Report finds Israel lagging behind on government-set environmental goals

Israel’s government is falling short of its targets on environment, power, and water, risking public health and quality of life, the Taub Center warned Sunday.

The report said 83% of environmental spending goes to waste management, while air-pollution control and wastewater treatment remain underfunded, despite Israel’s high air-pollution death rates.

Israel is also missing its renewable-energy goals. Clean power stands at 15.3%, well below the 20% target for 2025, keeping the country reliant on polluting fuels.

During last June’s Operation Rising Lion against Iran, gas production nearly stopped and coal and diesel surged to 60% of electricity generation, exposing the fragility of Israel’s power system.

The report also warned of a growing water infrastructure crisis, driven by rising demand, heavy reliance on desalination, and overloaded sewage networks, posing a direct public-health risk.