Israel's Ministerial Committee on the Environment and Hazardous Materials unanimously approved a plan to reduce the country's vehicle pollution, Israel's local newspaper Ha'aretz reported on Monday.
The plan was approved Sunday, which is intended to significantly decrease dangerous levels of air pollution as well as decreasing fuel consumption and reducing traffic, said the paper.
The plan is considered a national priority project, and was presented by Minister of National Infrastructures Benjamin Ben- Eliezer and Minister for Environmental Protection Gideon Ezra.
The report added that the most dangerous pollution in Israel's big cities comes from vehicles, which severely threatens public health. Over 100 people die a year in the Dan region from air pollution.
The plan includes new, severe standards for automobile exhaust gases and it also includes rules limiting pollutants from diesel vehicles as well as carbon dioxide emission levels for gasoline- powered cars.
According to the plan, all government and public transport will gradually switch to fuel-saving and environmentally friendly vehicles.
Moreover, the disposal of old cars in return for payments to their owners. Roadside emission tests will also be reinstated. Employees will be encouraged to travel to work on public transport. Vehicle taxes will take into account an environmental rating.
Starting from January 2008, the Transportation Ministry and the Tel Aviv municipality will limit entry to the city's center of diesel vehicles more than five-years old, unless they have emission controls installed.
The two ministers believed that the new plan will put Israel at the forefront of nations acting to improve environmental quality.
A study will be made on the use of electric cars to be recharged from the national electric grid within a year. At the same time, financial incentives for alternative fuels made from non-petroleum sources will be set within 90 days, as well as replacements for diesel fuel.
Source: Xinhua
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