TAM Report / Israel - Sustainability

GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: Sustainability in Higher Education, Sustainable Development Goals, Waste Management and Recycling

Type of Event: Conference

Modality: Online

Country: Israel

Dates: 16- 17 December 2024

Participants: The TAM gathered approximately 70 participants (attendance fluctuated across sessions), including sustainability officers, academic leaders, faculty members, policymakers, operational managers, administrative staff, and students engaged in sustainability initiatives at Israeli higher education institutions.

THEMES COVERED

• Behavioral science approaches for promoting SDGs on campus
• Waste management, recycling, and strategies for changing consumption habits
• Student-led sustainability initiatives
• Community service as a tool for deepening SDG awareness
• Positive sustainability and campus engagement
• Institutional strategies for integrating sustainability into governance and daily operations
• National Green Campus initiatives and tools to support CHE policies
• Development of regional networks for SDG promotion (e.g., Sapir College × Tel Hai College)

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

• Gained a deeper understanding of how behavioral science can drive sustainable practices within higher education institutions.
• Learned practical, evidence-based strategies to reduce environmental footprints, improve waste management, and promote sustainable behaviors.
• Highlighted the importance of student-centered approaches, recognizing students as future societal leaders capable of driving SDG initiatives.
• Strengthened awareness and capacity to support national Green Campus policies and align institutional practices with national sustainability goals.
• Identified opportunities for regional collaboration between HEIs affected by conflict (e.g., Sapir and Tel Hai Colleges), leading to a planned joint Erasmus+ project on SDG promotion.

• Improved their knowledge of how to integrate community service, academic management, research, and campus activities into unified sustainability strategies.

   

OVERVIEW

The TAM “Online Conference on Behavioral Approaches to Promote SDG on Campus” focused on integrating behavioral science into sustainability efforts across Israeli higher education institutions. The two-day programme included thematic sessions for academic staff, operational managers, and student leaders, featuring keynote presentations, case studies, and interactive workshops.

The event explored how behavioral insights can support waste reduction, strengthen SDG awareness, and encourage sustainable habits among campus communities. Contributions from Israeli institutions enriched the programme with local best practices. The TAM also facilitated collaboration between institutions located in conflict-affected regions, laying the groundwork for a joint Erasmus+ initiative on regional SDG promotion. Overall, the conference provided participants with practical strategies, actionable tools, and inspiration to advance campus sustainability aligned with national priorities and the SDGs.

THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY

Title of the activity: Green Leaders in Higher Education Meeting

Dates: 1 July 2025

Audience: The webinar brought together 62 registered participants from over 20 higher education institutions across Israel. Attendees included senior campus operations staff, sustainability leaders, architects and planners, academic researchers, student representatives, and public-sector experts.

Description: The follow-up event—held online—brought together green leaders and sustainability practitioners from higher education institutions across Israel to deepen the conversation initiated during the December 2024 TAM on promoting the SDGs in academia. This webinar focused specifically on shading solutions, greenery, and urban forestry as tools for creating sustainable, climate-resilient learning environments on campus.

Featuring leading experts from universities and national research institutes, the session showcased real-world projects, scientific insights, and practical campus applications. Presentations highlighted how trees and shading infrastructure influence microclimates, air quality, student experience, and long-term sustainability planning. The event offered participants actionable examples—from experimental urban parks to citizen-science mapping projects—and fostered knowledge exchange across operational, academic, and policy spheres.

The meeting continued to build a national sustainability network by strengthening professional ties, inspiring future collaborations, and preparing institutions for upcoming policy opportunities under the PBC’s green campus initiatives.

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

• Introduce sustainability requirements for all higher education institutions at national level.
• Create central coordination mechanisms to support nationwide knowledge sharing on sustainability practices.
• Strengthen support for staff engaged in sustainability and reform activities by simplifying administrative demands and providing recognition.
• Promote behavioral approaches to waste management, including making waste more visible to influence campus culture.
• Increase student involvement in Erasmus+ initiatives linked to sustainability and SDG-focused projects.
• Improve synchronisation between consumers, institutional management, and suppliers to reinforce waste reduction and resource efficiency.
• Encourage HEIs to adoptpractical tools for promoting SDGs, including student engagement models and community service.
• Develop national infrastructure and legislative reforms to support sustainability implementation across universities.

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

• Loschelder, D.D., Siepelmeyer, H., Fischer, D. and Rubel, J.A. (2019) ‘Dynamic norms drive sustainable consumption: Norm-based nudging helps café customers to avoid disposable to-go-cups’, Journal of Economic Psychology, 75(A).