Think Tank team - Shared environment

Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) and the Konrad-­‐Adenauer-­‐ Stiftung Israel

Strategic Thinking and Analysis Program

Report on meeting held on 27th August, on "Effective Environmental Policy in Israel and Palestine" at the St. George Landmark Hotel, Jerusalem

The meeting, which was by invitation only, was attended by 36 participants from Israel and Palestine – all active in different roles in dealing with environmental concerns -­‐ as well as by representatives of international agencies. Between them they represented a very wide range of environmental organizations as well as local authorities and academia. The atmosphere was cordial and the discussions, which lasted approximately six hours, were positive.

It was recognized by everyone who took part that the making of environmental policy in both Israel and in Palestine is not an easy matter. The variety of interests involved and the complexity of the administrative structures concerned, perhaps particularly in Palestine, resulted in compromises and, on occasion, in short sighted decisions. It was also agreed that in spite of these difficulties within both societies, there was a need for effective cooperation between them if environmental policy in the region was to be realistic and, in the long run, succeed in ensuring the quality of life of the people of the region. What happens in one society directly impacts on the other and vice versa.

It was pointed out early in the meeting that at present cooperation between Israel and Palestine over environmental concerns is at a low ebb. There is little contact at governmental level and far fewer cross-­‐border research or community projects between Israeli and Palestinian academics, professional institutions and NGOs than was the case a decade ago. While donors are willing to facilitate cross-­‐border projects they are not always agreed about their long term strategies and this can result in unsatisfactory outcomes.

Palestinian participants stressed the difficulties of working in an atmosphere created by the continuing occupation which prevented the development of effective environmental policies and their enforcement.

The plenary session was followed by group discussions on key topics – water issues, waste management, and climate change. In all cases discussion focused on the need to relieve pressure on the environment both though positive governmental decisions and through creating public awareness of the issues involved and getting the public actively involved in finding solutions to them.

Water Management

The group discussion on water issues focused on the need to involve the community -­‐ cases were quoted of practical work undertaken by local authorities and NGOs which encouraged public participation in water management. The use of pricing mechanisms which were

understood by householders, the potential of grey water use, and the education of young people so that they understand the realities of water supply and distribution, were among the ideas discussed.

The recommendations made by this group included:

• A new effort should be made to draft a broad based strategic plan for the use of water in both Israel and Palestine which would have the agreement of both parties.

NGOs should contribute to the formulation of the plan.

• Training of personnel for the water sector in both Israel and Palestine should, in selected cases, be carried out jointly in overseas locations with the support of an international donor.

• Environmental education should be coordinated between Israel and Palestine so that the presentation of key issues such as water use was uniform in both societies.

• The Israeli Ministry of Health should be asked to reconsider its objections to grey water re-­‐use which have so far limited its acceptance in Israel.

Waste Management

Like the discussions on water, those on waste management put much emphasis on community involvement. While Government was responsible for major decisions such as the location of new dumps (much work is being done on this in the West Bank), communities in both Israel and Palestine have to take responsibility for the cleanliness of their streets and the disposal of waste. Local authorities and NGOs need to cooperate to get results through creating public awareness. In both societies re-­‐cycling needs to be taken more seriously.

Among the recommendations made by this group were:

1. Creation of a concerted plan for creating public awareness involving local authorities and NGOs from both Israel and Palestine.

2. Development of re-­‐cycling which includes making the public aware of the need for it. Re-­‐cycling will become more economically attractive if the waste from both communities is treated as one.

3. Provision for joint consultation between local authorities and NGOs from both Israel and Palestine designed to build up trust between them and familiarity with their respective problems.

Climate change –

a. Mitigation

During the course of the discussion a distinction was made between adaptation and mitigation, the former referring to long term and the latter to short term responses to climate change. Mitigation would require an active response by civil society to the problems

caused by the climate change. It would entail changes in public behavior. The wide ranging discussion dealt with ways of making better use of energy, thus reducing the volume of CO2 emissions, and the need for more information so that the public became part of the struggle to reduce the impact of climate change. In regard to the latter some pessimism was expressed about the ability of ordinary citizens to play a positive role, particularly in Palestine where there is little action related to climate change.

b. Adaptation

An effort should be made to prepare plans for adaptation to climate change. There was a need for a joint cross-­‐border response to extreme events. At a local level authorities in cities and towns should be prepared to deal with the results of warming, by preparing plans for the containment of violent storms, drought, and floods. The encouragement of green building standards and extensive planting of trees by local authorities is a necessity both in Israel and Palestine. In the rural areas efforts should be made to prepare farmers for dealing with the results of decreased precipitation by growing alternative crops and making the best use of modern irrigation technology.

Recommendations made during the discussion on climate change included:

• The Palestinian Authority should devote more effort to the development of alternative energy and be given encouragement to do by the Israeli authorities.

• International standards for labeling electric devices should be introduced in both Israel and Palestine and an effort made to explain their significance to consumers.

• Further efforts should be made to encourage "green" building standards in new construction in both Israel and Palestine.

• A joint effort should be made to raise public awareness about issues related to climate change and what could be done to deal with them at both a national and a local level.

Follow-­‐up based on the recommendations set out above.

In order that the recommendations set out above shall not be lost sight of IPCRI intends over the coming months to convene additional seminars designed to concentrate attention of particular areas of concern and promote cooperation. IPCRI, together with other participants in the seminars, will see that the results are widely publicized as to help shape public policy in both Israel and Palestine.