Aclima: Empowering Municipalities
to Tackle Climate Change

 

At Aclima, our mission is clear –

 

To empower municipalities - urban and rural,

advanced or just starting out - to effectively address the challenges of climate change.

 

As a dedicated knowledge center,

we provide a range of professional seminars and courses, and proudly host an annual conference that stands as the only one of its kind in Israel.

Building Knowledge, Inspiring Leaders

Aclima serves as an anchor for learning communities and living labs, offering municipal personnel the opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and learn together. We also invest in leadership through programs like " Climate Ambitious Cities ," designed for selected mayors ( video presenting the program ), and " Rothschild Ambassadors , " which nurtures promising young leaders at the start of their careers.

Highlights from the 2025 Heat Conference

This May, Aclima launched the TEDER database at our Heat Conference - the first event in Israel dedicated specifically to municipal professionals facing the realities of rising temperatures due to climate change. The conference brought together experts from environment, welfare, emergency, and planning of many municipal departments, as well as government policymakers, industry leaders, third sector, academia and other key stakeholders for a joint dialogue aimed at concrete action to prepare local authorities for the rising heat, with the intention of keeping this important issue on the agenda, even during times when many topics are pushed to the sidelines.

 

Israel is facing a significant warming challenge. The rate of warming in Israel is twice as fast as forecasts predicted. At the same time, Israel is developing rapidly, and is on track to become the most densely populated country in the West. These two trends place local authorities in Israel in a complex situation, leaving them no choice but to plan urban and municipal life for a reality of 50°C (122°F) in the shade. The conference presented tools, knowledge, and experience from various authorities.

KEY MOMENTS

  • Setting the Stage
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  • The day began with sobering facts about the climate crisis, including a thought-provoking forecast and a creative news segment imagining a future where the heat crisis was ignored.

 

Exploring Solutions

The panelists along the day discussed various solutions and study cases, ranging from urban planning, technical solutions, community organizing and engagement, and emergency regulations, for example:

– Involving the community of residents in municipal decision-making processes regarding city cooling.

- Proper conduct in emergencies, including research pointing to effective ways to influence the public.

- Urban planning adapted to heat, enabling residents to live feasibly in public spaces.

Tools for shading and cooling the city through urban forestry, expanding urban nature areas, and strengthening the city's connection with surrounding open spaces. 

- Identifying vulnerable populations and providing tailored responses in both routine and emergency situations.

  • A Sweet Ending

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  • We wrapped up the day on a positive note, celebrating the joys of summer with actors distributing popsicles and watermelons - a reminder that even as we face serious challenges, there are bright moments ahead.