Environment

Thousands of families dependent on the Rotem Amfert plant fear layoffs due to delays in approving the use of Pond 4. Lobby 99 accuses the company's management of exploiting workers' anxiety to secure environmental concessions, while experts warn of pollution risks and the broader environmental costs of mining.

Idit Silman is set to leave the Ministry of Environmental Protection. There are growing concerns that the next Knesset will lack dedicated lawmakers to champion environmental issues, potentially allowing destructive policies to proceed unchecked.

New data shows a dramatic reduction of about 820,000 disposable cups every day in offices and organizations across the country. The Israeli-developed FreshCUP system, which performs steam disinfection in 30 seconds, has now surpassed 10,000 active units.

Following the legal battle over the phosphogypsum ponds of Rotem Amfert, thousands of workers in the Negev fear that they will return from the holidays to find there is nowhere to work. Environmental organizations accuse the plant's management of cynically using the workers as a human shield to obtain pollution permits.

Following severe pollution discovered in water tests in the north of the country, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are warning against entering several particularly popular tourist sites due to an immediate health risk.

A decade after the Paris Agreement, a UN report determines: the global fight against global warming has failed. Scientists warn that the world is expected to cross the warming threshold within a few years and fear a tipping point from which the Earth will not be able to recover.

According to a report by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, pollutant emissions in Israel declined in 2025. The primary drivers were reduced coal usage at power plants and a decrease in industrial activity due to the ongoing war.

The 2025 PRTR report indicates a 12% decrease in air pollution costs in Israel, saving the economy 4.2 billion shekels. Despite improvements, environmentalists criticize the continued operation of coal-fired units at the Orot Rabin power plant, citing health risks to the public.

Nearly 19 million Americans were included in a study that found a distance-dependent link between living near a dry cleaning business and Parkinson's disease. Among those living within about 152 meters, higher odds for the disease were found. Dr. Sandra Benizri, a neurologist at Assuta: "There is no doubt that environmental factors play a role in Parkinson's. In recent years, there has been a...

The District Planning and Building Committee is set to discuss the expansion of Beit Shemesh east of Highway 10. KKL (Jewish National Fund) opposes the development of sensitive green areas, arguing the city can reach 550,000 residents without environmental damage.

A climate study warns: In a high-emissions scenario, the European area affected annually by fires will jump by 193% and reach about 53,000 square kilometers. Researchers claim that climate change will bring massive fires to areas that have not dealt with them in the past.

The National Planning and Building Council has set conditions for the demolition of a tank damaged during the 'Roar of the Lion' war and the construction of a new one. The Haifa Bay Association of Towns for Environmental Protection demands a binding resolution on environmental hazards at the BAZAN complex.

A report by the Binyamin Regional Council points to a series of cases where sewage and waste were dumped into open areas and stream channels, raising concerns about environmental consequences that extend beyond the region's borders. Binyamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chairman Israel Gantz: "The State of Israel must treat this situation as a national environmental threat."

Pollution has no passport. What starts beyond the fence can reach our tap. Streams, aquifers, air, and the sea connect Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

Following an oil spill that reached the shores of Qeshm Island, Tehran demands that the issue of compensation and environmental restoration be included in any future agreement regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tests conducted at the Orot Rabin power plant in Hadera revealed that in 40% of the operating time of the coal-fired units, air pollution was measured above the permitted level. The Sharon-Carmel Environmental Association stated: "The operation of the units entails environmental and health consequences."

Iran is demanding compensation for a severe oil spill that reached its shores, but estimates suggest the regime in Tehran caused the spill itself. This follows an attack on a tanker attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection is promoting a law that will require car manufacturers to recycle lithium batteries. The recycling will likely be funded through a levy on electric vehicles and could be passed on to consumer car prices. Simultaneously, the update of the green taxation and Euro 7 regulations is expected to bring an unusual wave of Chinese vehicle imports before the end of...

The Regavim movement warns of severe pollution in a stream in the Negev and demands increased enforcement against those responsible. According to them, waste is burned and dumped without permission, and animal carcasses are accumulating in the area. Ahead of winter, the movement warns: rains could wash away the waste, block the stream's channel, and cause flooding.

Every AI prompt has an environmental cost: servers consume vast amounts of water and electricity. Increased system efficiency only drives higher usage, following the Jevons paradox.

Participants in the "Green Network" camp took part in a variety of experiential activities on climate crisis and nutrition, accompanied by a Jewish-Arab camp staff including leading instructors and chefs.

