Clima-Med’s National Coordination Group (NCG) in Israel held its first meeting to discuss the implementation of the project and the launch of capacity building events with municipalities.
The event took place at the premises of the Delegation of the European Union to Israel on November 5th, where Clima-Med’s local experts Ms. Yonat Schwartz and Mr. Ofer Keren met with Dr. Eyal Inbar, from the Trade and Economic Section of the EUD, and NCG members: Ms. Tahel Ishpa –Ministry of Environmental Protection, Dr. Tal Goldrat – Union of Local Authorities in Israel (ULA), Mr. Yotam Sade – Ministry of Interior, and Mr. Uriel Babcyzk – Ministry of Energy, Energy Efficiency.
Mr. Hezi Lifshitz, Clima-Med’s focal point in Israel at the Ministry of Energy welcomed the participants and highlighted that ‘’local municipalities are an important factor to address the treats and challenges climate change is posing in the Region’’. He also stressed on the benefits for municipalities from the implementation of the EU-funded Clima-Med project and the series of trainings planned in Israel.
Dr. Eyal Inbar has reiterated the European Commission commitment to continue the successful cooperation on environment and climate with the South Mediterranean countries, as Clima-Med project is part of this vision for the development of sustainable low-carbon economies in the Region. He also underlined the importance of the collaboration with and between municipalities to meet the challenge of the fight against climate change.
Dr. Tal Goldrath as the head of the MASHAV programme, a joint venture with the ministry of energy, expressed the readiness of the initiative to facilitate the dialogue on climate actions between municipalities and the ministry and assist in energy efficiency challenges.
As for Mr. Tahel Yishfa, he pointed at the importance of climate adaptation and mitigation for better and smart management of resources at the municipal level and urban areas. Mr. Yotam Sade also added from his side on the significance of climate actions in cities who “are responsible to take care of the citizens’ long-term wellbeing”.
Participants then discussed the envisaged plan for the organization of Clima-Med trainings. Twenty municipalities from Israel will take part in the capacity-building events, which are planned to roll-out until end of June 2019. The trainings will focus on assisting municipal representatives in preparing work plans for their municipality, approaches for reducing emissions from transportation and fuel combustion at municipal level, waste & water resource management, smart transport and traffic. Furthermore, the participants in the trainings will get acquainted with the steps for preparation of Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plan (SEACAP) and plan how to carry on with their implementation at local level.