Public Health and Climate Change: The Israeli Perspective

Israel is experiencing the effects of climate change, with temperatures projected to rise by about four degrees by the end of the century. The country is expected to suffer more than northern countries due to higher temperatures, increased humidity, rising sea levels, and extreme weather fluctuations, which will cause an increase in the risk of natural disasters, famine, floods, water contamination, forced migration, pandemics, and increased border tensions. However, Israel’s unique position as a country between three continents, with an advanced healthcare system under the National Health Insurance Law and a strong scientific sector, serves as a foundation for developing innovative solutions. This chapter delves into heat-related emergencies in the country, strategies for coping with the current situation and potential future threats (including climate migration), lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role of institutions and other actors in global and regional cooperation. It argues that there is a dire need to consider the influence of climate change on health from a broader eco-health perspective.