Stitching Israel’s Climate Future Together

In April, my longtime friend Ladeene Freimuth invited me to a special Earth Day event at the Embassy of Israel to the United States. The gathering was organized by a small but mighty team: Sarah Milgrim, who led climate work for the embassy; her mentor and boss, Minister Sawsan Hasson; and others. Together, they brought in Eran Ben Yemini, CEO of Life & Environment (Chaim V’Sviva)—the umbrella organization for more than 150 Israeli environmental NGOs.

The event was, in many ways, a reflection of what Israel’s climate movement is all about: different people, diverse backgrounds, unique talents—stitched together like a vibrant, purposeful quilt. Each square holds its own story, but together, they form something stronger and more beautiful.

Not long after that day, tragedy struck. Sarah and her partner, Yaron Lischinsky, were murdered. I wrote about them here and am still shocked by the horrors of it. Amid the heartbreak of their loss—and in the shadow of war with Iran—I realized I had yet to share the important lessons from that Earth Day gathering.

The Quilt of Israel’s Climate Movement

Eran Ben Yemini’s own story is a thread in this fabric. A physicist by training, he pivoted from science to activism, founding Green Course in 1997, one of Israel’s first major environmental justice movements. He later co-founded the Green Movement political party and chaired the Heschel Center for Sustainability. In his TedTalk that he did 11 years ago, he shared that his passion for nature comes from his love of people.

Now, as CEO of Life & Environment, Ben Yemini helps stitch together Israel’s sprawling environmental community. “At Life & Environment, we are building the backbone of Israel’s environmental movement — supporting, connecting, and amplifying the work of over 150 organizations nationwide,” he said. The nonprofit organization has 20 people on its staff.

Under his leadership, L&E has become a vital hub for collaboration, driving three major national initiatives:

The Israeli Climate Coalition, uniting over 100 NGOs behind shared climate goals.

The Israeli Presidential Climate Forum, launched by President Herzog and chaired by Dr. Dov Khenin, shaping national strategy.

Aclima, a new hub helping local governments prepare for climate adaptation.

From Grassroots to Government

“In Israel, climate leadership is growing not only from government halls, but from the ground up — in communities, cities, and civil society,” Ben Yemini said.

L&E’s work includes empowering municipalities, training leaders from Arab society, placing environmental advocates inside government agencies, and supporting grassroots campaigns. It’s a movement where biodiversity, clean air, climate justice, and animal rights are not separate squares—they’re part of the same quilt.

Democracy, Climate, and Resilience Interwoven

Ben Yemini put it bluntly: “The fight for environmental justice is inseparable from the fight for democracy, equity, and public health. We can’t build climate resilience without trust, participation, and strong local leadership.”

That’s a crucial reminder in this painful moment for Israel and the Jewish people. As we defend ourselves, fight antisemitism, and mourn our dead, we must also look toward the future—the air our children will breathe, the water they will drink, the land that sustains us all.

Honoring a Legacy, Strengthening the Future

If Sarah Milgrim were still with us, I know she’d be helping stitch together this quilt of climate action—across borders, communities, and generations. Supporting the work of Eran Ben Yamini, Minister Sawsan Hasson, Ladeene Freimuth and the entire Life & Environment network isn’t just climate work. It’s nation-building. It’s tikkun olam. It’s honoring those we’ve lost while investing in the Israel—and the world—we hope to hand down.