Shomrei Habayit is a volunteer organization seeking clean energy production and enforcement. We are driven by the understanding that safe energy is critical to a safer Israel and planet.
IHG formed in 2017 as a grassroots struggle against the Leviathan gas rig planned for only six miles off Israel’s northern coast. We were galvanized by a 2016 report that the offshore Tamar rig, located 14 miles from the southern city of Ashdod, had emitted more than 30 times the pollutants predicted. In fact, the rig had released more carcinogens than all of Israel’s power plants and factories combined.
Unfortunately, the nearshore Leviathan rig began operations in 2020. However, we refused to relinquish Israel’s citizens’ rights to a safe environment for today and future generations. Instead, we expanded our vision nationwide — to transition Israel to renewable energies, remove petrochemical facilities from population centers, and optimize pollution enforcement.
Today, Shomrei Habayit enjoys broad support and is funded by the public alone. We became a non-profit association in August 2018.
Photo by Frank McKenna on Unsplash
After fours years of facing the strongest forces of Israel’s economy and politics, our achievements have made us a household name and one of Israel’s most prominent citizen organizations in the fields of energy, the environment, and public health.
Our successes include:
Our leaders now frequently attend government meetings on energy & the environment
We’re launching the first independent air pollution monitor in Israel’s history
We established the Fossil Free Israel Forum, which has already divested millions to green funds
We helped influence the Ministry of Education to add obligatory climate change curricula and remove materials benefitting the fossil fuel industry
The Tamar rig operator was forced to invest $40 million in measures that reduced emissions by 98%
Chevron-Noble Energy was fined nearly 7 million NIS for severe emissions to air and sea
Our leaders now frequently attend government meetings on energy & the environment
We’re launching the first independent air pollution monitor in Israel’s history
We established the Fossil Free Israel Forum, which has already divested millions to green funds
We helped influence the Ministry of Education to add obligatory climate change curricula and remove materials benefitting the fossil fuel industry
The Tamar rig operator was forced to invest $40 million in measures that reduced emissions by 98%
Chevron-Noble Energy was fined nearly 7 million NIS for severe emissions to air and sea
Click here for in-depth coverage of our successes.
Expanding to a global perspective – Climate change represents an existential threat to our planet.
A flagship 2022 report warns that global greenhouse emissions must be reduced by 43% within eight
years to limit Earth’s warming to 1.5°C (2.7° F). Beyond this target, our planet’s climate is expected to spiral out of control.
Israel must transition its economy to renewable energies, a strategy already pursued worldwide. Benefits – including environmental, health, security, and financial – will dramatically surpass fossil fuel profits.
Israel finally passed its first climate bill in May 2022 and pledged to slash 27% of its emissions by 2030. However, critics call for a 45% reduction, and our State Comptroller claims we have no chance of meeting even the existing commitment.
Leaning on fossil fuels blinds the eyes of Israel’s decision-makers, preventing critical investments in environmental innovation. This approach is fundamentally misguided. Our startup nation features hundreds of companies tackling climate change – including energy production and storage. Technological breakthroughs would place Israeli companies at the forefront of the international struggle to stabilize Earth’s climate.
Which future will we choose?
Take Actin
Take Actin
© All Rights Reserved to homelandguards.org
© All Rights Reserved to homelandguards.org