pollution

Saying it with flowers

'Critical Mass' is as entertaining as it is thought provoking.

Business in Brief: October 26

FDA approves Teva’s schizophrenia drug; Israel Ports fined for polluting; 800 apartments to be built in Talpiot.

Cross-border water pollution threatens Israeli security, watchdog says

EcoPeace: The state comptroller’s report presents “a scathing assessment of failure for more than two decades of Israeli government action and inaction.”

Israel turning garbage dump into energy resource

Officials launched a refuse derived fuel (RDF) plant at the Hiriya Recycling Park – a waste sorting and recycling plant that sits at the foot of the region's towering former garbage dump.

Israel’s Mediterranean: A ‘Wild West,’ but with waves of progress

The Med is considered one of the most contaminated seas on Earth; What are we going to do about it?

Eco-friendly initiative set to put 1,500 green taxis on Israeli roads

An investment of NIS 30 million, financed by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, will enable the subsidized purchase of 1,500 hybrid taxis.

MK Dov Henin calls on Netanyahu to explain stance against Haifa factory closure

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav issued an administrative order on Wednesday to shut down operations at the Carmel Olefins facility of the Israel Oil Refineries group.

As summer draws to a close, beaches still plagued by garbage

Only 47.4 percent of Israel’s beaches were deemed “clean” to “very clean” in the latest Clean Coast Index, a collection of measurements issued periodically by the Environmental Protection Ministry.

Israel’s beaches awash in plastic bags

On Thursday, the ministry stressed that "the responsibility for cleaning up beaches is in the hands of the local authorities."

Green groups hopeful over Elkin appointment to Environmental Protection Minister

In statements welcoming Elkin's selection, environmental groups emphasized the importance of the role and the power that he will have.

Energy Ministry gets ‘award’ for ‘failure,’ while solar power gets accolade

This year’s Black Globe booby prize was given to the Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources Ministry for its “continual failure in managing the energy sector.”

Yarkon River mosquito problem forces pesticide use along banks

In a statement released on Sunday, the YRA said that though it was reluctant to use pesticide, the spraying had become necessary due to sewage leaks.

Despite advances, environmental review avoids central issues, specialist says

Report shows serious advances, yet Haifa ammonia factory’s promised relocation in dispute.

Green activists: Haifa pollution plan 'is like giving giving a bandaid to a cancer patient'

Haifa has a number of “hot spots” where rates of cancer, asthma and abnormalities in babies are higher than average.

On the streets of Haifa, anger and fear mar a sunny exterior

“I’m afraid to wake up in the morning and find out that I have cancer,” said Etti Ben-Adiva, who works at a cafe along the city’s Carmel beach.

Health, Environment ministers try to calm Haifa pollution fears

Emergency city council meeting held to address disturbing report on birth defects.

Plages : attention, pollution

Malgré les quelques progrès réalisés ces dernières années pour endiguer les différents problèmes qui menacent le littoral israélien, les moyens financiers et humains manquent toujours

SOS mer en détresse

La Méditerranée est l’un des espaces maritimes les plus pollués de la planète. Pour changer la donne, Israël doit repenser sa politique

Le développement des transports dessine la Jérusalem de demain

A quoi ressemblera la Jérusalem de demain ? Une ville sans pollution et un paradis pour les piétons. Tel est le rêve que nous promet le JTMT avec l’arrivée des nouvelles lignes de tramway

Greenpeace: End fuel subsidies, set binding targets

Israel can reduce power demand significantly in the coming years and help avert the effects of climate change, according to new report.

Zalul: Make sea polluters finance purification tech

Environmental Protection Ministry: Organization’s claims are ill-researched.

Ministries team up to promote energy efficiency

Joint "savings patrol" initiative intends to help businesses increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution.

'Haifa Bay environment association negligent'

State comptroller finds area of half-million people ‘has hazardous materials in air, water, land and sea.’

Gov't gives additional NIS 8m. for stream rehab

The Environmental Ministry will invest more money in rehabilitating polluted rivers and streams.

Ships to treat sea pollution deployed on coast

The Treasury will transfer NIS 22 million to equip two ships to treat sea pollution along Mediterranean coast.

Haifa to join European air monitoring project

Pan-European project called CITI-SENSE aimed at increasing cooperation and awareness regarding air pollution.

‘Industry leaving Israel over environmental rules'

Environment Ministry: Regulations match those of Western world, prioritize public health.

Gov’t publishes int'l bid for Kishon River mud cleanup

Tender involves excavating contaminated bottom layer of riverbed and then purifying the contents.

Erdan slams Barak over IDF bases sewage issue

“The IDF is disregarding the government decision and bases continue to pollute water and land resources,” Erdan said.

Green group: Declare Haifa air pollution region

Environmentalist group calls on Erdan to make declaration, forcing cities in Haifa Bay region to take action.

