2026 Reports

Climate Ambassadors: A City University Climate Education Program

Price, Colin; Lax, Judi

Tel Aviv University's Climate Initiative (PlanNetZero), launched in June 2021, consolidates academic capabilities to address the climate crisis. It fosters multidisciplinary partnerships with government, local authorities, civil society, and businesses to develop innovative, applicable solutions. A key urban initiative is the "Climate Ambassadors" program, a four-year educational project connecting academia with young communities by imparting age-appropriate climate knowledge. Scholarship students receive scientific and pedagogical training, then guide elementary school students (5th-7th grades) through experiential activities, including experiments, games, and discussions on practical solutions. This creates a two-stage knowledge transfer, empowering children with a sense of personal efficacy for climate action. The program tackles the gap in climate change education among young ages and aims to strengthen their sense of agency. Key stakeholders include academia, municipalities (primarily Tel Aviv-Yafo), educational organizations like "Education for Summits," and various schools nationwide. Over 1,300 students, from both central and peripheral areas, Jewish and Arab, have participated, demonstrating the broad feasibility of integrating environmental education into large-scale urban programs.

Keywords: climate education; university-city collaboration; youth-led engagement