WHO / UNFCCC Climate & Health Profile 2022

National Context

Country Background

Located in the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel covers a land area of 22 072 km2 that varies between plains and valleys, mountain ranges, the Jordan Rift Valley, coastline and desert. Israel is a high-income country with sustained economic growth over recent years. Since 2000, Israel’s population and population density have steadily risen, being one of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with the highest growth rate (1).

Lying in a transition zone between a hot and a cool region, Israel’s climate varies across the country between Mediterranean, arid and semi-arid climates. Summers are hot and winters are mild, with significant changes in rainfall patterns from year to year. Israel is characterized by scarce water resources, which represents a challenge for water resource management. To cope with water scarcity, Israel has developed advanced technologies for desalination and wastewater treatment. Impacts of climate change include increasing temperatures, which could lead to drier conditions and stronger storms, as well as lower rainfall that reduce water flow. Further health risks derived from climate change include air pollution, vector-borne diseases and heat stress (1).

The Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Israel has an unconditional absolute greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for 2030 of 27% relative to 2015 and an unconditional absolute greenhouse has emissions reduction goal for 2050 of 85% relative to 2015 (2). Israel’s National Program for Adaptation to Climate Change includes health among its 30 actions plans; the plan aims at monitoring mortality, morbidity, and treatment of high-risk groups (3a). Updated recommendations were published in the first report of the national administration for climate change adaptation (2021) and aim to assist in realizing the objectives of the government decisions and improving Israel’s deployment for climate change (3b).

Highest Priority Climate Sensitive Health Risks

Current and Future Climate Hazards

Climate Hazard Projections for Israel

Country-specific projections are outlined up to the year 2100 for climate hazards under a ‘business as usual’ (BAU) high emissions scenario compared to projections under a ‘two-degree’ scenario with rapidly decreasing global emissions (see Figures 1–5).

The climate model projections given below present climate hazards under a high emissions scenario, Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5 – in orange) and a low emissions scenario (RCP2.6 – in green).^a The text describes the projected changes averaged across about 20 global climate models (thick line). The figures^b also show each model individually as well as the 90% model range (shaded) as a measure of uncertainty and the annual and smoothed observed record (in blue).^c In the following text the present-day baseline refers to the 30-year average for 1981–2010 and the end-of-century refers to the 30-year average for 2071–2100.

Modelling uncertainties associated with the relatively coarse spatial scale of the models compared with that of geographically small countries are not explicitly represented. There are also issues associated with the availability and representativeness of observed data for some locations.

Figure 1: Mean annual temperature, 1900–2100

Rising temperature

Under a high emissions scenario, the mean annual temperature is projected to rise by about 4.4°C on average by the end-of-century (i.e. 2071–2100 compared with 1981–2010). If emissions decrease rapidly, the temperature rise is limited to about 1.3°C.

Figure 2: Total annual precipitation, 1900–2100

Decrease in total precipitation

Total annual precipitation is projected to decrease by about 25% on average under a high emissions scenario, although the uncertainty range is large (-44% to -11%). If emissions decrease rapidly, there is little projected change on average: a decrease of 4% with an uncertainty range of -14% to +18%.

Figure 3: Percentage of hot days (‘heat stress’), 1900–2100

More high temperature extremes

The percentage of hot days^d is projected to increase substantially from about 15% of all days on average in 1981–2010 (10% in 1961–1990). Under a high emissions scenario, about 60% of days on average are defined as ‘hot’ by the end-of-century. If emissions decrease rapidly, about 30% of days on average are ‘hot’. Similar increases are seen in hot nights^d not shown).

Figure 4: Contribution of very wet days (‘extreme rainfall’ and ‘flood risk’) to total annual rainfall, 1900–2100

Small increase in extreme rainfall

Under a high emissions scenario, the proportion of total annual rainfall from very wet days^e (about 20% for 1981–2010) could increase a little by the end-of-century (to about 25% on average with an uncertainty range of about 5% to 45%), with similar change if emissions decrease rapidly. These projected changes are accompanied by a decrease in total annual rainfall (see Figure 2).

Figure 5: Standardized Precipitation Index (‘drought’), 1900–2100

Drought frequency and intensity

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is a widely used drought index which expresses rainfall deficits/excesses over timescales ranging from 1 to 36 months (here 12 months, i.e. SPI12). It shows how at the same time extremely dry and extremely wet conditions, relative to the average local conditions, change in frequency and/or intensity.
SPI is unitless but can be used to categorize different severities of drought (wet): above +2.0 extremely wet; +2.0 to +1.5 severely wet; +1.5 to +1.0 moderately wet; +1.0 to +0.5 slightly wet; +0.5 to -0.5 near normal conditions; -0.5 to -1.0 slight drought; -1.0 to -1.5 moderate drought; -1.5 to -2.0 severe drought; below -2.0 extreme drought.

