Our energy policies are dangerous

CITIZENS FOR SAFE ENERGY & ENVIR

Photo credit: Nimrod Hofstatter

Israel Earth Guardians

Israel Earth Guardians is the country’s leading citizen organization in the fields of energy, environment, and public health.

Our nationwide campaigns advance policy and legislative change to promote renewable energies, cleaner industry and climate-change preparedness.

Funded by the public alone, our achievements are entirely thanks to acute awareness that safe energy, air, water and living conditions are critical for a safer Israel and planet.

Passover, 2025

Israel Earth Guardians prays for the return of the remaining 58 hostages and extends its deepest sympathies to the families of fallen citizens and troops.

During this challenging and painful period, we remain steadfastly committed to our vision of creating a safer Israel through renewable energies. Our nation’s reliance on fossil fuels critically endangers our security, economy, environment, and public health. Thousands of Israelis die annually from air pollution, Israel is warming at twice the global average rate, and our petrochemical facilities are also strategic targets in a highly volatile region.

Terror and missile attacks, such as the thousands we’ve recently experienced, could jeopardize electricity production and shut down desalination plants, which supply roughly 75% of Israel’s drinking water. Spills could also close our beaches, devastate marine habitats, and severely impact tourism.

Israel, with its hi-tech prowess, features hundreds of companies tackling environmental and climate progress.

THE TECHNOLOGIES EXIST. THE PLANS EXIST. THE NEED EXISTS.

Now, we must advance life-saving policies!

Please support a safer, healthier Israel

(Israeli donations receive tax credit; US donations receive tax exemption.)

Obtain expert reports

Lobby decision makers

File legal petitions

Provide citizens with accurate, real-time data on the air they are breathing

Please support a safer, healthier Israel

(Israeli donations receive tax credit;
US donations receive tax exemption.)

Obtain expert reports

Lobby decision makers

File legal petitions

Provide citizens with accurate,
real-time data on the air
they are breathing

DONATE

JOIN US

CONTACT

News & Updates

Bringing Change
Israel Earth Guardians – Wartime Update

In the News

Time of Israel, January 8, 2024 by Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi

“Right now Israel is fighting to protect their people after the brutal October 7th attack, kidnappings, and the subsequent rockets from Hamas, Hezbollah and others. So for many, the topic of climate change was pushed into the background. However, the issue of fossil fuels is vital to Israel’s national security.”

Interview with Yoni Sappir, CEO Shomrei Habayit

Why Your Support Counts

Reduced Leviathan Rig Emissions

Public action combined with reports by local and international experts cut Leviathan gas rig emissions by 98% compared to the Tamar Rig's 2017 emissions. Chevron was also fined 7.5 million shekels for emission violations, some of which we helped detect.

Citizen-Funded Air Pollution Monitor

We're establishing an unprecedented civilian air pollution monitoring system. Currently piloted near Haifa’s oil refineries, the system monitors ten times more pollutants than existing stations. We plan to target additional pollution hotspots nationwide.

Reduced Tamar Rig Emissions

Seven and a half years – This is the timeframe that the Tamar rig operated without any restrictions and was the most polluting plant in Israel – until we arrived, demanding restrictions at Tamar as well. As a result, Noble Energy (later bought by Chevron) was forced to invest 140 million shekels in pollution-reduction measures.

Canceled Gas-Fueled Power Plants

Plans for four gas-fueled power plants were canceled thanks to our joint campaign with other organizations. We submitted objections to additional gas plants, which are currently under review.

Secured Early Warning Marine Pollution Detection

Two critical spill detection systems will be installed at the Leviathan and Karish-Tanin gas rigs due to our efforts. These systems will provide the critical early spill detection needed to protect our beaches and desalination plants, as demonstrated by the 2021 tar spill disaster that polluted much of Israel's coastline.

Blocked EAPC Oil Agreement

We helped block the Europe Asia Pipeline (EAPC) plan to increase the amount of oil piped to Europe through Eilat and Ashkelon’s port by ten times or more. This campaign included intensive outreach and collaborations with peer organizations, crafting white papers, and appearing in Israel's parliament.

Diverted 500 Million Shekels From Polluters

500 million shekels! This is the amount that our Clean Energy Forum diverted from polluting oil, coal, and gas projects.

Prevented Dangerous Regulatory Body

We helped prevent a regulatory board aiming to critically weaken the ministries protecting our health, safety, and environment. The board was established with only advisory rather than enforcing powers. You may not have heard about this, but this accomplishment directly affects all aspects of our lives.

Galvanized public action

We galvanized widespread public action that helped shut down several leaking oil tanks in Haifa’s refineries and convinced the Ministry of Environment (MoEP) to close Haifa’s bitumen plant, which had repeatedly violated restrictions. Our independent monitoring also led the MoEP to demand that Delek Ltd. reduce emissions.

