On Thursday, March 27, 2025, the first climate conference for youth in Israel took place, with the participation of approximately 150 Jewish, Christian, and Bedouin students from middle and high schools across the country. The conference, initiated by the Ministry of Education and the School for Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University, was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Israeli Climate Forum, and other partners. Among the participants were Dr. Dov Hanin, former Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg, Israel's new ambassador to Kenya Gideon Becker, and others.
During the conference, the students presented innovative climate projects focusing on practical solutions to the climate crisis, highlighting the innovation, feasibility, and potential impact of their ideas. The conference provided a unique platform for youth to voice their opinions, present practical initiatives, and influence public discourse and environmental policy in Israel. At the peak of the conference, the participants drafted a set of recommendations for addressing climate change in Israel, reflecting the perspective of the younger generation. The document will be submitted at the end of May to the President of Israel and the Minister of Environmental Protection as part of the national effort to promote climate action.
The Youth Climate Conference serves as a unique educational platform to raise awareness among young people about the impacts of climate change and ways to address it. Its goal is to nurture a sense of personal and collective responsibility, encourage critical and creative thinking, and strengthen the active involvement of youth in shaping a better climatic future for Israel and the world.