# Ministry of Environmental Protection (Israel)

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (Hebrew: המשרד להגנת הסביבה, HaMisrad LeHaganat HaSviva; Arabic: وزارة حماية البيئة) is a government ministry in Israel. It was formerly known as the Ministry of the Environment (Hebrew: המשרד לאיכות הסביבה, HaMisrad LeEikhut HaSviva).
The ministry operates on three levels: national, regional and local: At the national level it is responsible for the formulation of a nationwide integrated, and inclusive policy for the protection of the environment. At the regional level, through its six districts, the ministry, among others, oversees the implementation of the national environmental policy, engages in local planning processes, assists municipalities with their environmental responsibilities and supervise them when formulating requirements for the acquisition of business licenses. At the local level the ministry lends support to environmental units and towns associations that have been established in municipalities throughout the country.
Climate Change is a major area in which the ministry operates. The prime objective of the ministry in this area is to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from all sources in the Israeli economy. In the run-up to the UNFCCC convention in Paris in 2015 the ministry has led an inter-ministerial committee that examined a range of GHG emissions reduction targets for 2030 and formulated the strategy for meeting these targets. The ministry is also responsible for preparing and submitting Israel's different Climate Change reports to the UNFCCC. The ministry focuses its activities on policies and measures to promote renewable energy, switch from coal to natural gas in the power sector and to ramp up the implementation of energy efficiency measures across the economy.
A basic volunteer for the ministry is called a "Ne'eman Nikayon", translated literally as a "clean trustee" but more accurately described as a volunteer cleanliness protection officer. They are certified under the "Cleanliness protection law of 1984". A volunteer must pass a one-day course where they learn the basic laws involved in their ability to report violations of Israeli littering laws. Once certified, a volunteer can write out tickets against violators and submit them directly to the ministry for processing. In almost all cases a simple fine is issued (ranging from 250–8000 Israeli new sheqels), but under some circumstances the case may be sent automatically to a judge (especially in the case of a repeat offender) to determine special punishment.
The environmental protection ministry has paid inspectors (Pakachim) who serve in a similar capacity as a basic volunteer, as well as holding additional powers according to Israeli law.

## List of ministers

The Environmental Protection Minister of Israel (Hebrew: שר להגנת הסביבה, Sar LeHaganat HaSviva) is the political head of the ministry. The post was created on 22 December 1988, and until May 2006 was known as the Minister of the Environment (Hebrew: שר לאיכות הסביבה, Sar LeEikhut HaSviva). There have been Deputy Ministers on multiple occasions.
| # | Minister | Party | Government | Term start | Term end | Notes |
| Minister of the Environment |||||||
| 1 | Roni Milo | Likud | 23 | 22 December 1988 | 7 March 1990 | |
| 2 | Rafael Edri | Alignment | 23 | 7 March 1990 | 15 March 1990 | |
| 3 | Yitzhak Shamir | Likud | 24 | 11 June 1990 | 13 July 1992 | Serving Prime Minister |
| 4 | Ora Namir | Labor Party | 25 | 13 July 1992 | 31 December 1992 | |
| 5 | Yossi Sarid | Meretz | 25, 26 | 31 December 1992 | 18 June 1996 | |
| 6 | Rafael Eitan | Tzomet | 27 | 28 June 1996 | 6 July 1999 | |
| 7 | Dalia Itzik | One Israel | 28 | 6 July 1999 | 7 March 2001 | |
| 8 | Tzachi Hanegbi | Likud | 29 | 7 March 2001 | 28 February 2003 | |
| 9 | Yehudit Naot | Shinui | 30 | 28 February 2003 | 17 October 2004 | |
| 10 | Ilan Shalgi | Shinui | 30 | 29 November 2004 | 4 December 2004 | Acting Minister |
| 11 | Shalom Simhon | Labor Party | 30 | 10 January 2005 | 23 November 2005 | |
| 12 | Gideon Ezra | Kadima | 30 | 18 January 2006 | 4 May 2006 | |
| Minister of Environmental Protection |||||||
| – | Gideon Ezra | Kadima | 31 | 4 May 2006 | 31 March 2009 | |
| 13 | Gilad Erdan | Likud | 32 | 31 March 2009 | 18 March 2013 | |
| 14 | Amir Peretz | Hatnuah | 33 | 18 March 2013 | 9 November 2014 | |
| 15 | Avi Gabbay | Not an MK | 34 | 14 May 2015 | 31 May 2016 | Member of Kulanu |
| 16 | Moshe Kahlon | Kulanu | 34 | 31 May 2016 | 1 August 2016 | |
| 17 | Ze'ev Elkin | Likud | 34 | 1 August 2016 | 17 May 2020 | |
| 18 | Gila Gamliel | Likud | 35 | 17 May 2020 | 13 June 2021 | |
| 19 | Tamar Zandberg | Meretz | 36 | 13 June 2021 | 29 December 2022 | |
| 20 | Idit Silman | Likud | 37 | 29 December 2022 | | |

### Deputy ministers

| # | Minister | Party | Government | Term start | Term end |
| 1 | Yigal Bibi | National Religious Party | 24 | 20 November 1990 | 13 July 1992 |
| 2 | Ofir Akunis | Likud | 33 | 9 December 2014 | 14 May 2015 |
| 3 | Yaron Mazuz | Likud | 34 | 2 August 2016 | 30 April 2019 |