Press Release From 2021

Idan Liebes, Energy and Smart Mobility Policy Researcher at The Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy Research, discusses Israel’s EV charging infrastructure and the challenges in meeting the exponential growth in EV charging demands.

Link to the full article on Innovation Platform 

Link to the article on Funtitech

How much methane does the gas industry emit in Israel?

The government doesn't know.

The Ministry of Energy stated in its report: "The impact of the gas sector on methane emissions is negligible"
Contrary to the recommendations of the Samuel Neaman Institute Report, there is no comprehensive and reliable collection of emissions data in Israel.

Link to the full report on Globes

Link to 'ZIKUK' report

An interview with Prof. Ofira Ayalon, Senior Researcher at Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion, and environmental policy researcher at University of Haifa: On the need for a proper waste management, and better coordination between the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the local authorities

Link to the full interview (Strats at 22:20)

A forum of researchers from Samuel Neaman Institute and the University of Haifa argues that there are fundamental barriers that do not allow the implementation of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's "zero waste" program and propose to begin implementing a waste separation plan in the business sector first and in the home sector later, while developing facilities to treat the sorted waste

Link to the full article

Link to the Research Report

An interview with Prof. Ofira Ayalon, Senior Researcher at Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion, and environmental policy researcher at University of Haifa, on the trillions of dollar question: is it still possible to contain the climate crisis?

Link to the full interview

Prof. Ofira Ayalon, Senior Researcher at Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion, and the University of Haifa, explains the challenges, problems, and progress that Israel has made so far and how our lives will look like with 100% renewable energies.

Link to the full article on Ynet

An interview with Prof. Ofira Ayalon, Senior Researcher at Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion, and environmental policy researcher at University of Haifa, on the expected doubling of the prices of disposable plastic utensils cutlery with the new taxation.

The bottom line is that this tax will minimize a small amount of the waste and therefore, it will be another economic burden.

Link to the full interview in Galaz - The interview with Prof. Ofira Ayalon starts at 21:46.

The idea of a tunnel crossing the Carmel arose since the British Mandate ruled the country. Decades later, along with reduced travel times, countless allegations have been made against the company that operates the Carmel Tunnels.

A Research made by Samuel Neaman institute and “EcoFinance”, found that since the opening of the tunnels, there has been a 40 percent drop in transportation loads during peak hours on major arteries, along with savings of about six million liters of fuel annually, reduced air pollution and a positive significant change in air quality.

Link to the full article.

Head of Environment & Energy Cluster at Samuel Neaman Institute and a senior researcher at the University of Haifa Prof. Ofira Ayalon, who headed the Israeli Climate Change Information Center, tells TheMarker magazine that the damage caused by climate change so far is so extensive that it cannot be quantified.

Link to the full article

As part of the National Emissions Report (iPRTR), a chapter was devoted to the issue of methane.

In this section, an international review of studies on methane emissions, conducted by Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion for the Ministry of Environmental Protection,
found that the average volume of methane emissions from production is 0.5%-3%.

Data obtained from this year, indicate that the volume of methane emissions are much higher than what is known so far

Link to the Full Article on Globes

Link to data from Ministry of Environmental Protection 

Link to another article on the subject 

Benet and Bar-Lev launched a new police department to fight the crime in Arab society while it seems that there is no patience left there, even among those living in mixed cities.

A survey published last week by the Avraham Initiatives Association and the Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion shows that in mixed cities, the fear of violence is greater than in the Arab cities

Link to the full article on Walla News

What is the connection between cars, meat, and the environmental protection? Innovation.

Prof. Ofira Ayalon, explains that these industries, understood the top-down regulation requirements and the bottom-up consumers’ requirements, and decided to suggest ways to reduce their environmental impact. Some are Green-wash, and some are indeed essential to the company's activities and help reduce the harmful effects.

Link to the ful article

The new Carbon Tax that was approved this week by the government offices, does not consider the methane emissions claiming they are “very low”.

Research from Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion claims differently and sets there are not enough reliable data to decide the real methane emissions in Israel.

