 1983-89.
The natural increase in the non-Jewish population is nearly double
that of the Jewish population, owing to high birth rates
(the rate was 34.0, with 18.5 live births per 1000 population in
1993 respectively), and a low crude death rate owing to a
younger age structure. In 1993, people under 15 comprised 40% of
the non-Jewish population and 28% of the Jewish
population; the figures for people 65 and over were 3% and 11%,
respectively.
Although fertility rates are much higher among the Moslems and
Druze than the Jews, the difference is considerably less
than it was two or three decades ago. Fertility in Christians has
fallen to a point close to the minimum required for
generation replacement. In 1993, 112 000 live births were
registered in Israel, of which 70% were in the Jewish
population.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: In 1993 the
population of Israel was 5,261,400, almost six times its size
(805,0000) at the
establishment of the State in 1948. Both migration and natural
increase determined this growth. Although immigration
was greater in the first years of the State, considerable
immigration has continued. The last wave of immigration
occurred in 1990-1993. The increase in the total population
averaged 1.8% per year in 1983-1989, and 4.0% in 1990-1993.
Compared to those of other countries, Israel's population is
relatively young.
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 6: PROTECTING AND PROMOTING HUMAN HEALTH
At the national level, health promotion programmes have gained
impetus during the last few years.
The health care system in Israel is in the midst of a long process
of reform in both concepts and services.This process
began recently, after many years of political and professional
debate, and comprises three main components: the National
Health Insurance Law, the withdrawal of the government from health
care provision, and the reorganization of the
Ministry of Health. Health expenditure has continued to rise as a
percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP),
reaching 8.2% in 1993.
In June 1994, the Knesset passed a National Health Insurance Law
that went into effect in January 1995. It made the
provision of health services the responsibility of the central
government. Under the new Law, all residents of Israel must
be insured by one of the authorized sickness funds that operate in
the country. The funds must provide the basic package
of services defined by the Law. The NII handles the centralized
collection of health insurance premiums and allocates
resources to the various sickness funds according to a capitation
formula. Every insured person has the right to choose his
or her sickness fund. Each fund is obliged to accept any resident
of Israel as an insured member, regardless of age,
physical or mental condition.
The Ministry of Health owns and operates hospitals: 23% of the
general hospitals, 50% of the mental hospitals and 4% of
the geriatric hospitals. The remainder are non-profit or
profit-making institutions. In the new system, the government
hospitals will become self-financing non-profit institutions. The
Ministry of Health will continue to supervise and control
hospitals, but not to run them.
The Ministry will no longer be responsible for the day-to-day
operation of health services. All its functions will focus on
policy-making, long term planning, the setting of standards,
quality control and quality assurance, and the collection and
evaluation of essential data. The reorganization of the Ministry of
Health has resulted in the establishment of new
departments such as those dealing with the issue of standards.
The Ministry of Health set up a steering committee that determines
policy and priorities in the funding of new projects.
The budget is currently invested in operating intervention
projects.
Numerous health education and health promotion programmes have been
instituted to improve the population's health-related behaviour. In
some areas, legislation and the creation of new organizational
structures have accompanied these
programmes. The major activities have focused on risk factors
associated with the more common chronic diseases, such as
cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Expenditure on hospitals continues to take up the principal part of
health expenditure. This percentage rose continuously
until 1980, when it reached 47% of current expenditure. A
decreasing trend began in 1980; in 1992 expenditure on
hospitals reached the level of 42%. Expenditure on community
clinics and preventive medicine has remained constant for
the last decade.
Family health care centers are operated by the government, local
authorities or sickness funds, according to an agreed
geographical division. Israel has a network of these centers
throughout the country. About 1000 are located in urban
areas, and a public health care nurse visits small and peripheral
localities at least once every two weeks.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 7: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SETTLEMENT DEVELOPMENT
In 1993, about 70% of the population owed its housing, the figure
for most recent immigrants , who arrived in 1992, was
18%. The average number of people per room was estimated at 1.1 for
the total population and 1.3 for the new
immigrants. The number of homeless people is estimated at less than
1000.
A government programme combines government guarantees to the
banking system and direct subsidies to newly married
couples, new immigrants and other persons who need help in
obtaining housing.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 8: INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENT
AND DEVELOPMENT IN
DECISION-MAKING
Since the 1990s, environmental aspects have been incorporated
at an early stage of the planning process into regional
and national plans, in addition to environmental assessment of
detailed plans of specific projects under the Planning and
Building Law of 1965.
