MK Candidate Vows to Champion Environmental Rights in Next Knesset
Translated & summarized from Shakuf by baba
Gabi Lasky, a Knesset candidate for the Democrats, is campaigning on a platform to establish the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental right in Israel. She plans to advance legislation for a Basic Law: Environment, reintroduce the Climate Law, and address water scarcity and pollution. Lasky also proposes reforms in urban planning, protection of open spaces and nature, and a law to hold land polluters accountable. She criticizes past environmental policies and vows to create an independent authority for animal welfare.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- MK candidate Gabi Lasky aims to establish the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental right in Israel.
- Lasky plans to advance legislation for a Basic Law: Environment and reintroduce the Climate Law.
- She proposes solutions for Israel's water crisis, including aquifer rehabilitation and securing water for rivers.
- Reforms in urban planning and protection of open spaces and urban nature are key parts of her platform.
- Lasky advocates for a law to hold land polluters financially responsible and an independent animal welfare authority.
Gabi Lasky, a Knesset candidate for the Democrats, has outlined a comprehensive environmental agenda she intends to pursue in the upcoming legislative term. Her platform centers on establishing the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental human right in Israel, akin to the UN's recognition of this right. Lasky plans to advance a Basic Law: Environment, which would enshrine this right, obligate the state to protect nature for future generations, and grant legal standing to animals and nature itself.
Lasky also aims to reintroduce the Climate Law, which passed its first reading in the previous Knesset, to ensure ongoing government action on climate change. She highlighted the critical state of Israel's water resources, noting the depletion and salinization of aquifers, the shrinking of the Sea of Galilee, and the pollution of rivers, despite advancements in desalination. To address this, she proposes legislation to rehabilitate aquifers, update and fund a national water management plan, and secure a dedicated water allocation for rivers and springs.
Furthermore, Lasky intends to reform urban planning by abolishing the National Planning and Building Council (VATMAL) and returning planning processes to a more transparent and democratic framework, incorporating environmental organizations. She advocates for mandatory street shading, protection of mature trees, and the enhancement of urban nature sites. Her plan also includes rehabilitating nature and ecological corridors, preserving remaining open spaces, and restoring damaged areas, supported by a long-overdue biodiversity action plan.
Lasky criticized the previous government's environmental record, particularly under former Minister Idit Silman, citing the cancellation of the tax on disposable utensils, reduced support for environmental organizations, and weakened air pollution regulations. She also mentioned the potential withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. To combat land pollution, Lasky plans to push for a law holding polluters financially responsible, a principle she believes should also apply to water and sea pollution. She also seeks to update coastal plans and expand marine reserves, advocating for a law to regulate maritime zones.
Finally, Lasky pledged to establish an independent authority for animal welfare, equipped with oversight powers and a budget, to address issues like illegal hunting and trade. She also aims to ensure the continuity of legislation that has already passed its first reading, emphasizing that true reform requires a fundamental shift in how society views and treats the environment.