Link to the full article

Despite the ambitious goal of switching to renewable energy, regulation in Israel currently allows the construction of agrivoltaics systems intended for "dual use", a combination of agriculture and renewable energy production, only in reservoirsand on greenhouse roofs.

A new report by the Samuel Neaman Institute proposes measures to promote the implementation of the systems in the agriculture industry

Link to the full article

Leading education systems in the world that have succeeded in improving student achievement have done so through comprehensive reforms that have focused on a variety of educational aspects – from a research written by Dr. Eli Eisenberg and Ayelet Raveh from Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion

Link to the full Article on "The Marker"

The statement follows the recommendation given by a committee established by Technion’s president Prof. Uri Sivan early in 2020, to examine ways to increase women representation in the Technion’s Academic faculty, committees, decision making and management.

Prof. Irad Yavneh Director of Samuel Neaman Institute and Prof. Orit Hazzan, senior researcher in Samuel Neaman Institute were part of this initiative as committee members.

Link to the full article.

This article presents the new book written by Prof. Shlomo Maital and Rafi Nave: “Aspiration, Inspiration, Perspiration: How Technion Faculty and Graduates Fuse Creativity and Technology to Change the World.”

Together they spent much of the COVID year conducting interviews via Zoom with more than 100 notable Technion graduates asking them about their life journeys, innovations and how it all came about.

Link to the full article in the JP.

From an article based on research from Ilia Zatcovetsky, Ayelet Raveh and  Dr. Daphne Getz: 
Brazilian Jews have more reason than ever to leave their country and possess skills very much needed in Israel.

To the full article.

To the Research.

A study, first of its kind in Israel, in collaboration with Prof. Ofira Ayalon, combines all the available information on food waste in Israel.

Along with the data on food waste, the study offers possible models for reducing it, from growers and manufacturers to the household.

Link to the full item.

An article that gives an overview on the northern region of Israel, with reference to one of the most important and thorough documents written in recent years on the issue of economic development in the Galilee: "Upgrading the Economic System of the North of the State" written as initiative of the Ministry of Economy and the Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion.

Link to the full article.

Israel is 7 to 10 years behind the world in the field of energy production from clean hydrogen, according to a new report from Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion.

The report researchers Gershon Grossman, head of Energy Forum in SNI and Naama Shapira say that the use of hydrogen can help address critical energy challenges, but some significant steps are needed to promote the issue in Israel.

Link to the ful article on Calcalist.

What are the guiding principles for climate legislation in Israel?
What are the key components of effective legislation?
What can be learned from countries that have already completed climate legislation?

A discussion of these issues took place as part of an international expert workshop.
As part of a joint venture between the Samuel Neaman Institute and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, which examines the issues, important principles were presented at the workshop, such as the appointment of an advisory committee, transparency, and accountability in the emerging law, along with the need to set clear and measurable goals.

Link to the full article on News1.

Link to the full article in 'Hayadan'.

This video story was aired at prime time on Israel’s leading national news program, featuring Neaman Senior Researcher Professor Rachelle Alterman.
While ostensibly focusing on one upper-income towers enclave in Tel Aviv, the story is in effect offers scathing criticism of Israeli urban policies.

These promote construction of towers in most cities and for most socio-economic groups. The justification offered - that towers are mandatory to due to Israel’s small size and population growth – is countered by Alterman, who unveils several undesirable aspects of tower construction and living which will lead to negative impacts.

Link to the full story on 12 News.

A new development makes it possible to turn plastic bags from polluting waste into glue - is this idea will help to reduce the ongoing environmental damage of disposable plastic?

Prof. Ofira Ayalon explains whether this idea is promising as we would like to believe.

Link to the full Article on Ynet.

Link To the full Article in Zavit.

One might think that in a country addicted to cars like Israel, electric cars would be a hit. But as things currently stands, it heads towards a glorious miss.

Idan Liebes, an energy and smart mobility policy researcher at the Samuel Neaman Institute, explains that it’ll be an uphill battle as long as the country will remain addicted to taxes from vehicles that run on fuel, which amounts to roughly one-tenth of its tax revenues.