Israel today has become a densely populated nation, in which
92% of its 5 million inhabitants live in an area which
covers only 40% of the land area, concentrated in nearly all in the
coastal area. Since 1989, there has been a large influx
of immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia.
This phenomena, together with the peace process and
the rapid rate of industrial development in Israel, has resulted in
the drawing up of a national long-range master plan for
the 21st century - "Israel 2020", which is in the final stages of
completion and will be submitted to the government during
1997 with the aim of preparing comprehensive strategic documents
which will form a framework for national plans for the
next 20 years. Environmental considerations form an integral part
of the master plan, which deals with sustainable
development policies for various sectors, including transport,
energy, the urban sector, tourism, agriculture and open
spaces.
In November 1996, an Agreement relative to the Coastal Areas
Management Programme for Israel was signed
between the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan and Israel, constituting
a three-year intensive program of coastal zone
management. The main objective of Programme I is the development of
a sustainable development strategy for Israel, by
initiating dialogue with all sectors of Israel's economy (energy,
industry, transportation, tourism, etc.). The inauguration
of the program initiated a public debate, beginning with a seminar
on a sustainable development strategy for Israel. The
seminar, the second in a series of activities regarding sustainable
development policies in Israel, included high level
experts from the Netherlands' Ministry of Environment, Housing and
Spatial Planning.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Since the 1992 Rio Conference on
Environment and Development, sustainable development policy
has been integrated into Israel's environmental management
program. The Ministry of the Environment is formulating a
comprehensive sustainable development program in conjunction with
government ministries, local authorities, industry,
academics and non-governmental organizations.
1. Decision-Making Structure (please also refer to the fact
sheet): Under the Planning and Building Law 1965 and the
Planning and Building Regulations of 1982 (dealing with
Environmental Impact Statements for all major development
activities), all building and land-use planning activities in
Israel are regulated at three levels - national, district and
local.
Environmental consideration in decision-making is incorporated in
all development projects.
The Israel 2020 master plan was created under the auspices of
the Ministries of Housing, Interior and the Jewish
Agency Settlement Department and the Israel Lands Administration.
It also involves the Ministries Finance, Education and
Culture, Transport, National Infrastructure (including energy) and
Environment.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information.
3. Major Groups: Government Ministries as set out above,
academic institutions, such as the Haifa Technion, Israel
Institute of technology; local authorities; non-governmental
organizations, such as the Society for the Protection of Nature
in Israel.
4. Finance: No specific information.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Within the framework
of the multilateral peace talks for regional cooperation in
the Middle East, the Working Group on the Environment has achieved
consensus on several concrete projects designed to
promote environmental projects in the region and encourage the
integration of environment and development into the
decision-making process on a regional level, where applicable. For
example: Oil Spill Contingency Plan for the Gulf of
Eilat/Aqaba between Israel, Egypt and Jordan, with the aid of the
European Union; a regional action plan involving
Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, to control
natural resource degradation and desertification,
coordinated by the World Bank; endorsement by all 41 delegates to
the October 1994 Working Group on the Environment
held in Bahrain, of the Environmental Code of Conduct for the
Middle East. The Code sets common guidelines and norms
which will govern the development policies of each state in a
manner which will not have an adverse impact on the
environment of neighboring countries.
As part of the Middle East peach process and the bilateral
negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians,
environmental components were incorporated within the framework of
the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the
West Bank and Gaza Strip in Washington 1993. Amongst several
bilateral agreements for environmental cooperation with
a number of countries, Israel has agreements with Egypt (1993) and
Jordan (1995).
Israel is an active member of the UNEP Mediterranean Action
Plan, together with 21 other Mediterranean countries,
and is currently serving as one of the vice presidents of the
UNEP/MAP Bureau 1995-1997.
A major focus of the development of shared resources in the
Middle East is the Jordan Rift valley. Israel and Jordon
have begun an integrated program of regional planning and
pre-investment studies, including environmental impact
assessment or key proposed subjects.
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 9: PROTECTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE
The Montreal Protocol (1987) was ratified in 1992.
The London Amendment (1990) was ratified in 1992.
The Copenhagen Amendment (1992) was signed in 1992 and ratified in
1994.
The latest report(s) to the Montreal Protocol were prepared in
1995.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was
signed in 1992 and ratified in 1996.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter: The main
sources of air pollution are energy production, transport and
industry. Israel's air quality policy is based on the following
elements: prevention of air pollution through the integration
of environmental considerations and physical planning, monitoring
and intermittent control systems, legislation and
enforcement (including ambient and emission standards), the
reduction of pollution sources, and the reduction of pollutant
emissions from motor vehicles. According to this policy a new
programme for the control of air quality was completed in
1994.