Under a high emissions scenario, SPI12 values are projected to decrease substantially from about -0.3 to -1 on average by the end-of-century (2071–2100) indicating an increase in the frequency and/or intensity of dry episodes and drought events and a decrease in the frequency and/or intensity of wet events. If emissions decrease rapidly, there is little change although year-to-year variability remains large.

Health Risks Due to Climate Change

Sources of ambient (outdoor) air pollution in Israel include anthropogenic activity (such as energy production, industry, transportation and infrastructure) and also natural phenomena (such as desert dust). The main ambient air pollution in Israel includes particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), benzene, formaldehyde, and some polycyclic aromatic compounds.
Due to Israel’s geographical location between the deserts of North Africa and the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, desert dust contributes significantly to the concentration of particulate matter (17). All cities in Israel have annual mean PM2.5 a levels above the WHO guideline value of 5 μg/m3 but below the Israeli limit value of 25 μg/m3.

Annual mean PM2.5 in the five most populous Israeli cities in 2019, compared with the WHO guideline value of PM2.5 of 5 μg/m3 (orange line) and the Israeli limit value of 25 μg/m3 (green line). Source: Ministry of Environmental Protection's Chemical Transport Model^b

Ambient air pollution can have direct and sometimes severe consequences for health. Fine particles penetrate deep into the respiratory tract, increasing morbidity and mortality from a range of health impacts, including respiratory infections/diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairments.

b – The concentrations were derived from the annual mean concentrations calculated by a CTM (Chemical Transport Model), and corrected by the measurements at the Air Quality Monitoring Network in Israel. For details, please see: Levy I, Karakis I, Berman T, Amitay M, Barnett-Itzhaki Z. A hybrid model for evaluating exposure of the general population in Israel to air pollutants. Environ Monit Assess. 2020;192:4 (1,4).

Health in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)

Health in the NDCs

Ambitious national climate action can have significant health benefits.
NDCs can be strengthened by considering health protection and health promotion.
National reporting to the UNFCCC and negotiations provide opportunities to link climate and health action.

Health co-benefits of mitigation in NDCs

Health adaptation in NDCs

Implementation for health in NDCs

Total 2018 emissions

64 911.27 Gg CO2 equivalent (27)

NDC target

An unconditional absolute greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for 2030 of 27% relative to 2015 and an unconditional absolute greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for 2050 of 85% relative to 2015 (2)

National Response

Health System Capacity and Adaptation: Monitoring Progress

The following section measures progress in the health sector in responding to climate threats based on country reported data collected in the 2021 WHO Health and Climate Change Country Survey.

Governance and Leadership

National Planning for Health and Climate Change

Question	questioncategory	question	Answer
Has a national health and climate change strategy or plan been developed ?			NO
Are the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation action considered in the strategy/plan?			N/A
Level of implementation of the strategy/plan?			N/A
Portion of estimated costs to implement the strategy/plan covered in the health budget			N/A
Are health adaptation priorities identified in the strategy/plan?			N/A

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A).
Definition: In this context, a national strategy or plan is a broad term that includes national health and climate strategies as well as the health component of national adaptation plans (H-NAPs).

Intersectoral Collaboration to Address Climate Change

Is there an agreement in place between the ministry of health and this sector which defines specific roles and responsibilities in relation to links between health and climate change policy?

Question	questioncategory	Answer
Is there an agreement in place between the ministry of health and this sector which defines specific roles and responsibilities in relation to links between health and climate change policy?	Transportation	Unknown
Is there an agreement in place between the ministry of health and this sector which defines specific roles and responsibilities in relation to links between health and climate change policy?	Electricity generation	YES
Is there an agreement in place between the ministry of health and this sector which defines specific roles and responsibilities in relation to links between health and climate change policy?	Household energy	Unknown
Is there an agreement in place between the ministry of health and this sector which defines specific roles and responsibilities in relation to links between health and climate change policy?	Agriculture	YES
Is there an agreement in place between the ministry of health and this sector which defines specific roles and responsibilities in relation to links between health and climate change policy?	Social services	YES
Is there an agreement in place between the ministry of health and this sector which defines specific roles and responsibilities in relation to links between health and climate change policy?	Water, Sanitation & Waste-water management	YES

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)
Yes = Specific roles and responsibilities between the national health authority and the sector indicated are defined in the agreement.

