Jerusalem continues to lead in dealing with climate change

For the next three years, the city of Jerusalem will work together with 40 organizations to develop a set of new technologies and solutions that will improve the resistance of critical infrastructure to the effect of pandemics and other risks such as climate change.        

Jerusalem is the only city in Israel participating in the project, and it is doing so as part of its great involvement and investment in dealing with climate change in Israel. The municipal plan for dealing with climate change is intended to ensure the strength of the city's natural, physical, economic and social infrastructures amid the reality of the changing climate and extreme weather events. The goal of the plan is to ensure the security and the health of residents of the city, prevent risks and develop economic leverage.  

The new "Sunrise" project, which funded by the European Union, and is based on international sharing of knowledge, is intended to ensure the availability, reliability and continuous operation of critical municipal infrastructures such as public transportation, energy, water and health services. 

As one of the goals of the project, the Municipality will share its knowledge in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis and other large-scale crises in order to help develop technologies to boost the Municipality's capabilities in times of crisis. In addition, the city will serve as part of the studying process in order to have a positive influence on decisionmaking, policy change and use of technologies.  

The municipal plan includes a wide range of activities for dealing with climate change, such as reducing emissions and restricting air pollution; the planting of trees in public areas; the establishment of a group of youth leaders to support the environment; the development and expansion of the electricity-based public transportation system such as the light rail; the paving of a network of 200 km of bike paths; the expansion of the "Jerufun" municipal bike rental system; the establishment of dozens of charging stations for electric vehicles; as well as additional municipal initiatives that contribute to the reduction of air pollution in the city.     

The mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion, said "The Municipality of Jerusalem has set itself a goal of transforming the capital of Israel into the country's leader in the environmental field as well, and I am proud that Jerusalem is taking part in this important project. International cooperation will contribute to coping with climate change in the city and will enable residents of the city to continue to breathe the clean mountain air for many years to come."