Israel's energy economy is based on fossil fuels, mainly oil and
coal. Data on the amount of pollutants emitted into the
atmosphere from fuel combustion show significant declines in the
levels of sulfur oxides and lead, increased emissions of
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons,
and no significant change in concentrations of
suspended particulate matter.
In 1994, 63 air monitoring stations were operating in Israel.
All of them monitor sulfur dioxide. Nitrogen oxided and
particulate matters are monitored in most, and ozone and/or carbon
monoxide in a few. A new network monitors airborne
chemicals at the hazardous waste disposal site. The limited
information available indicates that sulfur dioxide levels are
mostly below regulation limits, nitrogen dioxide is significantly
above the limits in some areas, and ozone levels are
mostly above the recommended limits.
The monitoring network, as it is today, is not comprehensive
enough for formulating a national air quality management
programme. Consequently Israel has recently prepared a preliminary
programme for a multimillion-dollar national air
monitoring system with a central data storage and display centre.
The national system will be based on three levels of
activity: individual stations, regional control centres and a
national data processing centre. The types of station will vary
according to the nature of the pollutants. Some 50 stations are
planned , in addition to the 63 stations currently in
operations. The project will be implemented over a three-year
period.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 10: INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF LAND RESOURCES
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 11: COMBATING DEFORESTATION
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 12: MANAGING FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS: COMBATING DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT
The International Convention to Combat Desertification in
Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification
Particularly in Africa was signed in 1995 and ratified in
1996.
* The last report to the Secretariat of the Convention was prepared
in 1996.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter In Israel, the
Negev desert, comprising over half of the country's land
area, is inhabited by only 7% of the population. Israel is
extensively involved in afforestation activities in desert areas,
utilizing existing landscape and geographical resources to
ameliorate conditions around Negev townships and intensive
savannization programs and research.
The high priority accorded by Israel to combating
desertification led to the establishment, in January 1994, of the
Center for Desert Research and Restoration Ecology on Sde Boker, a
joint project of the Jewish National Fund and the
Ben-Gurion University's Desert research Institute.
Israel is an active partner in current efforts to promote both
regional and international cooperation in combatting
desertification, both in the framework of the multilateral peace
talks on the environment and the International Convention
to Combat Desertification.
In a sub-regional Round Table Discussion on a sub-regional
action programme to combat desertification in the lower
Jordan Rift Valley, experts from Jordan, the Palestinian Authority,
and Israel presented 15 joint project proposals to
potential donors, in Amman, in February 1997. The proposals were
based on a joint survey of a major watershed, the Rift
Valley, shared by the three parties. The objectives of the survey
were to detect desertification risks in this sub-region, and
to identify gaps in knowledge required for averting these risks.
The project proposals address not just the combat against
desertification, but also conservation of biodiversity and dry land
afforestation, as synergetic vehicles for promoting
transboundary sustainable development of the dry land watershed
shared by Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinians. UNESCO
has already announced in this meeting its pledge to support a
transboundary binational Jordanian-Israeli biosphere reserve
in the Rift Valley, for promoting sustainable development in that
area.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
Latest 199_ Land affected by
desertification (Km2)
Other data
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 13: MANAGING FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS: SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 14: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
In 1992 Israel established the Ministry of Environment. The
background to this is based on the evaluation that more than
50% of the area of Israel will become one of the most crowded area
in the world.
The general trend in rural areas includes:
The main activities that substitute agricultural sustainable
activities include tourism, commerce, and services.
Areas and subjects addressing rural and agricultural development
are covered by projects which may include: research,
development, semi-commercial, and commercial.
Another spectrum of activities in which we are working, on the
decision-making level, include:
A number of Ministries, including the Ministries of Agriculture,
Health, Environment, and Labour, among others, are
involved in projects aimed at promoting rural development and
sustainable agriculture.
One of the most significant changes in raising awareness, regarding
this subject, includes the introduction of periodical
statistics, which attempt to cover and understand the major trends
relating to the change in the rural structure. This applies
mainly to the shift from traditional farming to developed
entrepreneurship, going beyond agriculture. This, however,
creates other environmental problems.
In general numbers we can say that the percentage of persons
employed in agriculture amount to approximately 30% of
total population in the rural area.
The structure of production in Israel include:
Farmers' awareness is reflected in their work and their
participation in symposia and volunteering committees.
