Israel emitted 79.3 million tons of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2024, up 2.2 percent from 2023, significantly exceeding its 2030 target of 58 MtCO2e, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection's new annual report.

The increase was partly driven by lifted restrictions on fluorinated gases, whose emissions jumped 30 percent following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, according to the report titled "Pollutant Release and Transfer Register."

Meanwhile, emissions from electricity generation and transportation also increased, while nitrogen oxides and sulfur emissions fell significantly due to reduced coal use and lower port activity during the Gaza war.

The economic damage from air pollution in 2024 was estimated at 37 billion shekels (about 11.1 billion U.S. dollars), down about 2 percent from 2023, with transportation accounting for 29 percent of the total cost, electricity production 28 percent, and industry 13 percent, said the report.