Conference Climate For Change

Climate for Change Conference 

17.09.2023, Golden Crown, Nazerth

09:00 – 09:30 | Registration and Reception

09:30 – 10:00 | Opening Session
Welcome Remarks:

• Dr. Abed Alsalam Masalha, Board Director, The Galilee Society
• Mazen Ganayem, Chairman of the National Committee of Heads of Local Authorities
• Nahid Khazem, Mayor of Shefa-’Amr
• Mr. Eduardo Fernandez-Zincke, Head of Operations Section, Delegation of the European Union to Israel

10:00 – 10:30 | Keynote Speech

• Governmental and Local Preparedness for Climate Change – Dr. Amiel Vasel, Director of the Senior Department of Climate Resilience at the Ministry of Environmental Protection

10:30 – 11:30 | Session #1: Our Resilience Journey: At the Heart of Shefa-‘Amr’s Climate Model

• Climate Vulnerabilities in Shefa-‘Amr: Between Theory and Local Narratives – Alix Pahaut, PhD Student at University of Haifa and Researcher in Building Climate Resilience Project in Shefa-Amr
• Governing for Tomorrow: Navigating Climate Challenges in Changing Conditions – Alaa Obeid, Project Coordinator in Building Climate Resilience Project in Shefa-Amr, The Galilee Society
• Community Voices: Local Stories of Community Resilience – Manar Sarie Weiss, Community Coordinator, Building Climate Resilience Project in Shefa-Amr, The Galilee Society

11:30 – 11:45 | Coffee Break

11:45 – 12:15 | Session #2: Bridging Gaps: How Research Complements the Picture?

• Planning Framework: Climate Change Preparedness in Arab Localities – Prof. Rasim Khamaisi, Urban Planner and Researcher, University of Haifa
• Shifts in Social Planning Systems and Their Impact on Climate Adaptation – Dr. Maisa Totary, Architect and Urban Planner, Researcher at the Urban Clinic, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• Resilience Mechanisms: Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Adaptation in the Naqab – Lubna Al-Sana, Architect and Urban Planner from Lakia Village in the Naqab

12:15 – 13:00 | Session #3: Climate Governance: Multi-Level Preparedness for Climate Change

• Local Climate Adaptation: From the Drawing Board to the Adapted Street – Dr. Orly Ronen, Director of the Urban Innovation and Sustainability Lab, Porter School of Environmental Studies, Tel Aviv University
• Mechanisms for Building Partnerships in Municipal Work to Address Climate Change – Hanadi Hejres, Director of Sustainable Environmental Planning, Batouf Valley Cities Union for Environmental Quality
• Arab Local Authorities in Climate Crisis Planning: Between Challenges and Opportunities – Sondos Saleh, Director of E.E Compass for Strategic Support for Local Authorities
• Community-Led Initiatives: The Case of Khanoq Park – Intima’ Community Group

13:00 – 13:15 | Coffee Break

13:15 – 14:15 | Session #4: Panel Discussion – Collaborative Approaches to Climate Resilience – Moving Forward
Moderator: Abed Abu Shehadeh, Political Activist from Jaffa, Host of the “Al-Midan” Podcast on Arab 48
Panelists:

• Prof. Rasim Khamaisi, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Haifa
• Dr. Orly Ronen, Director of the Urban Innovation and Sustainability Lab, Porter School of Environmental Studies, Tel Aviv University
• Hanadi Hejres, Director of Sustainable Environmental Planning, the Towns Association for Environmental Quality
• Omar Malak, Director-General of Shefa-Amr Municipality
• Amira Arraf, Director of the Environmental Justice Center, The Galilee Society

14:15 – 14:30 | Summary

• Alaa Obeid, Project Coordinator, Building Climate Resilience in Shefa-’Amr, The Galilee Society

14:30 – 15:30 | Lunch

15:30 – 16:30 | Workshop
Presentation of a Position Paper: “Recommendations to the Government Regarding Climate Adaptation Needs in Arab Localities.”