Of Symptoms and CausesThe Antecedents of Israel’s Environmental Challenges

By Prof. Alon Tal , BGU

Milk and Honey

or

Pollution and Toxics

GeometricPopulation Growth \

Ministry of Environment Budget 2002-2004Ministry of Environment Budget 2002-2004 ( (in millions of shekels)in millions of shekels)

PERMISSION TO COMMIITTOTAL ALLOCATIONSSpecial allocationsNET ALLOCATIONSYEAR

2004תקציב   189,098 14,469 203,567 20,153

31,200 31,406

245,340 293,896

13,225 23,496

232,115 270,400

2003תקציב

33,000 62,896

227,797 341,367

14,152    22,541

213,645 318,826

2002 תקציב

Itinerary:•Quick Review of Israel’s Environmental Condition

•Historical “Zionist” influences

•Ideological Axioms & Environmental Impacts

•Towards Sustainability

Air Quality in Tel AvivThe Epidemiology of a Public Health Disaster

מקורות הזיהוםמקורות הזיהום

Gutman, 1996 (Technion Research)Gutman, 1996 (Technion Research)

Failed 35%

Passed 67%

under 3 years

4-9 years over 10 years

80

60

40

20

0

Pas

sed

the

test

%

Figure 1. Idling tests results

Figure 2. Percentage of vehicles which passed the idling test

Mobile Sources: OlderMobile Sources: Older is Dirtier is Dirtier!!

WHO - WHO - Cl Cl –– < 250 ppm< 250 ppm

IsraelIsraelAverage 1998Average 1998

190 ppm190 ppm

Tel AvivTel AvivTel AvivTel Aviv

GazaGaza

GazaGaza

WHO - WHO - NONO33--

< 45 ppm< 45 ppmIsraelIsrael

Average 1998Average 1998 = 58 ppm= 58 ppm

Water Quality - Coastal Aquifer Water Quality - Coastal Aquifer (Israel Hydrological Service 1999)(Israel Hydrological Service 1999)

Mineral Water in Israel:Mineral Water in Israel:The New NecessityThe New Necessity

Adam Teva V’din’s 2005 Report on Adam Teva V’din’s 2005 Report on Poverty and the Environment:Poverty and the Environment:

72% of Israelis drink mineral water72% of Israelis drink mineral water

Stream Restoration in IsraelAn Unmitigated Failure

The Kishon River PathologyThe Kishon River Pathology

60 former naval frogmen suing 60 former naval frogmen suing Haifa Chemicals and others (for Haifa Chemicals and others (for 500 million shekel)500 million shekel)

Atzmon v. Haifa ChemicalsAtzmon v. Haifa Chemicals

50 fishermen – demand 150 million50 fishermen – demand 150 million

Impact of overpumpingImpact of overpumping Nitrate and chloride concentrations 1975-2000 Nitrate and chloride concentrations 1975-2000

POPULATION

19902020

Desertification – The Desertification – The Environmental OrphanEnvironmental Orphan

Israel’s Climate is changingIsrael’s Climate is changing

Today’s changes are farToday’s changes are far faster faster

IPCC models suggest up to 35% precipitation dropIPCC models suggest up to 35% precipitation drop

3-53-5 degrees (C) rise in temperatures: 2071-2100degrees (C) rise in temperatures: 2071-2100

Israel’s Report to the United Nations Climate ConventionIsrael’s Report to the United Nations Climate Convention

4-8%4-8% projected drop in rainfallprojected drop in rainfall

10%10% increase in evapotranspirationincrease in evapotranspiration

Dramatic increase in rainfall intensityDramatic increase in rainfall intensity

Continuous temperature fluctuationsContinuous temperature fluctuations

Sea level increase of 12 to 88 cmSea level increase of 12 to 88 cm..

The Total Rainfall Amount The Total Rainfall Amount Comparison between Israel & Comparison between Israel & JordanJordan

Total Rainfall Amount (mm)

0.0010.0020.0030.0040.00

years

valu

es

Total Rainfall Amount (mm)

Total Rainfall Amounts in Yotava (mm)

20

25

30

35

40

45

1960-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999

mm

Total Rainfall Amounts (mm)

Rainfall Patterns in the Arava

Total Rainfall in Eilat & Sdom

0

15

30

45

60

1964-1973 1974-1983 1984-1993 1994-2003

mm

Total Rainfall Amounts in Eilat (mm)

Total Rainfall Amounts in Sdom (mm)

– 24 mm and 22 mm drop from 40 years ago.

