Summary
– Air pollution from vehicles in Israel costs NIS 7.2 billion in health damage and quality of life
– The country does not promote actions like increasing eco-friendly public transport or transitioning to electric vehicles
– There is a lack of policies for scrapping old and polluting trucks and promoting the use of electric trucks
– There is a shortage of charging stations for electric cars in Israel
– The government’s goals regarding reducing emissions from vehicles do not align with the actions being taken in the country
Article
Air pollution from vehicles in Israel is a major concern, costing NIS 7.2 billion in health damage and quality of life. The country fails to promote actions that could alleviate this issue, such as increasing the use of eco-friendly public transport, encouraging cycling, and transitioning to electric vehicles. The lack of government initiatives to scrap old and polluting trucks, impose purchase taxes on new polluting trucks, conduct economic feasibility assessments, and declare low-emission zones contributes to the high levels of pollution attributed to transportation. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Transportation have not conducted proper assessments or established clear policies to address these issues, leading to a decrease in the number of inspections and charging stations for electric cars.
There is a shortage of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Israel, as the Ministries of Energy and Transportation have not set targets for deploying public charging stations or guidelines for their geographical distribution. Disputes over establishing car charging stations in shared residential buildings further hinder the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Enforcement against drivers who misuse charging stations is also lacking, with no drafted regulations in place. Despite plans for all new vehicles to be electric by 2035, the current infrastructure and regulations do not align with this goal, posing challenges to meeting the government’s emission reduction targets.
The heavy taxation on new cars in Israel does not reflect their pollution levels, as trucks are exempt from purchase taxes based on pollution levels like private cars. The State Comptroller recommends reevaluating the taxation system on vehicles, considering their impact on air pollution, road congestion, and other costs. The Ministry of Transportation is taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through promoting public transportation and green taxation, but some issues highlighted in the report are still being addressed. Efforts are being made to shift cargo transport from trucks to trains, use electric carts instead of diesel carts, and establish hubs for transferring cargo from polluting trucks.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has been working to reduce air pollution from road transportation through various means, including promoting clean and electric transportation. Enforcement actions are carried out on Israeli roads in collaboration with the police to prevent air pollution from transportation. The ministry supports reducing taxation on electric vehicles and implementing emission targets for importers as practiced in Europe and the United States. The collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure aim to incentivize the entry of electric vehicles and reduce emissions of air pollutants and noise from road transportation. Overall, the government is urged to prioritize environmental considerations in transportation policies, address pollution sources, and support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles to meet emission reduction goals.
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