At a special meeting of the Climate Forum hosted by the President of Israel, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman announced that “the upcoming follow-up report will, for the first time, examine the conduct of local authorities on climate-related issues.” President Herzog: “This coming summer may be a season of major natural disasters.”
On Thursday (April 3, 2025), State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, together with representatives from his office, participated in a special meeting convened by President Isaac Herzog. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Climate Forum established at the President’s Residence and led by Dr. Dov Khenin.
The Comptroller informed the President and attendees that the State Comptroller’s Office is currently conducting a second follow-up audit on the government’s handling of the climate crisis – the third report on this subject to be published in the past six years.
President Isaac Herzog stated: “The idea behind the establishment of the Climate Forum was to bring together, under one roof, all the relevant stakeholders in this field – the government sector, civil society, and representatives of the economy and industry. The forum is producing exceptional results with highly effective committees. For example, the topic of food security — a clear derivative of the climate issue — is gaining significant momentum among us.”
President Herzog and Comptroller Englman at a meeting with the Climate Forum. Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom, GPO
“I have repeatedly warned that the coming summer may bring major natural disasters, as rainfall in most regions has not even reached 50% of the annual average. Yesterday I was in Tiberias, and for the first time in 100 years, the Sea of Galilee receded during the winter; this is inconceivable.”
“And this is exactly the issue I try to explain to the citizens of Israel; in the end, it affects them directly. Elected officials need to understand that this affects them and their children. The world is undergoing significant ecological transformations.”
“We are here to try to offer practical solutions, and the support of the State Comptroller in these areas — through reports and demands directed at the decision-making system — is very important to us. For example, the Climate Law is one such necessary step.”
(National Climate Action by the Government of Israel - 2024)
State Comptroller Englman: “Some effects of climate change are already being felt and are manifesting in massive wildfires, extreme heatwaves, torrential rains and storms, flooding, droughts, and other events that cause loss of life and property – such as the extreme weather we are experiencing in Israel and the wildfire that occurred in Los Angeles. This is a crisis for which national preparedness is a central component of the broader national strategy to strengthen public resilience and systemic readiness for multi-risk emergencies.”
“The follow-up audit report published in 2024 once again raised serious concerns: although some entities addressed deficiencies, most were either not addressed at all or only partially rectified. The government’s handling of the climate crisis has been characterized as 'functional stagnation' and has so far suffered from several fundamental weaknesses.”
“There is a need for integrated and transformative government action. As a country located in a hotspot region, the climate changes that Israel is expected to face as a result of global warming will be more severe than the global average, and could have serious implications for its economic, social, and national resilience.”
This will be the third time the Comptroller publishes a report on the subject within six years.” Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom, GPO
“The State Comptroller’s reports on the climate issue should be seen as another warning flag raised for the government and the Prime Minister. The government faces a challenge that involves national-level risk management and the need to outline a path toward a zero-carbon economy, green growth, and a transition to renewable energy on the one hand – and optimal preparedness for the risks that climate change poses to human life, infrastructure, and nature on the other.”
“The State Comptroller’s Office places special emphasis on audits in the areas of sustainability, climate, and the environment, and is committed to tracking the government’s response to these issues – for the sake of future generations as well.”
“I intend to carry out an additional follow-up audit on the climate crisis during the upcoming work year, as well as an audit on the preparedness of local authorities for the impacts of climate change.”
“In my role as President of EUROSAI — the European Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions — we are also advancing numerous initiatives related to environmental quality. Just yesterday, the OECD Secretary-General and his team visited my office, where we presented them with audit reports from various areas, including the report on the climate crisis.”
