| Written by Boston Office |
Environmental Initiatives
Israel is a country that has always faced unique environmental issues. Israelis have long had to balance growth with preservation of the country's ancient archeological treasures, as well as developing both industry and agriculture in an arid landscape where water is precious and scarce. Today, environmental concerns in Israel, as in the rest of the world, are multiplying and becoming more urgent with the passage of time. NIFC supports organizations that work for a greener, more sustainable Israel and promote a culture that is healthy and safe.
Vehicular pollution is a severe problem in Israel. It affects large segments of the population in both densely populated urban areas and in inland areas which are exposed to secondary pollutants. The dramatic increase in the number of cars on Israel's congested roads - from about 1 million in 1990 to about 2.5 million in 2009 - has exacerbated the problem. Transportation Today and Tomorrow was founded in order to change transportation preferences in Israel, encouraging the development of alternative systems such as public transportation, walking and bicycling. It is the leading civil society organization in the field of transportation and serves as a bridge between organizations working in this field and the Ministries of Transportation and Finance. Transportation Today and Tomorrow is working to expand its activity to encompass Israeli Arab towns and cities, many of which suffer from a lack of public transportation options and a low level of infrastructure investment. Shatil consultants will help Transportation Today and Tomorrow work within Israel's Arab sector in increasing public understanding of the goals of the organization.
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