Although they are in a position to identify major problems, the
lack of financial resources limit their capacity for further
achievements. Two of the most relevant achievements in this area
are Integrated Pest Management and Bio-organic
crops. These are well advanced both on a scientific and practical
commercial level.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
- Declining effective labor power working in agriculture,
- Increasing non agricultural entrepreneurship (from a low
percentage to approximately 10% today, and projected
increases for the future)
-National level projects,
-Regional and district level projects, and
-Community and private level projects.
the "Moshave" - a private community with cooperative activities,
and
the "Kibutz" - full cooperative farming and a regular system of
private farmers.
It is also important to mention the total simultaneous movement of
the whole system towards privatization and "profit
centered concept".
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 15: CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed in 1992 and
ratified in 1995.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora was ratified in March
1980.
The latest report submitted was in 1996.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
Nature conservation and biodiversity protection is Israel is not a
recent development. Israel's location at the crossroads of
climatic and botanic regions gives the country a rich variety of
plant and animal life. Within the small land area of Israel,
two opposing climatic regimes are found - Mediterranean in the
north, and desert in the south. The central part of the
country is a transition area between these two bio-geographical
regions. While about 25% of Israel's land area is
preserved within declared nature reserves, most of them (80%) are
located in the desert areas of Israel, and a large
number overlap military training areas.
Following the second meeting of the parties to the Convention
on Biological Diversity, Israel set out a series of steps
to be taken for the purpose of preparing a national strategy plan
for the conservation of biological diversity. Some are as
follows: (1) The establishment of an interministerial committee
comprised of representatives of the Ministries of
Environment, Agriculture, Interior, Science, Trade and Industry,
Transport, Defense and Education; (2) the integration of
conservation of biological diversity into environmental planning,
and the preparation of guidelines for the protection of
biological diversity which will constitute part of the Ministry of
Environment guidelines for the preparation of EIS's, (3)
priority to research proposals on the conservation of biological
diversity to be partly financed by the Ministry of the
Environment.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 16: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: The Ministry of Agriculture,
specifically the Division of Plant Protection, established an
inter-ministerial and inter-disciplinary committee on bio-safety,
biotechnology/gene technology in December 1996. The Nature
Reserves Authority is one of the professional bodies involved in
the Committee, which also has representatives from
universities and research centers, the Ministry of Science, and the
Ministry of Trade and Industry. The committee will
deal with recommendations for necessary legislative changes
regarding bio-safety, taking into consideration the
Convention on Biological Diversity, among other issues.
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 17: PROTECTION OF THE OCEANS, ALL KINDS OF SEAS, INCLUDING ENCLOSED AND SEMI-ENCLOSED SEAS, AND COASTAL AREAS AND THE PROTECTION, RATIONAL USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR LIVING RESOURCES
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
See also the attached tables on the next pages.
Israel deals with all aspects of marine pollution: accidental and
emergency oil and chemical spills from ships or terminals,
polluting discharges from industrial or municipal land-based
sources, dumping of waste at sea, airborne pollution into the
marine environment, and litter in the sea or on the beaches.
Israel's two coastlines - the Mediterranean and the Red Sea
(Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba) - are among the country's most valuable
natural assets.
In recent years, Israel has made significant progress in pollution
prevention and protection of the marine environment.
Funds for combating marine and coastal pollution for clean-up
operations are generated by the Marine Pollution Fund,
totaling $700,00 annually. Income is derived from fees imposed on
all oil terminals and ships calling at Israeli ports and
from fines collected from violators of marine pollution prevention
laws and regulations.
Israel is an active member of the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan,
(detailed in the Cross-Sectoral Issues section),
through which a major program regarding coastal zone management and
sustainable development has been initiated for
Israel. The Coastal Areas Management Programme for Israel, approved
by UNEP/MAP and officially launched in
November 1996, constitutes the beginning of developing a
sustainable development strategy for Israel, and as such is a
significant aspect of Israel's implementation of Agenda 21.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
Chapter 17 (Oceans) Continued:
TABLE II. TECHNOLOGY (MARINE ENVIRONMENT)
TABLE III. SEWAGE RELATED ISSUES
TABLE IV. OTHER SOURCES OF MARINE POLLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 18: PROTECTION OF THE QUALITY AND SUPPLY OF FRESHWATER RESOURCES: APPLICATION OF INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO THE DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND USE OF WATER RESOURCES
Water and Wastewater Treatment and Reuse. All Israeli
settlements are served by public waterworks, supplying a per
capita average of 90 cu.m/year. Similarly 94% of the generated
wastewater is drained to a public sewer and 80% is
treated in biological treatment plants. Only 14% of the generated
wastewater is drained without treatment to water
courses, while 42% is reuse for irrigation after secondary or
advanced tertiary treatment. A national plan to increase the
reuse of treated effluent for irrigation is being implemented,
aimed to achieve a reuse target of 65-70% of the generated
wastewater.
