Summer and a Half – A professional conference for local authorities on the topic of global warming and extreme heat events

Conference Summary

The conference dealt with the implications of global warming for local authorities, which are required to mitigate the impact of heat in their areas, ensure shaded and cool public spaces, and prepare for extreme situations of prolonged heat waves.
He emphasized the need for interdepartmental collaborations in the Authority, while looking at diverse areas – public welfare, planning and infrastructure, environment and emergency – and presented the preparedness activities as essential for maintaining the quality of life of residents and saving lives in extreme situations.
The conference focused on two main tracks – preparing for a warming routine and preparing for an emergency. In the routine track, we examined how authorities can deal with the ongoing warming trends and plan the space to adapt to expected climate change. In the emergency track, aspects of operating authority systems and dealing with extreme scenarios such as unusual heat waves were presented.

We were pleased to meet about 200 professionals from local authorities at the conference, including municipal engineers and architects, emergency and welfare department managers, climate program leaders, environmental units, and city associations.

What did we have ?

( All recordings from the conference are right here )

First session | Hot
A broad overview of the effects of heat at the regional and local level, with scientific insights and evidence from the field on the actions already being taken by authorities in Israel.

Session Two | The Heat Is Rising – Between Routine and Emergency
An examination of the boundaries of the sector and the overlaps between preparing for life in a warming routine and preparedness for extreme situations - while presenting local examples, government tools, and lessons from current scenarios.

Session Three | Warm Routine – Structural and Management Solutions
A practical session that dealt with strategies for cooling urban spaces and managing heat loads through planning, regulation, information, and technology.

Parallel seats
Professional workshops that provided practical tools and focused professional discourse:
– Cities Built for Heat | For Planners – In collaboration with the Planning Administration
– Community Warmth and Resilience | To Protect Vulnerable Populations – With the Ministry of Social Affairs

Additional materials mentioned at the conference and worth knowing :

– התדר האקלימי– פלטפורמה דיגיטלית חדשנית המאפשרת שקיפות, שיתוף ידע והאצת יישום של תוכניות היערכות לשינוי אקלים ברשויות המקומיות.

– מדריך תכנון למיתון חום עירוני – מסמך מינהל התכנון עם עקרונות תכנון והמלצות לאמצעים תכנוניים ומרחביים להתמודדות עם התחממות המרחב.

– קטלוג עצי רחוב וצל שפותח ע”י הסדנה לידע ציבורי.

– עוני באנרגיה ברמה המקומית לנוכח משבר האקלים – סקירת מצב והמלצות לפעולה.
סקירת מצב, תובנות מהשטח והמלצות לרשויות מקומיות ולגורמים מקצועיים, מבית מרכז השל לקיימות.

– נוהל היערכות עירוני להתמודדות עם עומסי חום קיצוניים של עיריית באר שבע.

– מדריך לאספות אזרחים בנושא משבר האקלים, של מרכז השל לקיימות

– יום עיון לתכנון מיטבי של עצי רחוב של ‘דרך צל’, ב- 02.07.2025

Photo credit: Dor Pezuelo