On Thursday, Dec. 20, Tzipi Livni’s new party, The Movement, stated that environmental reforms will be key components of their platform in the January 2013 Israeli elections. They propose passing a Basic Law for environmental protection, and a long-term blueprint for the Israeli energy market.
Livni presented The Movement’s environmental agenda together with Green Movement chairman Alon Tal.
Tal told the Jerusalem Post, “As a professor of environmental policy, I can honestly say this is the most detailed, comprehensive, creative and ambitious environmental platform ever introduced by a major political party in an Israeli election.”
The national elections in Israel are scheduled for January 22, 2013.
The Green Movement was founded in 2008. It has always campaigned for public transportation reform, among other public issues. Following that strategy, The Movement now advocates for a complete overhaul of Israel’s Transportation Ministry budget, for increased public transportation, and aims to declare around 250,000 hectares (some 620,000 acres) of new, open protected areas. The agenda also included extensive government support for entrepreneurship in clean technologies.
Tzipi Livni
“We are bringing today a strategic link between two movements that want to make a change in Israel,” Livni said.
Tal said that they would aim to bring renewable energy usage up to 10 percent by 2017 and 20 percent by 2020. Israel’s current official goal is 10 percent by 2020.
For a little more explanation about how Israel’s multi-party election system works, the GlobalPost published a concise guide.
Livni’s party is only a few weeks old. And only time will tell what new developments and platforms will be presented in the lead up to Israel’s national elections. But just having these kinds of tangible plans on the table does present a challenge to other major parties, especially center-left parties like the Labor party, that are also founded on social issues. The environment will certainly play a central role in the upcoming elections.
::Jpost
Image of Israeli elections via ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com
Image of Tzipi Livni via Dmitry Pistrov / Shutterstock.com
Read more about Israeli politics:
Environmental Platforms for Israel’s Elections
What’s Next for Israel’s Green Movement – Meimad?
Green Prophet Interviews Green Movement Spokesman Rami Livni
Author: Leigh Cuen
Leigh Cuen is a freelance journalist currently reporting from Israel. She has written for the Earth Island Journal, the San Francisco Public Press, the Palestinian News Network, J. weekly newspaper and the Women News Network. Follow her @La__Cuen.
The biosphere cannot survive growing billions of people and their growing mega-tons of pollution. 100% safe recycling and peaceful family planning education are absolutely necessary for human survival.