Press Release From 2023

As part of its international commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructures, in cooperation with the Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy Research, conducted an end-to-end calculation of methane emissions from Israel's natural gas industry, including production, processing, transmission, distribution, and end users. This is so that Israel can correctly assess emissions from this sector and take measures to reduce its annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane, which is a greenhouse gas with global warming potential (GWP) 28 times more than carbon dioxide

Link to the full message on GOV.IL

Link to the report: Assessment of Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Supply Chain in Israel

The Takuma Administration is working on a plan for long-term rehabilitation of the Western Negev. Experts suggest: Rebuild, while preparing for climate challenges

Prof. Ofira Ayalon, an energy and environmental expert, together with colleagues Prof. Adi Wolfson and Galia Limor Sagiv, outline in their work, submitted to the Takuma Administration, the main areas to which input should be devoted when building sustainable resilience: sustainable agriculture and food security, green building, energy, sustainable transportation, adaptation to climate change, urban renewal and waste management.

link to the full article on Calcalist

Link to an interview on the subject, on 'CAN Tarbut' (Strats at 1:37:00)

In many countries worldwide, periods of crisis have presented opportunities to enhance resilience and expedite the development of advanced infrastructures.

According to Professor Ofira Ayalon, addressing aspirations, dismantling regulatory barriers, and expanding the scope of renewables are crucial components, each requiring distinct attention. The United States has embraced the Green Deal initiative as a post-COVID-19 recovery strategy, emphasizing investments prioritizing the shift to zero-emission industries. Similarly, the EU is committed to substantial funds to such initiatives. In Israel, this matter must be ranked among the top ten urgent issues, necessitating investments alongside the swift removal of technical and regulatory obstacles. These infrastructural developments not only generate new employment opportunities but also yield long-term economic savings.

Link to the full article on Calcalist

“It is sad to learn that the NSC has now asked for advice on strengthening national resilience. This is not something that is built in a day, it requires long-term planning," says Col. (res.) Dr. Reuven Gal, who served as deputy head of the National Security Council during the second intifada and is currently a senior research fellow at the Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy Research at the Technion.

"History teaches us that in moments of crisis you need a leader who is highly trusted and knows how to provide a sense of security. This is not the situation now in Israel, and the NSC cannot solve it."

Link to the full article

Interview with Col. (Res.) Dr. Reuven Gal, former Chief Psychologist of the IDF and expert on national resilience, Senior Research Fellow at "Samuel Neaman", Technion: The meaning of the word resilience. The second intifada, with buses exploding, killed over a thousand people, mostly among civilians, and had to continue functioning. You have to believe in the army and the police.

Link to the full interview on KESHET 12 starts at 1:33:00

When we talk about climate change, we focus mainly on the macroeconomic damage but tend to ignore the damage on the individual. Climate and environmental researchers warn that as the world continues to warm, labor productivity and quality of life will suffer.
Urban dwellers are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to a phenomenon called the "urban heat island"

Recently, a new study was conducted at the Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy Research, which examined the impact of climate change on Tel Aviv and the economic cost of not preparing for these changes. The study was conducted at the request of the municipality and funded by researchers, Naama Shapira, Orly Nathan, Dana Gabay and Prof. Ofira Ayalon.

Link to the full article on The Marker

According to Prof. Ayalon, "The orange bins (to collect packaging waste) in local authorities are currently not the solution since the collection rate is very low. The Ministry of Environmental Protection failed. The targets set for waste management over the years have not been achieved. The landfill levy and separation of waste at source do not contribute to reducing landfilling. It is essential to reflect to the public that waste treatment, whether by recycling, energy production or landfilling, involves very high economic and environmental costs.

Link to related report

Why are children such remarkably proficient researchers? What in the most important role of schools? Which subjects should one study to gain admittance into prestigious higher education institutions? And how does the military contribute to academic achievement?

These questions are explored, with insights from Prof. Irad Yavneh

Link to the full report and interview

Prof. Rachelle Alterman has been warning for years about the negative consequences of flooding Israel's major cities with towers.

Link to the full article on Ynet

Prof. Ofira Ayalon described the research, commissioned by the Tel Aviv municipality, the first city in Israel to prepare a climate change adaptation plan. The study analyzed the cost for the city if climate adaptation actions are not implemented in the year 2050. Cumulative damage of 2-4 Billion NIS resulting from damage to public health and mortality, increase in energy demand, and damage to local employment.

Link to the full interview with Prof. Ayalon on CAN. Starts at 03:00.