IUED: Failure to approve pollution plan ‘illegal’

Cabinet members have yet to vote on national plan to prevent air pollution, allegedly due to Steinitz’s financial opposition to program.

Sewage clogs Jordan River south of baptism site

US ambassador: Water, rehabilitation efforts can bring regional peace.

Multi-year program to curb air pollution launches

Environment Ministry unveils comprehensive plan which will save country half a billion shekels each year, according to ministry.

Europe pushes for ratification of Offshore Protocol

Environment Ministry: Israel already preparing its legislation to meet protocol demands to protect Mediterranean Sea against pollution.

1,000 protest future vacation village at Betzet Beach

Commercial venues would would cause noise, light and air pollution, says Society for the Protection of Nature.

Expert deems J'lem Central Bus Station a ‘sick building'

"Workers subject to long-term diseases from air pollution."

Env’t Ministry pauses ‘scrap vehicle’ program

Program on hold until 2012, funds completely spent after 18,000 polluting vehicles successfully taken off roads.

Tractor causes 1.5-million-liter jet fuel spill in Negev

Experts say cleanup of area could take weeks; Environmental Protection Ministry official: "This is one of largest soil contaminations in last year."

Drainage plan for polluted Kishon River okayed

700,000 tons of contaminated sludge to be treated; Park planned near Haifa.

PA to get $45m. wastewater treatment facility in Hebron

Local communities suffering from mosquito infestation and polluted water to gain relief from new plant supported by World Bank.

'Factories causing wastewater treatment malfunctions'

Different consistency of factory’s wastewater often leads the regional treatment plant to buckle under the strain of processing.

‘Need for energy efficiency becoming apparent’

‘1 megawatt saved at consumption level is equivalent to 3 megawatts at production level, so it’s 3 times more efficient to work on demand than production.’

Only 1 of 5 cities has a plan for reducing pollution

Only Tel Aviv-Jaffa is ready to approve a plan to reduce pollution from transportation.

Knesset asks for plan to fight garbage burning

MK Dov Henin requests Environmental Protection Ministry to prepare plan within three months to deal with people burning their garbage.

The IDF embarks on a green revolution

Despite coming late to the party, the army is looking to turn its act around environmentally.

International Cooperation for Climate Change at Diplomats Dinner in Bonn

International Clean Up Day in Israel takes off in Kiryat Malachi

International Cleanup Day has been held around the world for the past 25 years and for 17 years in Israel.

When Mother Nature gets cross

The danger to man’s polluted and despoiled oceans is real, according to a new book by a Dutch-born paleoclimatologist

Israeli researcher uses satellite data to identify contaminated soil

The satellite found significantly high levels of lead in various places in Israel.

There is no Planet B

The government and NGOs are trying to win a war against pollutants in our environment, but Israel still has a long way to go.

Exposure to environmental chemicals, even in the womb, can cause diabetes

Regulation of phthalates in plastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the air is more strict in the European Union than in the US, and in many cases, even more so than it is in Israel.

Small polluting air particles cause 2,500 deaths and chronic disease

Pollution also cost the economy up to $1.75 billion, or 0.59% of the Gross National Product.

Government allocates ‘unprecedented’ funding to reduce country’s air pollution

Critical to the NIS 260m. program approved on Thursday night is the reduction of air pollution from 80,000 aging diesel cars on the road, the ministry said.

Pet parrots may have caused four miscarriages in building

More tests are needed to be sure whether bacteria in the bird droppings were responsible for the tragedies.

Haifa has several disease ‘hot spots,’ says researcher

University of Haifa’s Portnov: I’m not trying to hide anything, but the report isn’t finished.

Arabian Sea cyclones intensified by pollution

Study finds wind circulation patterns are changing, reducing vertical wind shear and allowing stronger storm development.

'Micro-pollutants in unused drugs pose health problems'

Drug and hospital wastes are contaminating the nation’s sewage system, experts tell Knesset.

Forum recommends focus on green housing, transportation

Buildings are the biggest producers of greenhouse gases, vehicles are the biggest emitters of air pollution.

New regulations aim to increase environmental transparency

Companies, ministries will be required to post all environmental information on their Web sites and make it available at their offices.

Pollution reduction plan to be contracted out

International consultant to help Israeli team of specialists improve air quality.

Spat erupts over Kishon River

Kishon River Authority and Israel Ports Company clash over trees and irrigation.

Polluting cars up in 2009, according to spot checks

Public Council to Prevent Noise and Air Pollution finds 9% of cars pollute more than acceptable standard.

Our World: Warming to worms

Crawling in and out of the environment.

Earth Day: Israel's top 5 environmental woes

For a green country, there's plenty of room for environmental improvement in Israel.

