SfP – Support Program Environmental Policy and Social Justice in Israel

Environment Change Agents

Climate change exacerbates existing tensions and can lead to new conflicts in Israel, particularly affecting the Palestinian community due to systematic discrimination by the state. Our aim is to build upon intercommunity grassroots action on peacebuilding whilst integrating climatic and environmental justice approaches targeting both Palestinian and Israeli environment activists.

About the project

The project aims to address the interrelated issues of climate justice, conflict, and peacebuilding in the Israeli political context. Climate change exacerbates existing tensions and can lead to new conflicts, particularly affecting the Palestinian community due to systematic discrimination by the state. The project seeks to convey the Palestinian narrative and seeks solution-driven responses through recognizing historic and ongoing injustices that have contributed to vulnerability and unequal access to resources. The project aims to build upon intercommunity grassroots action on peacebuilding whilst integrating climatic and environmental justice approaches. It targets 18-20 Arab and Israeli environmental activists. The course will provide participants with the necessary tools and knowledge, based on the social theory of change. By creating secure and inclusive environments, successful collaborative environmental action guided by principles of social justice and professional mentorship is ensured. Projects in this field often aim to build the capacities of environmental activists. However, most of these initiatives promote a single narrative and tackle the environmental crisis from the perspective of one group. In this regard, this project in the Arab-Israeli context is groundbreaking as it brings together Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel and fosters inter-community grassroots action towards peacebuilding. Moreover, this program integrates a climatic and environmental justice approach through a peacebuilding lens.
Inter-community approaches can be effective in addressing existing power imbalances by identifying and tackling root causes like discrimination, inequality, or exclusion. When communities work together, they can create a more equitable power distribution. Therefore, the project aims to achieve the following: participants recognizing and understanding each other's perspectives on social and political narratives, identifying the impacts of climate change that can exacerbate preexisting conflicts and potentially lead to new tensions, and identifying climate adaptation strategies and initiating actions that address conflict drivers associated with climate change.

Why are we running this project?

Climate change, conflict, and peacebuilding are interconnected issues. Environmental justice involves equitable distribution of environmental resources and meaningful participation of all citizens. Decision-making has to focus on responsibility and accountability, while enhancing marginalized and minority groups' capabilities. Representation from both sides is essential in addressing the impact of climate change in Israel, and grassroots action on peacebuilding can build inter-community trust and cooperation. Participants, both Israeli and Palestinian, can become change agents within their communities using their knowledge, experiences, and willingness to work together for social change. The course will encourage dialogue and create working relationships that will contribute over time to promoting environmental and climate justice, which can create cooperative incentives, enhance trust, and rework conflict-laden identities to contribute to peace processes.

What are our goals?

Our vision is to establish inclusive climate activism in Israel that promotes collaboration and individual action in the Palestinian-Israeli political context while striving to achieve environmental justice. Specifically, we seek to provide participants with necessary tools and knowledge based on the social theory of change. These resources will empower them to create intervention plans for environmental community initiatives, leading to substantial and positive outcomes that can be measured. Secondly, we aim to create a secure and inclusive environment for successful joint environmental actions guided by principles of social justice, and professional mentorship.

How does the project work?

The project will be implemented at the School for Peace. The course discusses, among other issues, Intersectional Theory, and the links between land planning and environmental organizations. The course further includes three key tours to see and discuss related issues on the ground and to talk about effective changes.
The Palestinian and Jewish facilitators play an essential role in the implementation of the dialogue sessions, creating a safe and conducive environment in which participants can share their perspectives and ideas. They help to steer the conversations towards constructive and respectful dialogue in order to achieve the goals of the project.

Who organizes and supports the project?

The School for Peace is an educational peacebuilding organisation situated in the village Wahat al-Salam ~ Neve Shalom, a Jewish Palestinian village founded in 1979. The School for Peace facilitates dialogue, academic and professional courses for Jewish and Palestinian adults, students, and youth. So far, over 65,000 Jewish and Palestinian participants have participated in the courses and workshops, and over a thousand facilitators have been trained, who today lead various organizations dealing with political and social change.

Citizens for Environment was one of the first environmental organizations in Israel. Established in 1990 by the residents of the Galilee, its aim is to work together to preserve the environment, natural resources and public health in the area. The association works together with the residents to protect the environment and people from hazards through promoting public awareness of environmental and climate issues. The organisation does that through encouraging and training active environmental leaders, assisting in civil enforcement, collecting and publishing information and promoting environmental legislation and policy.

As part of the project's framework, we will engage with grassroots organizations, Arab local authorities, and local environmental activists.