Sustainability and Climate Change

קיימות ומשבר אקלים תמונת כותרת

In a world facing an escalating climate crisis, HIL programs address a wide range of challenges in the fields of sustainability and climate change, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to promoting energy efficiency, circular economy, and resource management. We bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, and organizations to develop innovative ventures with real environmental impact, bridging academia, industry, and community.


Preserving Mature Trees in Urban Environments

Proposed by: Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection and The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

The Challenge:
Urban renewal and infrastructure development projects often pose a threat to mature trees — vital components of a healthy, sustainable city. These trees play a critical role in regulating temperature, improving air quality, reducing noise, and enhancing residents’ well-being and connection to their environment.

This challenge calls for increasing public and professional awareness around the value of preserving mature trees in urban spaces. It encourages the development of proactive tools and strategies to prevent unnecessary tree removal and to identify situations where trees may be at risk.

The goal is to ensure that mature trees remain an integral part of urban planning and development, striking a balance between growth and environmental stewardship.


 

Promoting Sustainable and Healthy Lifestyles in Schools through Behavioral Economics

Proposed by: Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection

The Challenge:
Encouraging environmentally conscious and healthy habits in educational institutions is a key pillar of effective local climate policy — supporting both mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change.

However, behavioral economics research suggests that value-based messaging alone is often insufficient to drive meaningful change. Behavioral biases — such as competitiveness, desire for social conformity, or reluctance to feel taken advantage of — play a stronger role in shaping day-to-day decisions.

This challenge calls for creative, evidence-based solutions that apply behavioral economic principles to nudge students, teachers, and school communities toward more sustainable and healthy routines. The goal is to embed long-term behavioral change into the school environment in a way that is engaging, measurable, and impactful.


 

Building Local Climate Resilience

Proposed by: Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection

The Challenge:
As the climate crisis intensifies, cities must prepare for extreme weather events that pose serious risks to urban populations — including floods, prolonged heatwaves, power outages, and disruptions to essential infrastructure. Vulnerable communities are often the first and hardest hit.

This challenge calls for the development of innovative public solutions that strengthen local climate resilience. It invites systemic thinking and cross-sector collaboration — combining technology, urban planning, community education, and institutional preparedness — to ensure cities can respond effectively and equitably to future climate emergencies.


 

Reducing Litter in Open Natural Spaces

Proposed by: Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF)

The Challenge:
Open natural areas are increasingly polluted with litter left behind by visitors during outdoor recreation. Even waste that is thrown into bins often ends up scattered by wind or animals.

A key part of the problem is a lack of public awareness — people often don’t consider what happens to their trash after they leave, or understand the long-term environmental and health impacts of litter in natural ecosystems.

This challenge seeks creative and practical solutions to reduce waste in open spaces, raise awareness, and promote responsible behavior in nature. The goal is to preserve the integrity of our natural landscapes and ensure enjoyable, sustainable access for future generations.


 

Responsible Disposal of Expired Medications

Proposed by: Clalit Health Services

The Challenge:
Improper disposal of expired medications — such as throwing them in the trash or burying them — leads to significant environmental harm. Active pharmaceutical ingredients can seep into the soil and water supply, contaminating natural ecosystems and potentially entering the food chain. Medications used in mental health care are particularly hazardous in this context.

Beyond environmental risks, there is also a waste of valuable resources. Many discarded medications could still be used by patients in need, if only collected and redirected appropriately.

This challenge calls for innovative solutions to ensure expired or unused medications are handled safely and sustainably — minimizing environmental impact, reducing waste, and increasing public awareness about responsible pharmaceutical disposal.


 

Sustainable Management in Hospitals

Proposed by: University of Haifa

The Challenge:
Climate change is the greatest global health threat of the 21st century. Paradoxically, the healthcare sector contributes an estimated 5%–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Hospitals — as large-scale consumers of energy, materials, and resources — often operate in unsustainable ways. These include excessive energy use, greenhouse gas emissions from anesthetic gases, reliance on single-use plastics and microplastics, unsustainable food sourcing, limited green spaces, and polluting transportation systems.

This challenge invites the development of practical, scalable solutions to make hospital operations more sustainable — without compromising quality of care. It calls for innovative thinking that combines technology, systemic design, and behavioral change to transform hospitals into active contributors to climate action and environmental health.