Dear friends,
In February, hostages continued to be released from captivity in Gaza. At Life & Environment, we were moved and relieved by the return of the living hostages, while our hearts were heavy with the return of those who are no longer with us. We continue to demand the return of all hostages, as a moral and ethical imperative.
February was a month full of activity for us, working toward a more sustainable Israel. We are pleased to update you on the highlights of our efforts this month.
🤝Migvan Program: Progress and Excitement for the Future!
We recently held a meeting for the CEOs of organizations participating in the Migvan Program, marking the conclusion of its first phase. Migvan focuses on addressing the underrepresentation of Arab citizens in the environmental movement and aims to increase Arab representation and participation within the movement. We are pleased to share that several participating organizations have already hired new employees from the Arab community, and we are confident that more will follow soon.
Additionally, we are working to increase the representation of Arab directors on the management boards of environmental organizations, with updates to come. We are excited about the successful completion of the first phase of Migvan and look forward to the next one!
🌱Advancing Innovations in Food Security
At the end of January, we hosted a webinar exploring innovative approaches to strengthening food security in Israel. The session featured insightful discussions on key initiatives, including:
✅ Dynamic pricing as a tool to reduce food costs and enhance local food system resilience
✅ LILAS4SOILS, a European umbrella project advancing regenerative agriculture
✅ The National Plan for Food Security 2025
✅ The Jerusalem Food Council and its role in shaping local food policy
✅ Urban agriculture as a driver of community resilience
We are committed to advancing policies and initiatives that support a resilient and sustainable food system for all.
🌍 Strengthening Local Climate Resilience
As part of the Ambitious Local Authorities Climate and
Environmental Resilience Plan, the Climate Forum and Aclima Center teams hold weekly meetings with municipal leaders to advance key climate adaptation projects.
In February, we met with:
✅ Brenner Regional Council – Discussed the preservation, development, and rehabilitation of the Sorek Stream with Council Head Doron Shidlov and project partners.
✅ Rehovot Municipality – Met with Mayor Matan Dil and city officials to support the planning of a climate neutral neighborhood, ensuring proper advancement before approval.
✅ Umm al-Fahm Municipality – Joined Mayor Dr. Samir Subhi and team to address waste fire reduction and community involvement. A city tour followed, highlighting planned rehabilitation sites.
We continue working closely with local leaders to drive impactful climate solutions!
Thank you for you'r interest in our journey. We look forward to continuing this important work together!
The Life & Environment Team