Wastewater from households, agriculture, and industry may
pollute the water sources. As water is so scarce,
considerable efforts are being made to prevent such pollution, and
effluents are recycled for secondary use. Administrative
authorities have been established to control the contamination of
groundwater and rivers by effluents, and to promote the
restoration of the rivers. Increased awareness has resulted in
improvements in existing water treatment plants and in
planning of new plants that conform to the new standards on
effluents. Investment in these plants has been extensive in
recent years. The main use of treated effluent is in agriculture.
Standards of effluent quality are strictly kept to prevent
threats to health and damage to crops.
Drinking Water Quality. The Water Commission has initiated
a project for rapid sand filtration of drinking water, which
aims to reduce the water turbidity level to less than 0.5 NTU which
is the acceptable standard in the E.U.
Water Conservation. A national campaign is being sponsored
by the Water Commission, in which the use of water
conservation devices at the household level is promoted. Pressure
reducer devices for taps and showers, pull handle taps
and double quantity dispensers for toilet cisterns are being
introduced in order to reduce water consumption in households.
without any discomfort to the user.
Water Demand Management. A shift from the traditional
management of the supply side to the demand side is being
introduced by the Water Commission. Water demand management is
emphasized, combining certain measures which
include: progressive water charges, price incentives for water
reuse, public participation, water systems improvement, and
introduction of advanced technologies in order to institutionalize
sustainable use of water throughout.
Water Resources Protection. The Water Commission adopted an
overall policy for the safeguarding of water resources.
The major principle is to use the best technology and best practice
in industry, agriculture, and society in order to
minimize the pollution of water resources. The Water Commission
oversees the planning and certification of development
projects in order to protect water resources and their long term
conservation for future generations.
Water Resources Monitoring. The state of available water
resources is continuously monitored by the Hydrological
Service Department of the Water Commission. The Annual and
periodical Reports are used to influence the planning
process and to control development projects. A water resources
conservation map, restricting land use to activities that are
not harmful to water resources, has been produced and considered in
land use planning.
NATIONAL PRIORITY: Long term conservation of water
resources and extended reuse of wastewater
STATUS REPORT:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 19: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN TOXIC AND DANGEROUS PRODUCTS
The Hazardous Substances Law, 1993, provides the Ministry of
the Environment with authority for the control of
hazardous substances, including licensing, regulation and
supervision of the various aspects of their production, use,
handling, storage, marketing, import, export and transport. The
administrative means for enforcement established by the
law include a licensing requirement, in accordance with the
Licensing of Businesses Law, for any premise engaged in the
sale of hazardous substances, and a poisons permit requirement for
any person dealing in toxic substances. The holder of a
poisons permit, which must be renewed annually, is required to
maintain a toxic substances register in which all sales and
purchases of poisons are recorded. The law enables an authorized
representative of the Minister of the Environment to
enter any premise dealing with hazardous substances with the
exception of pharmacies, for purposes of inspection,
investigation or the collection of samples of hazardous substances.
This authority provides the Ministry of the
Environment with a powerful tool for the control and supervision of
hazardous substances. The Ministry of the
Environment is now investing major efforts in preparing the
infrastructure for both implementation and enforcement of the
law - the establishment of the permit system, discovery of the
facilities requiring a permit, computerization of data and
contacts with customs officials and chemical suppliers to ensure
that hazardous waste is not delivered to industries which
do not maintain the requisite permit.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: In a September 1993 decision, the
Israeli government called for the establishment of a national
contingency response system for chemical accidents. The system's
steering committee is comprised of representatives of
the police, Home Front Command, fire and emergency service, Magen
David Adorn (Israel Red Cross), the Ministry of
the Environment and other government ministries. Finances were
allocated for the operation of the national contingency
system and a two pronged contingency plan was established,
consisting of an integrated action plan specifying the tasks of
each body within the framework of the entire system.
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 20: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTES, INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN HAZARDOUS WASTES
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements
of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was
signed in 1989 and ratified in 1994.