Academics file class action suit for pollution of Negev’s Bokek stream

The suit documents massive contamination from Rotem Amfert Negev and Dead Sea Priclase Fused Products of the Havurat Yehudah aquifer.

Once and for all: Is it safe to use LED lighting?

Cleaning up the Kidron/El Nar Valley

The strong smell and increased mosquito population afflict permanent residents as well as visiting tourists.

Toxic red sludge reaches the Danube in Hungary

No immediate damage evident, but EU fears international catastrophe as spill releases torrent into creeks flowing into European river.

Death toll rises to 3 in Hungary sludge flood

Gallery: Red sludge floods western Hungary, affecting seven towns southwest of Budapest; seven are missing, 120 injured.

EC takes action against countries that pollute

Belgium, Greece, Romania asked to implement EU air quality standards.

Erdan threatens to block building of new Palestinian city

“Pollution respects no borders, affects surrounding settlements – Jewish and Arab – even has an effect across Green Line,” Erdan says of Rawabi.

Pollution prevents Jordan River baptisms

Officials consider erecting signs at Qasar al-Yahud saying: Polluted Waters. Entry Forbidden.

Sewage pours into northern Betzet stream, kills fish and turtles

Moral integrity citations issued to two Israeli whistle-blowers

The choice to become a whistle-blower is a hard one, but in some cases the hard decision is honored by the Israeli state.

El Al ranked 'dirtiest and noisiest' airline to fly out of Heathrow

The results, published in the Fly Quiet and Clean League Table, saw the the Israeli airline ranked last out of the 50 busiest flying companies.

Jewish Agency, health ministry blasted over failures in watchdog report

Comptroller blasts gov’t for deficiencies in medical, natural gas and Jewish Agency areas in annual report.

Lag Ba'Omer air pollution levels reach 10.9 times normal values

Air pollution levels soar across the country as Israelis celebrate Lag Ba'Omer festival.

‘Ticking time bomb’ ammonia tank to be emptied by April 1

The ammonia tank in question is the 12,000-ton processing and storage facility that sits in the Haifa Bay.

Environment Ministry calls on Israel cities to ban polluting vehicles

Joining 200 European cities, Haifa City Council members voted last Tuesday night to approve a bylaw to delineate "an area of reduced polluting emissions from transportation."

Consumers are left holding the bag

A new law goes into effect shortly, yet there is little evidence that we are ready for it.

Green Movement champions ‘Green New Deal’ program

Program to rely on net, rather than gross, economic growth; recognizes the importance of integrating sustainability into daily life,

Greening the White City

Unlikely as it may seem, the polluted industrial zone of Rehov Hamasger is home to the avant-garde of Tel Aviv’s green revolution

Back again, worse than before

Pollution over Ma’aleh Adumim is forcing some residents to leave.

City Notes: Holon gears up for Women’s Festival

A round up of news from around the nation.

The height of innovation?

Dan Peled hopes his patent-pending ‘train elevator’ will be incorporated into future railway projects.

Cashing in on Egypt's black cloud

Post-Mubarak Egypt faces the challenge of developing cost-effective technologies to use straw efficiently, rather than burning it.

Dust storm from North Africa fogs Israel

Environment ministry recommends those suffering asthma, the elderly and young children to avoid physical activity.

Ministry fines Tnuva NIS 15m. for waste-dumping

During food production in years 2009-2010, Tnuva's Be’er Tuvia plant discharged brine in amounts that violate terms of its permit.

Beit She’an’s sewage may end up in Jordan River

Beit She'an municipality, surrounding Emek Mayanot Regional Council owe treatment plant NIS 3 milion.

Sewage overflow into sea by Nitzanim Beach halted

Henin demands better solutions to recurring problem.

Heavy air pollution causes disruptions at airports

Haifa airport closed due to poor visibility in area; certain planes can't land at Sde Dov in Tel Aviv; Ben Gurion operating as normal.

New natural gas pipeline reaches Hafia bay area

Dedication ceremony attended by PM, MKs, Haifa governor; Netanyahu says Druse are justified in claims to their land.

IDF publishes initial environmental hazard information

List represents very initial results of survey of hazards IDF is undertaking as part of 4 year, NIS 400 million effort to clean up its environment.

Occupation pollutes: Israel uses the West Bank to treat toxic waste

Plastic generation

Change can begin with small actions.

Water-related pollution matters. Just look at the Aral Sea.

The health of local people has been significantly impacted by these dust contaminants.

In Plain Language: From garbage to the Garden of Eden

Work began in 2007 to change garbage into a ‘green lung.’

False alarm

The snowball started to roll with the sensationalist hyping of the partial results of an incomplete study by Channel 2.

Is government and Supreme Court inaction poisoning our children?

Illegal, unregulated production of charcoal, sometimes on gov't land, is causing severe health consequences for our children.