As part of a joint-venture between the Samuel Neaman Institute and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, a team of researchers from the Samuel Neaman Institute, the Faculty of Law at Bar Ilan University and the London School of Economics was formed in 2020.
As part of a joint-venture between the Samuel Neaman Institute and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, a team of researchers from the Samuel Neaman Institute, the Faculty of Law at Bar Ilan University and the London School of Economics was formed in 2020.
The team advised the Ministry of Environmental Protection in formulating a draft of the Israeli Climate Law – the team’s work included a review of key components in global climate legislation and recommendations for implementation within the framework of Israeli legislation. Parts of the teamwork are published in the attached reports.
The global climate legislation review identified six fundamental elements in designing climate law:
- Long-term target – Clear vision produces certainty and allows players to adjust their activities accordingly. The target should be science-based and address economic and social conditions. Targets for 2050 have been set in the countries surveyed.
- Interim goals – Short-term goals are more flexible and can be adjusted according to changes in circumstances and the needs of the economy and society. A five-year term was chosen because it corresponds well with political, commercial, and international time frames.
- Adaptation – All four laws include provisions for the adoption of national strategic plans for adaptation to climate change. The provisions regarding the preparation of these programs are characterized by an iterative approach that allows for gradual learning and adjustment, as well as updated risk assessment and cooperation with communities and local government authorities.
- Ensuring compliance with targets – Implementing the policy requires the development of appropriate tools and mechanisms, such as parliamentary and professional oversight, public participation, economic instruments, and incentives. The law must assign clear duties and responsibilities for policies setting and implementation.
- An independent advisory committee – Non-political and professional council that assists the government in setting goals and plans, as well as overseeing their achievement and implementation in a transparent manner that allows for both parliamentary and public scrutiny.
- Transparency, reporting and control – The various laws impose reporting obligations on those involved in the formulation and implementation of climate policy, including a duty to publish reports to the public. The laws establish various control mechanisms aimed at ensuring compliance with reporting obligations and legislative objectives.
Research findings were published in Journal of Ecology & Environment
