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Israel Sectors

What is Israelʼs pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?

Israel has few raw natural resources, and its industry sector focuses on manufacturing products with a high added value. Important industries to the Israeli economy include pharmaceuticals, agrotechnology, telecommunications, fine chemicals and computers.12

CO₂ emissions from energy use in the industry sector rose by 18% between 1990 and 2019, from 5.5 to 6.5 MtCO₂e. These emissions would need to drop to between 2 and 3 MtCO₂e by 2030 and reach zero between 2045 and 2047 to be in line with 1.5°C compatible pathways. The sector can be decarbonised by increasing the share of electricity primarily in its energy mix to 47–49% by 2030 (up from 37% in 2019) and continuing to increase it so that the share of electricity reaches 71–86% by 2050.

Process related emissions rose by 176% between 1990 and 2019, from 3.5 MtCO₂e in 1990 to 9.5 MtCO₂e in 2019. Israel’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (2022-2026) sets a 30% emissions reduction target for the industry sector compared to 2015 levels.1 While the target is a step in the right direction, a 1.5°C compatible pathway would require direct CO₂ emissions to reduce by 58–60% by 2030 compared to 2015 levels.

The plan also includes a target to increase energy efficiency by 5% in 2030 and by 16% in 2050 relative to 2020. Measures to achieve the target include standards allowing the use of recycled raw materials in products and funding to support industries in the use of more efficient materials.

1 Government Of Israel. National Action Plan on Climate Change. 2021.

2 Gütschow, J. et al. The PRIMAP-hist national historical emissions time series. Earth System Science Data vol. 8 2016.

3 Arlosoroff, M. Israel’s Population Is Growing at a Dizzying Rate. Is It Up for the Challenge? HAARETZ. 2021.

4 Israel. UPDATE OF ISRAEL’S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION UNDER THE PARIS AGREEMENT. UNFCCC. 2021. Preprint at unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-06/NDC%20update%20as%20submitted%20to%20the%20UNFCCC.docx

5 Ivanova, A. Israel devises plan for 40% renewables in 2030. Renewables Now. 2022.

6 Surkes, S. The sun is shining, so why isn’t Israel making hay of its solar energy? The Times of Israel. 2021.

7 Ministry of Environmental Protection. The Finance Committee discussed the framework of a pricing mechanism on carbon, following a government decision on the issue. 2021.

8 Ministry of Environmental Protection. Ministry unveils new waste strategy that is both environmental and economic. 2021.

9 Ministry of Energy. The Israeli government set to approve an unprecedented decision mandating that by the year 2050 Israel will move to a low carbon emissions economy, while dealing with the climate crisis that threatens all of humanity. 2021.

10 Accelerating Climate Action in Israel. OECD, 2020. doi:10.1787/fb32aabd-en.

11 Brode, B. Green construction is the new standard in Israel. The Times of Israel. 2022.

12 Ministry of Environmental Protection. ISRAEL’S THIRD NATIONAL COMMUNICATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. UNFCCC. 2018. Preprint at unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/UNFCCC%20National%20Communication%202018.pdf (2018).

13 Schmidt, B. Israel unveils plans to go 100 per cent electric by 2030. The Driven. 2018.

Israelʼs energy mix in the industry sector

petajoule per year

Scaling
SSP1 Low CDR reliance
2019203020402050200300
SSP1 High CDR reliance
2019203020402050200300
Low energy demand
2019203020402050200300
  • Natural gas
  • Coal
  • Oil and e-fuels
  • Biofuel
  • Biogas
  • Biomass
  • Hydrogen
  • Electricity
  • Heat

Israelʼs industry sector direct CO₂ emissions (of energy demand)

MtCO₂/yr

Unit
123456719902010203020502070
  • Historical emissions
  • SSP1 High CDR reliance
  • SSP1 Low CDR reliance
  • Low energy demand

Israelʼs GHG emissions from industrial processes

MtCO₂e/yr

024681019902010203020502070
  • SSP1 Low CDR reliance
  • SSP1 High CDR reliance
  • Low energy demand
  • Historical emissions

1.5°C compatible industry sector benchmarks

Direct CO₂ emissions, direct electrification rates, and combined shares of electricity, hydrogen and biomass from illustrative 1.5°C pathways for Israel

Indicator
2019
2030
2040
2050
Decarbonised industry sector by
Direct CO₂ emissions
MtCO₂/yr
6
2 to 3
1
1
2045 to 2047
Relative to reference year in %
−61 to −59%
−84 to −83%
−91 to −90%
Indicator
2019
2030
2040
2050
Share of electricity
Percent
37
47 to 49
60 to 74
71 to 86
Share of electricity, hydrogren and biomass
Percent
37
53 to 54
61 to 81
73 to 95

Footnotes