Israel, located in the Mediterranean Basin – one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions – is already facing significant environmental changes, including longer and hotter summers, more frequent and severe heatwaves, altered rainfall patterns and a consistent decline in precipitation.
Rising temperatures have been linked to higher rates of stroke, dehydration (especially among vulnerable populations), kidney dysfunction and increased cardiovascular strain. Warmer climates also facilitate the spread of vector-borne diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks. In addition, the growing incidence of wildfires and sandstorms has worsened both chronic and acute respiratory illnesses.
In response to these growing threats, Israel’s Ministry of Health has launched a national strategic plan to prepare the health system for the impacts of climate change, aiming to strengthen resilience and safeguard public well-being. The plan has two main objectives: to strengthen overall system readiness for the health impacts of climate change, and to improve response to extreme weather events. It is based on two key strategies: mitigation – actions aimed at reducing the climate footprint, and adaptation - adapting to changes in order to reduce their consequences. Israel, as a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement, is committed to advancing both mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The national preparedness plan is structured around seven strategic pillars, which serve as general recommendations for action:
- Health system preparedness: appointing climate officers, training health workers and developing evaluation frameworks.
- Green health information system: updating criteria and quality indicators for environmentally sustainable healthcare, including waste management, infrastructure improvements, energy efficiency and green procurement. Incentives will be introduced to support these practices.
- Emergency preparedness: establishing protocols and readiness plans for climate-related crises.
- Data and monitoring: tracking health impacts of extreme weather and encouraging research. This includes monitoring environmental pollution factors, climate-related trends in acute and chronic diseases, and infectious diseases transmitted by vectors.
- Nutrition and food security: encouraging plant-based diets, supporting sustainable food systems, and ensuring access to essential minerals in food and drinking water that may become scarce due to climate change.
- Urban planning and environmental health: including climate and health considerations in planning and construction processes such as adapting infrastructure and cooling urban spaces. For example, a national street tree program, approved in 2022, aims to plant 450,000 trees to reduce urban heat islands and promote sustainable, climate-resilient cities.
- Public communication and awareness: raising awareness through education and collaboration with public institutions.
Some of the recommended actions are already supported by operational plans, and a few are even in early stages of implementation. However, the ongoing war has limited institutional capacity and slowed implementation progress. A major challenge is the lack of resources – both in terms of budget and capacity within the civil service.