Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing: Your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Today’s panel comprises Times of Israel senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and environmental reporter Sue Surkes, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Today Israel and the rest of the Jewish World is celebrating Tu Bishvat, the new year of the trees. We turn to Surkes for an update on where Israel stands vis a vis the rest of the world in terms of its carbon footprint and renewable energy. She also reveals which tree was named Israel's national tree by the Jewish National Fund.

Surkes speaks about the debate between emphasizing solar versus gas energy between the Environmental and Energy ministries. She speaks about the differences between a zero carb pledge and a zero net carb pledge.

Turning to the country's south, Surkes updates on a new danger to the rare Eilat corals in the Red Sea.

Horovitz updates on more fallout from the Biden administration's new world order, including the Iran nuclear deal and the suspended sale of F-35s to the United Arab Emirates.

Discussed articles include:

Erupting with flowers before spring, almond tree a bounty of Jewish symbolism

Environment minister welcomes Biden, Harris, with zero carbon pledge

UAE pipeline deal will imperil Eilat’s critical coral reefs, scientists warn

US suspends $23 billion sale of F-35s to UAE that followed Abraham Accords

Netanyahu warns virus strain resistant to current vaccines is inevitable

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PHOTO: Almond tree blossom, January 21, 2016. (Melanie Lidman/Times of Israel)

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