Israel Scraps Key Environmental Impact Index Amid Staff Shortages
Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection will no longer publish its environmental impact index, often called the "Red List," due to staffing shortages and resource constraints, according to a report by "Transparency." The ministry stated that raw data underlying the index will be released instead, though not until an unspecified date next year. Since 2013, the ministry had published the list of factories with the most negative environmental impact every two years, a practice not mandated by law but considered significant.
The index, an international standard, assessed the environmental risk of state-owned and public companies, factoring in violations, air emissions, and other data. In March 2025, the ministry, under Minister Idit Silman, delayed the report's publication for months, eventually releasing it late and covering data from 2022 and 2023 for over 120 industrial plants. This was the only full report published during Silman's tenure, as the previous one was from the "Change Government" era.
Ministry officials cited the index's limited scope, excluding private companies, and the significant resources it required as reasons for its cancellation. However, concerns exist that the proposed alternative of releasing raw data might not materialize, leaving the public without crucial information. The ministry confirmed that raw data will be presented as part of a broader integrated licensing reform, with plans to expand information accessibility to other industries, though this is not yet implemented. The index report that would have covered 2024 and 2025 data will not be published.
Former ministry officials and industry representatives have expressed concern. Guy Smet, a former director-general, noted that the index, while important for investors, had limitations, such as not covering all companies. The Israel Manufacturers Association also reportedly expressed concern about the index. The cancellation comes amid reports of management chaos and significant staff turnover within the ministry during Silman's term.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection stated its commitment to providing reliable environmental information. It is currently working to make the raw data accessible in a format that offers a more direct and frequent picture of environmental risks from companies and factories, including those not publicly traded. This information will be part of a public portal expected in 2027. The ministry emphasized that the new approach will be more efficient and timely than the previous index, which required substantial resources and was limited to public companies.
