The President of Israel, Shimon Peres arrived in Copenhagen and delivered a speech on Thursday at the high-level portion of the UN sponsored climate conference. He declared that Israel is setting forth a goal to lower their green-house gas emissions by 20% by the year 2020. That is not to reduce the country’s levels 20% from what they are now, but a pledge to reduce the growth of further emissions by 20%.
Mckinsey & Co. was commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency to do an analysis of Israel’s gas emissions.
According to the analysis, it would be impossible for the country to stop increasing its emissions altogether. What is possible, instead, is slowing the growth of future emissions. McKinsey has conducted such analyses for more than 20 countries around the world. Israel President Shimon Peres’ speech was in contingency with their respective analysis.
Peres said this during his speech:
“Peace demands of us to demarcate borders. Climate calls for action regardless of borders. The Mediterranean requires a multilateral taskforce comprised of scientists and experts to build environmental cooperation, independent of political disputes…I call upon our neighbors, even those with whom we have not yet reached diplomatic relations, to join hands in an effort to save our region. Political disagreements should not hinder environmental cooperation. Carbon molecules carry no passport. Rivers require no visa. Pollution travels with them…All of us – Jews, Muslims and Christians pray that the Jordan River will flow, fresh and holy. My call is the call of the bible upon Adam, to ‘cultivate and preserve the Garden of Eden…”
He continued:
“Israel outstretches her hand to her neighbors. To nations inside and outside the Mediterranean to partake in our global laboratories and employ Israel as a pilot plant of environmental trials. The government will make proper arrangements to facilitate international participation.”
The Israeli President also highlighted some of Israel’s achievements – reusing 75% of waste water, installing an electric car infrastructure, irrigation and agricultural advances, and Israeli solar thermal companies’ achievements in California.
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