ISRAEL UNION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : i**o@a******a.o*g.il
Mission Statement
To protect Israel's environment and to promote sustainable development through environmental advocacy grounded in sound environmental science, for the benefit of health and well-being of current and future generations of Israelis. Our advocacy serves all Israelis regardless of ethnicity, location, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability and language.
About This Cause
Founded in 1990 with a budget of $12,000 and two staff members, the Israel Union for Environmental Defense brought to Israel the US model of environmental advocacy pioneered by the Environmental Defense Fund and NRDC. Today with a staff of 24 and an annual budget of around $1.6 million, we are an established force for environmental progress, a household name, recognized by government officials, lawmakers, local authorities, business stakeholders and by communities as an effective public interest organization and champion of Israelis' rights to a safe, clean and healthy environment. Our original mission – to protect Israel's environment and to promote sustainable development through a focused agenda of legislation, science and advocacy – continues to guide us today. Our program works as follows: Litigation: Using our proactive approach and special standing under environmental laws to represent the public, we file public interest lawsuits to improve environmental protection and enforcement of environmental laws. Often, our lawsuits are against government agencies for failure to implement or enforce environmental law; these petitions are heard by the Supreme Court sitting as the High Court of Justice, the State of Israel's highest judicial bench. Legislation: Over the last ten years, IUED has generated the majority of Israel's environmental legislation either as Private Members' bills or by drafting bills that are later adopted by the government. Successes include Coastline Protection Law (2004), the Clean Air Law (2008), the Packaging Waste Reduction Law (2011), the Pollution Registry & Transfer Law (2012), and the Electronic Waste Reduction Law (2012). IUED people are frequent participants in Knesset committee reviews. Every year, we present dozens of professional position papers to educate and inform lawmakers reviewing legislative proposals. Environmental justice: To empower all Israelis to participate in decisions affecting their local environment, we provide pro bono legal, technical and planning guidance and representation in the courts to community groups and grassroots associations in all population sectors. Our actions have increased public open spaces in urban areas, upheld rights of free access to public beaches and municipal parks; closed polluting factories in residential areas; improved adherence to zoning laws; and provided neglected communities with improved sewage systems and sanitation services. Our current focus is on strengthening Israel's capacity to deal with climate change through promotion of a Climate Law, and collaborations with municipalities, other social organizations to build resilience to climate change and extreme events.