Haifa was chosen to participate in the Ministry of Energy's accelerator of authorities to formulate action plans to prepare for climate change and sustainable energy.
The Ministry of Energy today informed the Haifa Municipality that it is one of 12 local authorities and clusters, chosen by a call, for the formulation of action plans to prepare for climate change and sustainable energy in the local government. The consultation that the municipality will receive as part of the accelerator will help it produce clean energy, become more energy efficient and adapt to the maximum extent to the warming and extreme climate, while developing climate resilience and increasing local prosperity. 30 local authorities approached the voice of the reader.
The Minister of Energy, Dr. Yuval Steinitz, told Lahi Fe:
"This is a historic move in which the municipality of Haifa receives the responsibility, authority and right to deal with climate change through energy efficiency, switching to electricity production from solar energy, reducing pollutant emissions, deploying charging points for electric vehicles and other moves. I spoke with Mayor Einat Kalish Rotem and informed her that The Ministry of Energy under my leadership will provide Haifa in the coming year with an extensive package of planning and professional advice, and starting next year also with budgetary assistance to promote moves of this type. The allocation of resources to accelerate and empower local authorities is done on a competitive basis and I have no doubt that as one of the winners of the competition, Haifa will be able to make a significant leap forward in important areas These, and to use assistance from the Ministry of Energy in a way that will contribute to the quality of life, the well-being of the residents and the achievement of national challenges in the energy sector, such as for example 30% electricity production from solar energy."
The mayor of Haifa, Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem, told Haifa:
The trust given to Haifa will allow the city administration to lead a move in such a significant area for the future of all humanity. We all experience the disastrous results of climate change in global warming, huge fires, floods and more. Thanks to the program, we will be able to improve our preparation to deal with all of these, to mitigate damages and promote cleaner energies."
Consultants, experts and dedicated tools
The assistance that Haifa will receive will be provided by consultants and experts in the field, and using dedicated tools that are consolidated for the purpose of the process. First, the municipality will map the climate changes and greenhouse emissions in the authority's territory, and in response to this, action plans will be formulated that will help it prepare for climate changes and reduce emissions while aiming to reach 30% renewable energy production by 2030, in accordance with the vision of the Ministry of Energy. The authority will do this, among other things, through the installation of solar panels on public buildings and private households, energy efficiency in the municipal infrastructure, shading streets, paving bicycle paths, establishing charging stations for electric vehicles, planting trees throughout the authority and more. The plans, which will be formulated for a period of one year, will help Haifa deal with extreme events resulting from the climate crisis and will significantly reduce the costs required in dealing with the event in real time. In addition, the plans will lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life of the residents and an increase in the income of the participating authorities.
This call is another step within the national plan for preparing for climate change and sustainable energy led by the Ministry in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of the Interior. In addition to the 12 authorities selected for the accelerator, as part of the "Program for Strengthening Civil Resilience in Sderot and the Settlements Surrounding Gaza for the Years 2021-2022", a budget was allocated for the formulation of action plans to prepare for climate change and sustainable energy in Sderot, Shaar HaNegev, Eshkol, Ashkelon Beach and the Negev.
The transfer of the weight of action to the local government is currently happening in more than 1,000 cities in the world, which are already promoting climate change and sustainable energy programs, and some are even promoting a goal of 100% renewable energy use.
To my question regarding the installation of charging stations for an electric car that I was considering ordering, I was told by the road planning division "Buy a private and well-maintained house in your private parking lot whatever you want".
As they say: "Talks are separate and actions are separate"
Excellent. Haifa can lead in action to deal with and assess the climate crisis. Hope for a significant action for the benefit of all of us
The training, which is given to the city of Haifa thanks to the city administration led by Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem, the mayor and members of the city council. Well done to you.