* The latest information was provided to the Basel Convention
Secretariat in 1995.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
Israel's hazardous waste regulations require that all hazardous
waste be properly treated, recycled or deposited at the
Ramat Hovav National Disposal and Treatment Site for Hazardous
Waste, located south of Beersheba, the Negev. While
these regulations are implemented by the majority of Israel's large
scale industries, solutions have not yet been found to
the problems encountered by small scale industries, some producing
only a few tons of hazardous waste a year. Efforts
are currently being invested to find economically feasible methods
of transporting the hazardous wastes produced by these
plants to the Ramat Hovav site. At Karnat Hovav, a state-of-the-art
incinerator is currently being built, capable of burning
about 15,000 tons of organic materials per year.
Israel is currently reviewing disposal and treatment options
for other types of problematic wastes, such as medical
waste. A joint committee of the Ministries of the Environment and
Health, working according to guidelines on biological
waste set by the World Health Organization, has called for the
establishment of 15-20 regional disposal centers at main
hospitals throughout the country.
In compliance with the requirements of the Basel Convention on
the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal, the Ministry of the Environment
promulgated regulations, under the Hazardous
Substances Law, dealing with the import and export of hazardous
wastes.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 21: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTES AND SEWAGE-RELATED ISSUES
The cost of solid waste disposal is expected to increase.
Recycling can be an economical solution for part of the
problem. Today, 6% of domestic waste is recycled. The total
percentage is higher, owing to recycling during the
production process. The goal is to recycle 25% of waste by the year
2000.
Waste Water Treatment : Because of the combination of severe
water shortage, contamination of water resources,
densely populated urban areas and intensive irrigation in
agriculture, wastewater treatment and reuse is high on Israel's
list of national priorities. Effluents constitute the most readily
available and cheapest source of additional water, and
provide a partial solution to Israel's water scarcity problem.
Of the total volume of municipal wastewater produced in
Israel, about 90% is collected by means of central sewage
systems; 80% is treated; and nearly 70% is reclaimed for reuse,
mainly for irrigation of non-food crops and animal
fodder. By the year 2000, recycled wastewater is expected to
provide up to 400 MCM of water per year for agricultural
purposes. During the last three years, a major drive has been
carried out to build new, modern treatment plants for most
of Israel's major cities - Jerusalem, Haifa, Netanya and Hadera.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Solid Waste : It is estimated
that each person in Israel produces an average of 1.6 kg of solid
waste
a day, resulting in a total annual quantity of waste produced in
the country by a population of 5.3 million equal to 3.1
million tons. Until 1993, about 96% of Israel's domestic waste was
disposed in landfills in 514 waste dumps, most of
which were unregulated. In June 1993, the government took a
landmark decision designed to expedite the establishment of
central sanitary landfills, close hundreds of illegal waste dumps
and create infrastructure environmentally-safe solid waste
disposal. Since June 1993, 198 illegal dumps have been closed. It
is estimated that by 1998, some 80% of the country's
waste will be safely discharged at 20 environmentally-safe
landfills (5 central sites and 15 local sites). As part of the
Minstry's integrated solid waste management policy, several
waste-to-energy plants will also be established.
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 22: SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Israel's prime concern in the
management of low-level radioactive waste, produced by hospitals,
research laboratories and institutions, and industrial and
agricultural premises, is population safety and environmental
protection. The Nuclear Research Center in the Negev operates and
monitors Israel's only national disposal site for
radioactive waste. The Ministry of the Environment operates a
computerized database management system on radioactive
materials, with data on licensing, import and distribution, waste
disposal and transportation. Supervision of the disposal of
radioactive waste has improved recently, and a report was prepared
based on the number of drums containing radioactive
waste which were transferred from all institutions in Israel to the
national disposal site in the Negev. Within the
framework of the advisory committee on radiation, a report on waste
disposal and treatment procedures has also been
prepared.
AGENDA 21 CHAPTERS 23-32: MAJOR GROUPS
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women was
24.a Increasing the proportion of women decision makers.
24.b assessing, reviewing, revising and implementing
curricula and other educational material with a view to promoting
dissemination of gender-relevant knowledge.
Curricula and educational material
24.c and 24.d formulating and implementing policies,
guidelines, strategies and plans for achievement of equality in all
aspects of society including issuing a strategy by year 2000 to
eliminate obstacles to full participation of women in
sustainable development. Policies/strategies etc.
24.e establishing mechanisms by 1995 to assess implementation
and impact of development and environment policies and
programmes on women
Brief comments on this chapter:
Ch. 24: GLOBAL ACTION FOR WOMEN TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT.
