Israel’s Energy Dilemma: Leviathan Gas Field versus Clean Tech Solutions

In February 2023, Ethan Brown – host of the “The Sweaty Penguin” – had the opportunity to travel to Israel and participate in the Jerusalem Press Club’s Climate Innovation Press Tour, meet several clean tech CEOs, and learn about Israel’s cutting-edge climate solutions. Ethan discovered that despite the wealth of clean energy ideas, few have actually been implemented in Israel.

Israel’s big energy project has been the Leviathan Gas Field: an offshore natural gas formation about 81 miles west of Haifa in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. With the potential to emit 1.06 billion tons of carbon dioxide, the Leviathan Gas Field is one of the 195  “carbon bombs” identified in last year’s investigative report by The Guardian. Though it has only been in production for three-and-a-half years, the Leviathan Gas Field has already heightened international tensions in the region, and struggled to live up to its economic promise.

This episode of “The Sweaty Penguin” explores what issues have emerged at the Leviathan Gas Field, what solutions Israel has in-house to tackle energy and climate, and what needs to happen to make those innovations a reality. Featuring special guest Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed, Executive Director of the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies.