Former Israeli Climate Chief Warns Rising Groundwater Could Flood Coastal High-Rises Amid Climate Crisis
Dr. Gil Proaktor, former senior official at Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection and climate leader, warns of severe climate impacts already causing thousands of deaths in Europe and extreme heat waves worldwide. He attributes these phenomena to an intensified super El Niño driven by human-induced climate change and cautions that Israel is unprepared for similar challenges.
Proaktor highlights Israel's lack of a national, funded climate adaptation plan and absence of binding legislation requiring government ministries to address climate risks. He notes Israel's region is warming 20% faster than the global average, threatening critical infrastructure such as electricity, transportation, and health systems. Specifically, he warns that rising temperatures will deform railway tracks and strain the power grid, reducing gas power plant output by 10-15% during peak demand.
A particularly urgent threat is the rising sea level causing saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers, which could flood the foundations of hundreds of high-rise buildings along Israel's coastal plain. These foundations were never designed to withstand such flooding, posing a serious risk to urban infrastructure. Proaktor urges immediate regulatory and planning responses to this issue.
He points to Miami and the Netherlands as examples of cities investing heavily in resilience against sea level rise and groundwater threats. Despite the urgency, Israel has cut climate budgets in recent years and lacks a coordinated government approach. Proaktor stresses the need for a national emergency plan on renewable energy and climate adaptation, led by the prime minister.
Regarding energy transition, Israel currently generates about 18% of its electricity from renewables, aiming for 30% by 2030, far behind countries like Germany and Greece targeting 80%. Proaktor advocates for a more ambitious target of 55% renewables by 2040, combined with energy efficiency and demand management. He warns of looming natural gas shortages by the 2040s due to rising domestic demand and export commitments, which will drive up prices and threaten energy security.
Proaktor calls for accelerated solar infrastructure, such as covering parking lots and cemeteries, and better budget anchoring for climate programs. He emphasizes that climate change is a strategic threat to Israel's economy, security, health, and environment, requiring urgent political commitment and integrated government action.