Evidence and Implementation

Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments for Health

Question	questioncategory	question	Answer
Has an assessment of health vulnerability and impacts of climate change been conducted at a national level?			Under Development
→ Level of influence of the assessment findings on policy prioritization to address the health risks of climate change			N/A
→ Level of influence of the assessment findings on human and financial resource allocation to address the health risks of climate change			N/A

Notes
Table Legend:
Question 1: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)
Questions 2 and 3: None, Minimal, Somewhat, Strong

Climate-sensitive diseases and health outcomes	qid	Health surveillance system is in place (a)	Health surveillance system includes meteorological information (b)
Thermal stress (e.g. heat waves)	22111	YES	YES
Vector-borne diseases	22121	YES	YES
Foodborne diseases	22131	YES	NO
Waterborne diseases	22141	YES	Unknown
Nutrition (e.g. malnutrition associated with extreme-climatic events)	22151	YES
Injuries (e.g. physical injuries or drowning in extreme weather events)	22161	YES	YES
Mental health and well-being	22171	YES	NO
Airborne and respiratory diseases	22181	YES

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)
(a) A positive response indicates that the health surveillance system is in place, it will identify changing health risks or impacts AND it will trigger early action.
(b) Meteorological information refers to either short-term weather information, seasonal climate information OR long-term climate information

Climate hazard	qid	Health early warning system (HEWS) in place?	Health sector response plan in place?	Health sector response plan includes meteorological information?
Heat waves	23111	YES	YES	YES
Storms (e.g. hurricanes, monsoons, typhoons)	23131	YES	YES	YES
Flooding	23141	YES	YES	YES
Drought	23161	YES	Unknown	Unknown
Air quality (e.g. particulate matter, ozone levels)	23171	YES	YES	YES

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Capacity, Infrastructure and Sustainability

Human Resource Capacity

Question	questioncategory	question	Answer
Is there a national curriculum developed to train health personnel on the health impacts of climate change?			Under Development
Does your human resource capacity as measured through the International Health Regulations Monitoring Framework (IHR) adequately consider the human resource requirements to respond to climate-related events?			Unknown

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Health Care Facilities, Infrastructure and Technology

Question	questioncategory	question	Answer
Has there been a national assessment of the climate resilience of health infrastructure and technology?			NO
Have measures been taken to increase the climate resilience of health infrastructure and technology?			In progress
Is there a national initiative/programme in place to promote the use of low-carbon, energy-efficient, sustainable technologies in the health sector?			In progress

Notes:
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Finance

Question	questioncategory	question	Answer
Is your government currently accessing international funds to support climate change and health work?

Notes:
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Funding Challenges

Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds

Question	questioncategory	question	Answer
Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds		Lack of information on the opportunities
Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds		Lack of country eligibility
Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds		Lack of connection by health actors to climate change processes
Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds		Lack of capacity to prepare country proposals
Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds		Lack of success in submitted applications
Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds		None (no challenges/challenges were minimal)
Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds		Not applicable
Greatest challenges faced in accessing international climate funds		Other (please specify)

Opportunities for Action

1. STRENGTHEN IMPLEMENTATION OF ISRAEL'S NATIONAL HEALTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE PLA N/STRATEGY

Implementation of the health and climate change plan/strategy in Israel is reported to be low. Assess barriers to implementation of the plan/strategy (e.g. governance, evidence, monitoring and evaluation, finance). Implementation can be supported by exploring additional opportunities to access funds for health and climate change priorities (e.g. GCF readiness proposal). See “WHO resources for action” for further details .

2. CONDUCT A CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION ASSESSMENT

Israel is currently developing a climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessment. Assess Israel’s vulnerability to climate-related health risks. Information gathered through iterative climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments can be used to inform the development of health adaptation policies and plans as well as national climate change reporting mechanisms (e.g. Nationally Determined Contributions [NDCs], National Communications [NCs], National Adaptation Plans [NAPs]). See “WHO resources for action”.

3. ASSESS THE HEALTH CO-BENEFITS OF NATIONAL CLIMATE MITIGATION POLICIES

Health co-benefits of mitigation are partially included in Israel’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Ensure that climate mitigation policies include the health risks posed from climate change, identify health adaptation priorities and measure and optimize the health co-benefits of climate mitigation action.