Link to the full article published in "Haaretz".

Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg is selected by the INSS Board of Directors to head the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), replacing Maj. Gen. (ret.) Amos Yadlin, who is completing a decade as Executive Director of the Institute.

Link to the full Article on GLOBS

Link to INSS Article

A recent report written by researchers at the Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion and the Israel Democracy Institute, criticizes the new recruitment outline proposed by the “Pnimma” NGO.

The authors, Dr. Reuven Gal, Dr. Asaf Malhi, Prof. Stuart Cohen, claim that "the proposed outline is based on weak assumptions that are not sufficiently well-founded and on recommendations that have significant internal contradictions."

A link to the full article in Haaretz.

An interview with Prof. Ofira Ayalon from Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion.

Link to the full article.

Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg: "A huge revolution is expected in the labor market, in which, occupations to which we have become accustomed will disappear"

This was stated from an interview by the editor of TheMarker, at the "The Day After" conference, which was held by TheMarker and Bank Leumi, and deals with strategies for getting out of the crisis.

A link to the full article.

Israel is not the only place with urban renewal projects, says Professor Rachelle Alterman, Senior Researcher at the Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy Research.
However, she emphasizes, there are not many countries where the law enables condominium owners to decide to demolish and rebuilt by means of a reduced majority.
This is important to overcome “holdout” apartment owners. This rule is crucial in Israel, unlike some other countries, because most of our buildings are in condominium tenure.
This makes the decision-making process more complicated.

The Ministry found that the volume of methane, an aggressive greenhouse gas, in Israel is very small - which is inconsistent with data from the world.
A study conducted at the Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion found that the global average of emissions from natural gas is 1.7%.

The start-up UBQ recycles household waste into plastics, which has already become products at Walmart, Mercedes and McDonald's.

Prof. Ofira Ayalon, head of the environment cluster at Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion and a faculty member of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management at the University of Haifa, has doubts about the technology: “In each technology there is a mass balance- what goes in has to go out. I don't know if it goes out into the product or whether it goes out into the air or water".

The Ministry's plan was designed to increase waste recycling, by separating it into three bins.
To implement it will require government investment, a new dedicated law and the cooperation of local authorities that oppose the Ministry’s proposals.
Prof. Ofira Ayalon from Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion and her colleague, Dr. Shira Daskal, recently analyzed the barriers to the management of municipal waste in Israel and presented the causes for previous failures.

The link to the full article, published in Ha'aretz

Due to the huge debt created by the corona crisis, the next government will have to raise taxes while reforming the tax system.
Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg and Itamar Popliker have drafted a such proposal in a new policy paper

This week, 128 scientists approached the Prime Minister, demanding that the Israeli Government will develop a low-carbon economy.
Among the signatories are Prof. Ofira Ayalon and Dr. Tzipi Eshet of Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion.

The senior economist and former member of the Knesset Finance Committee, Prof. Trajtenberg, warns that the government’s largesse has been mostly misguided - a tax reform is badly needed that will raise taxes while improving the lot of small business and low earners.

An Israeli company markets innovative technology among large companies and government ministries that reduces the use of paper and affects the environmental organizational culture in the ministries.
“The paper production process requires lots of energy and use of water" says Prof. Ofira Ayalon.

The Ministries of Economy and Environmental Protection have formulated a national plan to promote circular economy- a concept that aims to leave resources in the cycle of production and consumption for a long period of time, instead of becoming waste. A few months ago, Samuel Neaman Institute at the Technion
published the findings of a comprehensive survey that identifies barriers to implement circular economy processes.

Australians plan to revolutionize waste management to deal with the economic crisis. And what about Israel? Prof. Ofira Ayalon says: "we should leverage the crisis to an opportunity and make lemonade from lemons"

The following are the words of Dr. Reuven Gal, Shmuel Ne'eman Institute, Head of the ‘Ultra-Orthodox Integration’ Project: If the characteristics of the ultra-Orthodox public do not change significantly, the State of Israel is expected to reach within about two decades an ultra-Orthodox majority that will be poor, mostly unproductive, relying on government support and not involved in Israeli society and economy.