Shifting rainfall Shifting rainfall gradientgradient

Drylands Indexhumiddry sub-humidsemi-aridHyper-aridHyper-arid

מ"מ 700

30 mm

Ministry of Environment Research (2006)Ministry of Environment Research (2006)

Summer temperatures up 1 degree each year Summer temperatures up 1 degree each year recentlyrecently

Chance of summer days beingChance of summer days being

““very hot” up very hot” up 300% 300% in past 40 years in past 40 years

Days that Jerusalem temperaturesDays that Jerusalem temperatures

exceeded 35 degrees (95 F) upexceeded 35 degrees (95 F) up

55 cm. increase in sea levelcm. increase in sea level

Climate Change Scenarios for Israel

Scarcity is no longer inevitable

The Eilat DesalinationFacility

Desalination/RO –Drawbacks

Space on the Beach

Use of Chemicals

Phosphates/Boron Control

Cumulative Impacts of Brine

Energy – GHG Emissions

Ashkelon:The NextGeneration

Government Decision #246: May 14, 2003Government Decision #246: May 14, 2003

A Strategic Program for Sustainable Development A Strategic Program for Sustainable Development in Israelin Israel

The Policy of the Government of Israel will be The Policy of the Government of Israel will be based on the principles of management based on the principles of management involving Sustainable Development that involving Sustainable Development that integrate: a dynamic economy, wise utilization integrate: a dynamic economy, wise utilization of natural resources, protection of ecological of natural resources, protection of ecological systems and granting equal opportunityt ot all/ systems and granting equal opportunityt ot all/ This , in order to answer the needs of the This , in order to answer the needs of the present generation an dthe needs of the future present generation an dthe needs of the future generations – pursuant to previous generations – pursuant to previous government decision 2426 from August 4, government decision 2426 from August 4, 2002 and th espirit of th edecisions from the 2002 and th espirit of th edecisions from the World Summit for Sustinable Development World Summit for Sustinable Development that took placein Johannesburg South Africa, that took placein Johannesburg South Africa, (August-September 2002)(August-September 2002)

40

Some good news:Some good news: Drip Irrigation Drip Irrigation

End of 1950s – low cost plastics makes it possible.End of 1950s – low cost plastics makes it possible. In 1965 Netafim Corporation established at Kibbutz In 1965 Netafim Corporation established at Kibbutz

Hatzerim. Hatzerim. Today over 200 million dollars in annual sales.Today over 200 million dollars in annual sales. Used world-wide from marijuana growers in California Used world-wide from marijuana growers in California

to vegetables in Afghanistan.to vegetables in Afghanistan. Israel’s 50Israel’s 50thth anniversary: voted “best invention.” anniversary: voted “best invention.”

Drip Irrigation: BenefitsDrip Irrigation: Benefits

Evaporation is reduced relative to sprinklersEvaporation is reduced relative to sprinklers Can irrigate steep landscapes.Can irrigate steep landscapes. Eliminates drift during wastewater reuse.Eliminates drift during wastewater reuse. Allows for precise chemigation.Allows for precise chemigation. Delivers to the root zone.Delivers to the root zone. Automation = optimizationAutomation = optimization Water use per yield drops!!!Water use per yield drops!!!

Subsurface drip Subsurface drip irrigation:irrigation: The Next GenerationThe Next GenerationConserves water while:Conserves water while:

controlling weeds, controlling weeds, minimize runoff and evaporation, minimize runoff and evaporation, increase longevity of laterals and emitters, increase longevity of laterals and emitters, ease use of heavy equipment in the field, andease use of heavy equipment in the field, and prevent human contact with low-quality water. prevent human contact with low-quality water. Labor saving (avoids seasonal installation). Labor saving (avoids seasonal installation).

Water Harvesting in Israel

Floodwatercan be used for2 purposes:

1. To improvequality and quantity of ground water byreplenishing aquifers.

2. To impound floodwaters for direct supply to irrigation systems in nearby fields.

"And now it is my turn for a terrible confession. I object to nature preservation. The very ideal of "preservation" is not acceptable in almost any area of life. We have not come into this world to protect or preserve any given thing, mitzvah, nature or cultural heritage..... We have not inherited a museum, to patiently wipe off the dust from its displays or to polish the glass..... Nature also is not a museum. One is allowed to touch, allowed to move, to draw closer, to change and to leave our stamp..... Touch the stone. Touch the animal. Touch your fellow man. On one condition. How to touch?.. To answer on one leg" and in a word I would say: 'with love.” Amos Oz, 1981