25.a establishing processes that promote dialogue between
the youth and government at all levels and mechanisms that
permit youth access to information and opportunity to present their
views on implementing A21.
Describe their role in
the national process:
25.b reducing youth unemployment
25.c ensuring that by year 2000 more than 50% of youth --
gender balanced -- have access to appropriate secondary
education or vocational training.
Brief comments on this chapter:
Ch. 25: CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT.
26.a establishing a process to empower indigenous people and
their communities -- through policies and legal instruments:
26.b strengthening arrangements for active participation in
national policies
26.c involving indigenous people in resource management
strategies and programmes at the national and local level.
Brief comments on this chapter:
Ch. 27: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS: PARTNERS FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
27.a developing mechanisms that allow NGOs to play their
partnership role responsibly and effectively.
27.b reviewing formal procedures and mechanisms to involve
NGOs in decision making and implementation.
27.c promoting and allowing NGOs to participate in the
conception, establishment and evaluation of official mechanisms
to review Agenda 21 implementation.
27.d establishing a mutually productive dialogue by 1995 at
the national level between NGOs and governments.
Brief comments on this chapter:
Ch. 26: RECOGNIZING AND STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
28.a encouraging local authorities to implement and monitor
programmes that aim to ensure participation of women and
youth in local decision making.
Brief comments on this chapter:
29.a full participation of workers in implementation and
evaluation of A21.
29.b (By year 2000, (a) promoting ratification of ILO
conventions; (b) establishing bipartite and tripartite mechanism on
safety, health and sustainable development; (c) increasing number
of environmental collective agreements; (d) reducing
occupational accidents and injuries; (e) increasing workers'
education and training efforts.
Brief comments on this chapter:
Ch. 28: LOCAL AUTHORITIES' INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF
AGENDA 21. Ch. 29: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF WORKERS AND
THEIR TRADE UNIONS.
30.a increasing the efficiency of resource use, including
reuse, recycling, and reduction of waste per unit of economic
output.
30.b encouraging the concept of stewardship in management
and use of natural resources by entrepreneurs.
List any actions taken in this area:
30.c increasing number of enterprises that subscribe to and
implement sustainable development policies.
Brief comments on this chapter:
30: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF BUSINESS
AND INDUSTRY.
31.a improving exchange of knowledge and concerns between
s&t community and the general public.
Scientific community has already established ways in which to
address the general public and deal with
sustainable development.
31.b developing, improving and promoting international
acceptance of codes of practice and guidelines related to science
and technology and its role in reconciling environment and
development.
Brief comments on this chapter not already described in chapter 35:
32.a promoting and encouraging sustainable farming practices
and technologies.
32.b developing a policy framework that provides incentives
and motivation among farmers for sustainable and efficient
farming practices.
32.c enhancing participation of organizations of farmers in
design and implementation of sustainable development policies.
Brief comments on this chapter:
Ch. 31: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL
COMMUNITY. Ch. 32: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF
FARMERS.
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 33: FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND MECHANISMS
No information
CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT:
NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS:
ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY SUBSIDIES:
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
ODA funding provided or received (Total US$million)
Net flow of external capital from all sources as % of GDP
Other data
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 34: TRANSFER OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGY, COOPERATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING
No information
MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION:
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT ON LINKS BETWEEN NATIONAL, REGIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION
NETWORKS/SYSTEMS:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 35: SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
No information
STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG
TERM SCIENTIFIC
ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY:
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT ON NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE,
RESEARCH NEEDS AND PRIORITIES:
Year
Number of scientists, engineers and technicians
engaged in research and experimental
development
#
19--
Total expenditure for research and experimental
development (US$eq.)
$
19--
Other data
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 36: PROMOTING EDUCATION, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND TRAINING
Education is compulsory until the age of 16. The educational level
of the Israeli population has steadily increased. The
proportion of people with at least a basic education has increased
from 65.3% to 85.3% over the last 30 years. Illiteracy
has practically disappeared among younger age groups, although it
still exists in a small proportion of the elderly, mainly
among women.
In 1993, 18% of the people aged 15 were university graduates; the
corresponding figure for women were 17%. Women
comprised 54% of university students in 1992/93, compared to 36% in
1964/65. The general trend has been towards a
more educated population. In 1993 the median number of years of
formal education was 11.8, compared to 10.7 in 1980
and 8.8 in 1970.
a) Reorientation of education towards sustainable
development
b) Increasing public awareness
The population's awareness of environmental issues is growing, and
air and water pollution are key issues.
c) Promoting training
ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS:
FINANCING AND COST EVALUATION OF THE LABOUR ACTIVITIES:
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Israel is a multilingual society.