Prof. Ofira Ayalon talks about the energy market in Israel

Link to the full interview on Galaz. Starts at 6:48

A new study reveals that that insufficient preparedness for anticipated heat waves in Israel's major economic center (Tel Aviv- Yafo) will lead to high economic costs and higher mortality rates. The study serves as an alert to numerous Israeli cities that disregard this matter. Professor Ofira Ayalon, one of the study's authors, points out that the proposed property tax fund "could potentially divert funds meant for addressing the climate crisis, will not be available”

Link to the full article on Calcalist

The green building standard establishes a baseline for quality standards, serving as an indicator and driver for enhanced and more progressive construction practices. However, according to the new Energy Forum’s report, in practical terms, the standard primarily focuses on scoring sections that are straightforward to implement and economically feasible.
Moreover, the current standard has a relatively narrow scope. Globally, a more comprehensive approach is adopted, encompassing circular planning, considerations of neighborhood scale, as well as factors related to well-being and health. It is crucial to continue pushing the building sector towards improvement, as a significant portion of construction practices in Israel remain outdated.

Link to the full article on Globes

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are currently in disagreement over the climate law. Minister Idit Silman has proposed a solution to the issue by implementing the salami method in a softened version and transferring a portion of it.
In the past, Israel recognized the importance of operational plans, but the plan was put on hold and not pursued.
Prof. Ofira Ayalon has highlighted that it has been 13 years since expectations were set for progress on climate issues, and unfortunately, there has been significant disappointment due to lack of progress. The current climate law falls short of addressing this issue. If the previously budgeted plan had been implemented, Israel's current situation would be vastly different.

Link to the ful article on Calcalist

Prof. Ofira Ayalon, talks about the “holidays fever” of cleaning and shopping before Pesach. Some of the solutions regarding the climate crisis is to consume, cook, throw away, use cleaning agents, buy new clothes - less.
The abolition of the tax on disposable dishes and the tax on sweetened soft drinks also have major negative effects on the environment.

Link to the full interview with Prof. Ayalon - starts at 19:45

In the past month, the Minister of Environmental Protection, Idit Silman, and her ministry officials have appeared before Knesset committees twice to present the ministry's action plans.As on previous occasions, Knesset members were shown a presentation that included impressive forecasts of environmental activity. However, recent years have shown that this presentation is disconnected from reality and the Ministry has failed to achieve its declared goals. Just a few weeks ago, Prof. Ofira Ayalon and environmental consultant Dr. Shira Daskal published an analysis of the waste treatment policy led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection between 2007 and 2022, which can be described as a failure.

Link to the full article

At a time when the developed world is already using various technologies to manage municipal solid waste, Israel lags far behind.

Prof. Ofira Ayalon notes that "the landfill tax has not had a significant effect, neither in terms of reducing landfilled waste nor in terms of the actual realization of the ‘maintaining the cleanliness fund’ budget." "We are in a state of emergency and, therefore, the Ministry of Environmental Protection is presenting short-term solutions, such as expanding existing landfills."

Link to the full article on 'Calcalist'

The fund for maintaining cleanliness would not be transferred to the control of the Ministry of the Interior.
Now the Ministry of Environmental Protection will have to prove that it can manage the fund in a way that serves the aims and the objectives of the fund.
An analysis of the municipal waste management policy in Israel in 2007-2022 shows that the activities of the fund failed in significantly reducing the amount of waste transferred to landfills during this period, despite the sharp increase in the levy paid by the local authorities.

The analysis was conducted by Prof. Ofira Ayalon and Dr. Shira Daskal, from the Samuel Neaman Institute.

The analysis was published and presented at a conference on waste management held on 22/2/2023 by the Dan Cities Association for Sanitation.

Link to the full article

A new study has found several causes of food waste in Israel. Prof. Ofira Ayalon in an interview for "Three Who Know" program.

Link to the full interview

Last month, Professor Rachelle Alterman, an expert in urban planning and law, was elected member of the Israel National Academy of Sciences. In an interview, she discussed why she believes residential towers are problematic, her involvement in founding the feminist movement in Israel, and why her son, actor Edan Alterman, did notreceived allowance in his childhood

Link to the full article

The partnership between academia and industry is essential for promoting innovation and increasing productivity. How can this cooperation be mutually beneficial?

As reported by the Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy Research in October 2016, the Northern District has a population of approximately 1.47 million citizens, representing 16% of Israel's total population. In this region, 17% of the population is employed in the manufacturing, mining and quarrying industries, 13% in education, 11% in wholesale and retail trade, and 11% in health, welfare and social services.

Link to the full article on 'The Marker'

Energy efficiency would save citizens thousands of shekels a year and dramatically reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Israel has been neglecting this field for years, even though the population growth on a small area puts it in a particularly dangerous emergency situation.
Prof. Ofira Ayalon points to the example of the program for energy efficiency at the Technion that managed to save more than 10 times the amount invested in it.

Link to the full article

Link to the Technion Energy Efficiency Project