Speaker
Description
The war-induced environmental devastation in Gaza has generated an unprecedented accumulation of over 40 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, posing an acute threat to public health, ecosystems, and regional stability. This research proposes a novel, interdisciplinary model that reframes this waste crisis as an opportunity for circular economy implementation and climate diplomacy.
The project integrates environmental engineering, political ecology, and conflict resolution to design a phased framework for waste valorization, local employment, and ecological rehabilitation. By combining satellite and aerial data with on-the-ground waste audits, we will produce a geospatial mapping of C&D waste streams and develop locally adapted strategies for recovery, sorting, and reuse. The model incorporates international environmental standards alongside diplomatic mechanisms to foster cooperation between Israeli, Palestinian, and global stakeholders.
Gaza’s post-war recovery is not solely a humanitarian imperative - it is a test case for climate justice in conflict zones. The proposed model contributes to both the decarbonization of rebuilding processes and the establishment of a regional platform for environmental diplomacy, with scalable implications for other disaster-affected territories. Expected outputs include a deployable operational model, policy recommendations, and a comparative analysis of circular strategies in post-conflict contexts.
This interdisciplinary research is conducted by a collaborative team that brings together professionals from academia, government, civil society, and international organizations. Participants include researchers in environmental studies and policy, senior experts in sustainable diplomacy, engineers specializing in construction waste management, and advisors from the defense and environmental sectors. Participating institutions include leading Israeli universities, the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, the Mitvim Institute for Regional Foreign Policy, government coordination bodies, international aid organizations, and environmental NGOs active in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The project is supported by the Brody Institute for Applied Diplomacy, which facilitates high-level policy dialogue on post-conflict areas around the globe. The research is embedded within a broader initiative involving thematic roundtables, multi-sectoral forums, and scenario workshops with stakeholders from the defense establishment, civilian ministries, local authorities, and international actors. This cross-sectoral platform provides a rich foundation for applied research and fosters the translation of strategic discourse into operational models for environmental and diplomatic rehabilitation.
