Environment Ministry sees floods, drought, and destruction

A report by the ministry's chief scientist on the impact of climate change on Israel contains some dire warnings.

A rise of 2-5 degrees in average temperatures by the end of the century, a 27% drop in precipitation, a rise in extreme storms, more summer heat waves, and a 10 centimeter rise in the level of the Mediterranean Sea are some of the dire warnings by Ministry of Environmental Protection chief scientist Dr. Yeshayahu Bar-Or in a new report on climate change.

Bar-Or predicts more extreme weather. Summer temperatures will rise, while winter temperatures will drop, which will boost energy demand by 3.2%, a rise that will be especially hard on the poor.

Floods will cause severe damage to property and lives. Extended droughts will reduce available water by 25% in 2070-2099, compared with 1960. A 50-centimeter rise in sea level will reduce the volume of the coastal aquifer by 16.3 million cubic meters, while a drop in the water level of the Kinneret will increase its salinity, cause toxic algae blooms, and reduce the water quality.

Bar-Or added, "A 10-centimeter rise in sea level will result in marine encroachment of 2-10 meters, which will have a serious effect on real estate. Erosion of the coastal kurkar ridges will wreck infrastructures.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection warns that agriculture will be harmed by the reduction in available water for irrigation, increased erosion, and changes in the weather, which will increase the types of pests and affect crop yields. Increased aridity and a longer dry season will also increase the risk of forest fires.

Bar-Or listed recommendations to minimize the damage: include climate change in water planning, protect coastal kurkar cliffs, keep out invasive marine species, and protect the coral reefs in the Gulf of Eilat.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 4, 2008

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008

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