The Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality presented to the public a detailed climate action plan on Aug. 5, making it the first Israeli municipality program designed to cope with the threat of climate change.

The climate action plan took several months to develop. The process took place within the framework of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a global network of cities fighting global warming. Tel Aviv-Yafo is part of this network that includes Durban in South Africa, Chengdu in China, Jakarta in Indonesia and many more. As such, it is committed to adopting a program for adapting to climate change, including preparing for rising temperatures and changes to rainfall trends and quantities.

The plan is composed of three parts. First, Israeli experts identified the specific climate threats Tel Aviv is currently facing. They include, for instance, a yearly increase of approximately 30 days exceeding 33 degrees Celsius over the next decade, expected rising sea levels and an increase in population groups considered to be vulnerable. The second portion lists the city's two key objectives: temperature reduction and water management. The third portion outlines how the city will operate and the efforts that will be employed to realize these objectives.

The plan is short and concrete. The authors propose three phases of action: an immediate response (for this year and the next), a gradual response (by 2030) and then the fostering of urban innovation in a more global approach. The immediate response includes steps like reducing the removal of trees, strict implementation of permeation requirements in construction plans and permits and enabling solar energy independence for public buildings during times of crisis. All are measures that the public can understand, support and promote.