Hundreds participated in the Climate Day event at Tel Aviv University

The first climate day event of its kind took place this week at the Tel Aviv University campus, at the same time as the climate conference that opened in Sharm el-Sheikh. Researchers from a variety of faculties took part in the event and the meetings touched on a wide range of topics in the context of the climate crisis: earth sciences, ecosystems, renewable energies, legal aspects, lifestyle and culture, history, fashion, activism, cities and the financial sector. The curious audience that came participated in TED lectures by the best researchers, in panels with experts and expertise in their fields, in a special meeting for the younger generation with Tel Aviv Youth University, in workshops, in the screening of the film the true cost and even in a free clothes swap party.

The event was held at the initiative of the climate project team of Tel Aviv University , and attracted a diverse audience of students and faculty, representatives from the private sector, government and municipalities, children, high school students and more. The Climate Initiative works to connect academic knowledge and research with bodies working to promote climate policy including government, local authorities, environmental organizations and the private sector.

"The entry of researchers and academics from the fields of politics, law and economics creates new leverage, because the big challenge today in the field of climate is not technological but political, economic and social"

It's time for action and reaction

"The most important message we wanted to convey to the audience is that a clear and strong voice came out that the academy recognizes that the climate crisis is the order of the hour, and that we are partners in formulating an immediate, practical and relevant response," explains Dr. Orly Ronen, head of the Urban Sustainability Track and the Urban Innovation and Sustainability Lab at the Porter  School  of  Studies The environment  and society in the climate initiative. "The crisis, as well as the solutions, touch many fields of knowledge, including earth sciences and life sciences, to the fields of law, culture, policy and education. Parallel to what is happening in the world and now in the discussions at the climate conference in Egypt, it is important to recognize and promote the action in Israel, and also what is happening in the university itself as part of research and promoting solutions. We wanted to encourage different audiences to learn about the climate crisis from the different angles of the faculties on campus, understand the importance and take part in the change."

The companies and members of the project have expectations and hopes from the conference in Sharm El Sheikh and precisely from the accompanying events that take place near it. "The official discussions are an important part of how the countries of the world deal with climate change. This is the first conference that focuses, and rightly so, on adaptation and climate change assessments, and it should produce practical and immediate ways to provide support to populations that are already affected by the crisis today. But the conference is also far beyond the official discussions, with Hundreds if not thousands of related events and side events, and we hope that the extensive activity will bring more awareness in various sectors and political pressure, which will enable the adoption of a stricter policy. The very existence of such a large conference affects in different ways the activities in the world and it leverages a lot of activity at the national and local level. An example of this is The joint organization of many academic institutions in Israel in preparation for the conference, which chose to hold events on campuses and demonstrate awareness and commitment to the issue," adds Dr. Shula Gold from the Department of Environmental Studies and the Climate Initiative.

The companies and members of the project have expectations and hopes from the conference in Sharm El Sheikh and precisely from the accompanying events that take place near it. "The official discussions are an important part of how the countries of the world deal with climate change. This is the first conference that focuses, and rightly so, on adaptation and climate change assessments, and it should produce practical and immediate ways to provide support to populations that are already affected by the crisis today. But the conference is also far beyond the official discussions, with Hundreds if not thousands of related events and side events, and we hope that the extensive activity will bring more awareness in various sectors and political pressure, which will enable the adoption of a stricter policy. The very existence of such a large conference affects in different ways the activities in the world and it leverages a lot of activity at the national and local level. An example of this is The joint organization of many academic institutions in Israel in preparation for the conference, which chose to hold events on campuses and demonstrate awareness and commitment to the issue," adds Dr. Shula Gold from the Department of Environmental Studies and the Climate Initiative.

"In many fields, academic research takes time to reach professional audiences and we want to speed up the process in the context of the climate crisis. On Climate Day yesterday we held two consultation events, one with the Tel Aviv Municipality on the topic of promoting a sustainable lifestyle in the city, and the other with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and representatives of companies in the sector "The financial, on new tools for managing climate risks. It is important to emphasize that the entry of researchers and academics from the fields of policy, law and economics creates new leverage, because the big challenge today in the field of climate is not technological but political, economic and social," they conclude.

All fields of research come together to address the crisis. From the right: Mittal Pelag Mizrahi, Prof. Yiftach Yacovi and Prof. Marcelo Sternberg, Dr. Dorit Karat and Prof. Alon Tal. Photographed in the Metnal Garden at the Faculty of Social Sciences.