Reduced Ashdod Pollution

Four of Ashdod's highly polluting gas-fueled power plants reduced their emissions starting in 2022 thanks to our efforts, joined by local organizations and residents. These restrictions were enforced despite objections by the Ministry of Energy and Israel's Electric Corporation.

Refuted the "Gas is Green" Campaign

We petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court against the false TV advertisements by Israel's gas consortium, clarifying to the public and media that gas is both highly polluting and a key driver of climate change.

Drove Legal, Parliamentary, and Outreach Efforts

We initiated and participated in legal proceedings and parliament committees. Tens of thousands attended our hundreds of nationwide outreach meetings, learning about the climate crisis, the oil and gas industry, and clean energy alternatives.

Click here for in-depth coverage of our successes.

Why We Care

Our energy policies are dangerous

Israeli fuel tank hit by Hamas during the 2021.
Credit: AFP

A fossil-fuel-based economy anchors Israel to dangerous and polluting energy.

Breakdowns due to structural failures, terror or earthquakes could endanger national infrastructures and civilians.
Risks include power and desalination plant shutdowns, long-term beach closures, and unprecedented tourism losses.

We’re more vulnerable

Original image source: Encyclopedia Britannica

Israel’s tiny dimensions make it especially vulnerable.

For perspective, at 22,000 square kilometers, Israel is roughly 448 times smaller than the U.S. and 25 times smaller than France.
The U.S. Deepwater Horizon spill 41 miles off Louisiana contaminated 1,300 miles of shoreline. In comparison, Israel’s entire Mediterranean shoreline is only 122 miles long and its Tamar and Leviathan gas rigs are 14 and 6 miles offshore.

We’re a global warming hotspot

Tackling the climate crisis is especially critical for Israel and other Middle Eastern and North African countries.

The average temperatures in Israel and other Middle Eastern and North African countries (the ‘MENA’ region) are warming at twice the global rate.
By 2050, some MENA areas will experience up to 200 days a year of 50-degree (C°) scorchers.
MENA is also the world’s most water-stressed region. Reports, including by Nature and Israel’s Environment Ministry, warn that unless global emissions are widely reduced, a sweltering, water-starved region will trigger geopolitical tensions, mass human migration, crop damages, wildfires, and more.

We’re endangering our water, trade, and marine habitats

Main global maritime routes. Credit: World Ocean Review

Roughly 75% of Israel’s drinking water comes from seawater desalination.

Desalination plants are unable to filter seawater contaminated by oil – which means that gas rigs and other fossil fuel infrastructures pose a critical strategic danger to Israel’s citizens.
Over 99% of Israel’s international commerce is conducted by sea. Severe oil spills (characterized by fire and toxic fumes) are impassible and would, therefore, have critical economic implications.

We’re choosing yesterday’s technologies

Israel’s energy sector remains reliant on fossil fuels, with renewables producing less than 10%.

We continue to invest heavily in fossil fuels, with plans for more gas-fired facilities nationwide.
The government has also approved additional oil and gas exploration, including in the Arava desert. This, despite Israel’s plentiful sun, hi-tech prowess, and urgent calls worldwide to curb emissions.

Which future will we choose?

influencing policy

Our leaders now frequently attend government meetings on energy & the environment

monitoring pollution

We’re launching the first independent air pollution monitor in Israel’s history

greening finance

We established the Fossil Free Israel Forum, which has already divested millions to green funds

changing curricula

We helped influence the Ministry of Education to add obligatory climate change curricula and remove materials benefitting the fossil fuel industry

reducing emissions

The Tamar rig operator was forced to invest $40 million in measures that reduced emissions by 98%

penalizing polluters

Chevron-Noble Energy was fined nearly 7 million NIS for severe emissions to air and sea

100%

Our activities are 100% publicly funded – from our legal, outreach and demonstration expenses to our independent air pollution monitor, expert reports by leading local and international figures and far more.

Our energy policies are dangerous

CITIZENS FOR SAFE ENERGY & ENVIR

Israel Earth Guardians

Please support a safer, healthier Israel

Please support a safer, healthier Israel

News & Updates

Why Your Support Counts

Reduced Leviathan Rig Emissions

Citizen-Funded Air Pollution Monitor

Reduced Tamar Rig Emissions

Canceled Gas-Fueled Power Plants

Secured Early Warning Marine Pollution Detection

Blocked EAPC Oil Agreement

Diverted 500 Million Shekels From Polluters

Prevented Dangerous Regulatory Body

Galvanized public action

Reduced Ashdod Pollution

Refuted the "Gas is Green" Campaign

Drove Legal, Parliamentary, and Outreach Efforts

Why We Care

influencing policy

monitoring pollution

greening finance

changing curricula

reducing emissions

penalizing polluters

100%

Reuters, May 11, 2021

Ha’aretz, September 20, 2021

Times of Israel, May 12, 2021

Globes, November 1, 2021

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