In a victory for the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the cabinet today approved a joint proposal with the Ministry of Finance to set up an inter-ministerial committee to formulate a national plan on greenhouse gases emissions. Ministry of Finance director general Haim Shani will chair the committee.
Minister of Environmental Protection Gilad Erdan has been urging the establishment of the committee for several months.
The greenhouse gases committee will deal with energy efficiency, green construction, economic aspects, and the ramifications for Israeli industry and exports, among other issues. The committee is due to submit its recommendations for an operational plan to the ministerial environmental and climate change committee in October 2010.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Finance said that the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases holds great advantages for the Israeli economy and growth, including by the promotion of local cleantech industries and the achievement of energy independence. Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases is also a condition for Israel's joining the OECD.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 14, 2010
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