As part of the International Environment Day events at the Knesset, committees held special debates on environmental topics; a special plenary session was held; Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabbay and MK Dov Khenin attended a gathering of environmental groups at the parliament building, and the Green Globe award ceremony took place with the participation of Minister Gabbay and Knesset Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein.
Deputy Knesset Speaker Tali Ploskov said: "
As part of the international community, we too are
acting today to arouse awareness of the importance of environmental
issues, and to encourage solutions that enable improved quality of life
without harming natural resources."Discussions, caucuses, and meetings throughout the day focused on environment-related issues. The
Ministry of Environmental Protection staff took part in meetings on a variety of issues, including environmental education, environmental nuisances, climate change, and more.
For the second straight year, the Green Globe Awards were conferred at the Knesset. The "environmental Oscars" are awarded to individuals or organizations who contributed to the environmental good of the country. The awards are organized by Life and Environment, the umbrella group for Israel's environmental organizations.
The Israeli Knesset has become a leader in the field of sustainability, becoming the
greenest parliament in the world, leading the "green revolution". The solar panels placed on its roof will save a significant portion of the electricity consumption of the building alongside the use of energy-saving lighting. The Knesset has also signed a number of cooperation agreements with other parliaments, and more are planned.
Minister of Environmental Protection Avi Gabai said: "I would like to congratulate the Knesset on the seriousness and thoroughness in which it has chosen to mark International Environment Day. The Knesset corridors are today filled with environment activists from across the country.
The main issue in which the ministry is engaged today is
pollution in the Haifa Bay area, which suffers both from pollution from ships in Haifa port, and from the Haifa Bay industrial area. It is important for us to maintain a strong metropolis of Haifa and we are preparing a plan to minimize air pollution in Haifa. There is of course also the issue of natural gas which is a huge resource for the economy. The switch to natural gas will also have a dramatic impact on public health."