The two main official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. Other
languages are widely spoken, including English, French, Russian,
Spanish, and Yiddish. Hebrew is the language
necessary for integration in the labour force and other areas of
life.
Latest 199- Adult literacy rate (%) Male
Adult literacy rate (%) Female
% of primary school children reaching grade 5 (1986-97)
Mean number of years of schooling
% of GNP spent on education
Females per 100 males in secondary school
Women per 100 men in the labour force
Other data
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 37: NATIONAL MECHANISMS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR CAPACITY-BUILDING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
National capacity building is also covered under sectoral chapters.
Donors: You may wish to describe here how Agenda 21 has influenced your ODA policies in this area.
No information
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT ON NATIONAL ENDOGENOUS CAPACITY
BUILDING:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 38: INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
No information
Ch. 38: Brief summary of any particular UN System
response affecting this country/state:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 39: INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND MECHANISMS
Article 12 of Annex III of the Israeli-Palestinian Interim
Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in
Washington on September 28, 1995, specifically deals with
environmental protection.
Agreement Between the Government and the State of Israel and the
Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the field
of Agricultural Ecology, signed in 1993.
Agreement between the Government of the Hashmite Kingdom of Jordan
and the Government of the State of Israel on
Cooperation in Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation,
signed in 1995.
Agreement on Special Arrangements for Aqaba and Eilat between the
Government of the State of Israel and the
Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, signed in January
1996, has specific sections devoted to Environment,
Energy and Natural Resources, and a proposed binational marine
peace park.
Agreement on the Subregional Contingency Plan for Preparedness and
Response to Major Marine Pollution Incidents in
the Mediterranean between the Republic of Cyprus, The Arab Republic
of Egypt and the State of Israel.
Israel hosted an Expert Meeting on Synergies among the Rio
Conventions, supported by the Governments of Israel, Japan,
Denmark, and also by UNDP, to elucidate the links between the
Convention on Biodiversity, the Framework Convention
on Climate Change, the Convention to Combat Desertification and the
Forest Principles, and correspondingly to detect the
overlaps, convergencies and synergies between these Instruments.
The meeting pointed at some means for attaining synergy: (a)
identification of a national "entry point" - a dryland country
will focus its efforts in combating desertification and use it as
an "entry point" for addressing also the other conventions,
whereas a country with much forested area will use the Forest
Principles as an entry point; (b) establishing a coordinating
mechanism between the national focal points of each of the
conventions, as well as between the conventions' secretariats;
(c) identification of indicators that apply to the assessment of
progress in all instruments, establishment of a monitoring
system and harmonizing the information gathering and analysis
procedures, to enable the quantification of progress made
towards sustainable development in the implementation of the
conventions, and (d) use of this analysis for non-overlapping,
shared, streamlined reporting.
Ch. 39: International Legal Instruments are covered
under the relevant sectoral chapters. This is a listing of major
agreements/conventions (not already covered) entered into and
relevant to Agenda 21:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 40: INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING
2.
International cooperation and trade
3.
Combating poverty
4.
Changing consumption patterns
5.
Demographic dynamics and sustainability
6.
Human health
7.
Human settlements
8.
Integrating E & D in decision-making
9.
Protection of the atmosphere
10.
Integrated planning and management of land resources
11.
Combating deforestation
12.
Combating desertification and drought
13.
Sustainable mountain development
14.
Sustainable agriculture and rural development
15.
Conservation of biological diversity
16.
Biotechnology
17.
Oceans, seas, coastal areas and their living resources
18.
Freshwater resources
19.
Toxic chemicals
20.
Hazardous wastes
21.
Solid wastes
22.
Radioactive wastes
24.
Women in sustainable development
25.
Children and youth
26.
Indigenous people
27.
Non-governmental organizations
28.
Local authorities
29.
Workers and trade unions
30.
Business and industry
31.
Scientific and technological community
32.
Farmers
33.
Financial resources and mechanisms
34.
Technology, cooperation and capacity-building
35.
Science for sustainable development
36.
Education, public awareness and training
37.
International cooperation for capacity-building
38.
International institutional arrangements
39.
International legal instruments
40.
Information for decision-making
No information
Latest
199-
Number of telephones in use per 100 inhabitants
Other data
Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
Last updated 1 November 1997