Israel buries about 80% of its waste in the ground — almost double the average in OECD countries — and estimates suggest it will be only a few years before existing landfills are full. At the same time, billions of shekels collected through the "landfill levy" are sitting in the "Cleanliness Fund," and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman is clashing with the professional staff in her...

A sandbar that has accumulated at the mouth of the Yarkon River is blocking the flow of water to the sea, damaging water exchange, the ecosystem, and navigation. A new research project will examine the impact of the blockage and oversee its reopening.

Heatwaves, fires, droughts, and floods are becoming the "new normal," and 2026 may be the hottest year in history. Scientists warn of approaching tipping points in critical climate systems and a food crisis that could push tens of millions into hunger. Alongside the dire forecasts, experts emphasize: it is still possible to halt the process.

Integrating AI into the fossil fuel industry could increase carbon emissions by up to 5%, outpacing the environmental benefits of AI in renewable energy, according to a study published in Nature.

The Tel Aviv District Committee accepted the objection of "Adam Teva V'Din" and canceled the plan to build a 24-story tower on a cliff on the northern coast of Bat Yam. Building rights will be transferred to an alternative location, with the aim of reducing the damage to the beach and the public.

The US President announced a dramatic $3 billion move to combat China's control, but the decision to act independently in the Pacific Ocean is now sparking unprecedented opposition.

Since Friday, more than 130 benzene measurements above the alert value have been recorded at the Bazan station. The Haifa Bay Cities Association demands to locate the source of the emissions and clarifies that a spot check without a leak is not sufficient.

Science may allow children born today to live a hundred years or more, but alongside the hope arises the question of what kind of world they will live in. Ahead of the elections, the author calls for choosing leadership of responsibility, integrity, unity, and compassion.

The family of Staff Sergeant Nave Habashush (of blessed memory), who fell in June in battle in southern Lebanon, held a cleanup activity with dozens of volunteers on the shores of the Kinneret and the Kinneret trail. His father, Haim, said that his son used to collect waste left by travelers: "We are continuing what Nave himself did and believed in."

Sheba Medical Center is the only Israeli hospital included in the World’s Greenest Hospitals 2026 ranking, compiled by Newsweek and the research firm Statista. The ranking evaluates the commitment of healthcare facilities worldwide to sustainable environmental management.

Microscopic plastic particles are already penetrating food, drinking water, and the human body. Experts are calling to reduce the use of single-use plastic before the damage becomes irreversible. "Even our babies are not immune - these substances are passed on to them in breast milk," experts warn.

The Forum of Civil Society Organizations for the Prevention of Fires warns the government that the recent Ben Shemen forest fire is a reminder that Israel must prepare for a new reality of fires amid the climate crisis.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are warning travelers and local authorities against entering nine streams and water sites in the north, after sampling conducted on Monday revealed abnormal levels of fecal coliform bacteria. The peak was measured at the Haruv pool in the Tzalmon stream — 3,700 bacteria per 100 milliliters of water.

Piles of construction waste were discovered in the Nakhshon Forest. KKL-JNF officials warn of soil contamination and wildfire risks. A new waste management law will not take effect for another 18 months, leaving the area vulnerable.

In Spain's mountainous regions, authorities are using a creative solution to mitigate wildfire risks: deploying GPS-tracked donkeys and goats to clear dry vegetation. These animals, covering up to 19 km daily, serve as an effective line of defense against the spread of massive fires.

Could living near a busy road trigger Parkinson's disease? Professor Eitan Friedman explains why we should be skeptical of alarming headlines and what we really need to watch out for.

Israel is identified as a climate change hotspot, with the region warming faster than the global average. Despite the rising frequency of extreme weather events, government funding for climate adaptation is being reduced.

Dr. Gil Proactor warns that rising sea levels and groundwater threaten the foundations of buildings along Israel's coastal plain. The lack of a national climate strategy puts critical infrastructure at severe risk.

With the establishment of new ports, the Israel Ports Company (IPC) installed a Cold Ironing system to allow docked ships to switch off diesel engines. However, due to a lack of regulation and economic incentives, shipping companies rarely use the infrastructure.

Intensifying heatwaves are draining moisture from soil and rivers, damaging transport, energy, and agriculture. Major rivers like the Rhine and Danube have reached historic lows, and experts warn: the scenarios predicted for 2050 are already coming true.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Yarkon Drainage and Streams Authority are demanding that the Rosh HaAyin municipality immediately halt the construction of a coffee cart near the local forest. Authorities warn that the project threatens a vital ecological corridor and local infrastructure.

While the Sahara Desert has not moved, an increasing amount of its dust is reaching Europe. A new study covering 2012 to 2021 reveals a continent-wide increase in dust transport, affecting even northern regions.