This document discusses a project to promote urban sustainability in Jerusalem, Israel. The project aims to identify factors influencing sustainability, define goals and indicators to measure progress, and outline a vision for Jerusalem as a sustainable city by drawing on models from other cities. It will incorporate sociological, behavioral, and environmental perspectives. The final report is intended to provide recommendations to policymakers to advance sustainable lifestyles in Jerusalem and across Israel. The lead researchers will present the findings to government officials and other professionals to influence policy changes.

1. Urban Sustainability in Jerusalem
The Challenge The world has become “urbanized,” with more than half of the global population living in urban
settings today – and this trend is likely to continue. In Israel this figure is much higher: 90%
of the population lives in urban enclaves, which is well reflected in consumption patterns and
levels of pollution. At the same time, there are advantages to having large concentrations of
people in given areas: they often share patterns of behavior and can, collectively, change their
attitudes to issues such as efficient exploitation of resources and environmental problems to
give an end-result of more sustainable lifestyles. This project will take Jerusalem, Israel’s largest
city, as a case study for promoting urban sustainability around the country. It will incorporate
sociological and behavioral science aspects as well as environmental theories. The challenge
is to build models for a sustainable lifestyle that will improve the long-term quality of life in
Jerusalem and, based on those models, Israel.
The Project Plan To identify the relevant fields affecting urban »» sustainability
»»To define goals and indicators for measuring progress towards urban sustainability in the
coming years
»»To outline a vision for Jerusalem as a sustainable city, drawing on existing models from
other cities that promote such a lifestyle. Thus, Jerusalem will serve as the “pilot city” for
urban sustainability in Israel
Anticipated Products »»Detailed reports and periodic updates presenting experts’ assessments on the main
components of sustainable lifestyles in the city
»»A Final Report will include recommendations for short- and long-term policy measures
Anticipated Impact The Final Report will be presented to government officials, the mayor, policymakers and other
professionals. Adoption of the project’s findings by the Jerusalem Municipality and/or the
government will suggest a new attitude toward policy that will ultimately advance sustainable
lifestyles in Jerusalem and around Israel. The project will also have implications for local
industry and the business sector.
Lead Researchers Tami Gavrieli, Valerie Brachya, Galit Raz-Dror
Cost Cost of the project: $90,000
The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies (founded in 1978) is an independent,
non-profit think tank, which has been engaged in the study of Jerusalem since its
inception. JIIS research covers a vast range of areas of life in Jerusalem: population,
economy, education, culture, tourism, environment, and more. Key to our success is
our closely guarded integrity, independence, and quality.