4. BUILD CLIMATE-RESILIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Measures can be taken to prevent the potentially devastating impacts of climate change on health care facilities and health service provision while decreasing the climate and environmental footprint of health care facilities. A commitment towards climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable health care facilities can improve system stability, promote a healing environment and mitigate climate change impacts.

Resources

PUBLICATION

Zero regrets: scaling up action on climate change mitigation and adaptation for health in the WHO European Region, second edition. Key messages from the Working Group on Health in Climate Change

Без сожалений. Расширение масштабов деятельности по смягчению последствий изменения климата и адаптации к ним в целях охраны здоровья в Европейском регионе ВОЗ, второе издание. Основные тезисы Рабочей группы по изменению климата и его влиянию на здоровье

EN, RU

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, 2023

PUBLICATION

Israel: Health and Climate Change Country Profile 2022

WHO, 2021

TOOL

Human Climate Horizons (HCH)

Climate Impact Lab, UNDP

TOOL

South-East European Multi-Hazard Early Warning Advisory System

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

EXPERT GROUPS

WHO Regional Office for Europe

World Health Organization (WHO)

NEWS

October 31, 2022

WHO and WMO Launch Global Knowledge Platform for Climate and Health

WHO, WMO

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WHO / UNFCCC Climate & Health Profile 2022

National Context

Country Background

Highest Priority Climate Sensitive Health Risks

Current and Future Climate Hazards

Climate Hazard Projections for Israel

Rising temperature

Decrease in total precipitation

More high temperature extremes

Small increase in extreme rainfall

Drought frequency and intensity

Notes

a – Model projections are from CMIP5 for RCP8.5 (high emissions) and RCP2.6 (low emissions). Model anomalies are added to the historical mean and smoothed.

b – Observed historical record of mean temperature and total precipitation is from CRU-TSv3.26. Observed historical records of extremes are from JRA55 for temperature and from GPCC-FDD for precipitation.

c – Analysis by the Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, 2018.

d – A ‘hot day’ (‘hot night’) is a day when maximum (minimum) temperature exceeds the 90th percentile threshold for that time of the year.

e – The proportion (%) of annual rainfall totals that falls during very wet days, defined as days that are at least as wet as the historically 5% wettest of all days.

Health Risks Due to Climate Change

Heat Stress Population exposure to heat stress is likely to rise in the future, due to increased urbanization (and the associated urban heat island effect) and climate change increasing the likelihood of severe heat waves (periods of prolonged heat).

Health in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)

Health in the NDCs

National Response

Health System Capacity and Adaptation: Monitoring Progress

Governance and Leadership

National Planning for Health and Climate Change

Notes Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A). Definition: In this context, a national strategy or plan is a broad term that includes national health and climate strategies as well as the health component of national adaptation plans (H-NAPs).

Intersectoral Collaboration to Address Climate Change

Notes Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A) Yes = Specific roles and responsibilities between the national health authority and the sector indicated are defined in the agreement.

Evidence and Implementation

Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments for Health

Notes Table Legend: Question 1: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A) Questions 2 and 3: None, Minimal, Somewhat, Strong

Notes Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Capacity, Infrastructure and Sustainability

Human Resource Capacity

Notes Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Health Care Facilities, Infrastructure and Technology

Notes: Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Finance

Notes: Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Funding Challenges

Opportunities for Action

1. STRENGTHEN IMPLEMENTATION OF ISRAEL'S NATIONAL HEALTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE PLA N/STRATEGY

2. CONDUCT A CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION ASSESSMENT

3. ASSESS THE HEALTH CO-BENEFITS OF NATIONAL CLIMATE MITIGATION POLICIES

4. BUILD CLIMATE-RESILIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

WHO Resources for Action

References

About this profile

Resources

Zero regrets: scaling up action on climate change mitigation and adaptation for health in the WHO European Region, second edition. Key messages from the Working Group on Health in Climate Change

Israel: Health and Climate Change Country Profile 2022

Human Climate Horizons (HCH)

South-East European Multi-Hazard Early Warning Advisory System

WHO Regional Office for Europe

WHO and WMO Launch Global Knowledge Platform for Climate and Health

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A).
Definition: In this context, a national strategy or plan is a broad term that includes national health and climate strategies as well as the health component of national adaptation plans (H-NAPs).

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)
Yes = Specific roles and responsibilities between the national health authority and the sector indicated are defined in the agreement.

Notes
Table Legend:
Question 1: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)
Questions 2 and 3: None, Minimal, Somewhat, Strong

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Notes
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Notes:
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)

Notes:
Table Legend: Yes (√) / No (X) / Unknown/Not applicable (N/A)