The Tel Aviv Climate Cell is a community cell which has been in operation for over eight years. Over the years, cell members have engaged in various struggles and campaigns against production and export plans of polluting fuels in Israel. Among them, the struggle of the East-Med Pipeline, protests at Greenwash conferences and a series of lectures on renewable energy.

Climate scientists prove that curbing the climate crisis will happen only by transition to sources of renewable energy. Despite the government’s decision in which it recognized the importance of transitioning to renewable energy, the percentage of renewable energy that the state of Israel produces stands at less than 10% of all energy sources.

Understanding the urgency and necessity to increase the pace of progress towards meeting renewable energy objectives, our current campaign deals with the requirement to construct solar panels on any new structure in Israel.

Beyond the decrease in pollution, a transition to renewable energy is also economically worthwhile, because dependance on fossil fuels is more expensive than transitioning to renewable energy. A responsible and controlled transition process to renewable energy will lead to a decrease in social gaps and to extensive economic growth. Moreover, it will also reduce our electric bills, which will assist in the struggle against the rise in the cost of living.

The transition to renewable energy is not only a secular interest. Producing electricity at power stations, calls for their operation on the Sabbath as well – something that parts of the ultra-orthodox population avoid, for fear of desecrating the Sabbath. As a result of this, many of them use noisy generators, which cause pollution and are even dangerous. In contrast to the current production of electricity, solar panels do not require humans for ongoing operation, therefore they can provide kosher electricity.

Promotion of solar panels on the rooves of Israel is a good move for all of us, from every aspect.