The Chase for Shade: Trees as Essential Urban Infrastructure

We are all familiar with the furnace-like feeling on an Israeli street at the height of summer. Within the scorching urban space, trees are much more than an aesthetic element; they are essential cooling infrastructure. They provide a range of environmental services, from managing runoff water and reducing traffic accidents to having a dramatic impact on thermal comfort. Unlike artificial materials, which heat up and emit radiation, trees act as a natural climate regulator.

However, the path to increasing shade is full of barriers. Most local authorities lack a single entity responsible for urban trees, and there is a shortage of professionals in agronomy and arboriculture. Trees often face conflict with parking lots, bicycle paths, and underground utilities, frequently being planted in pits too small to allow for proper growth.

A New Concept for Urban Forestry

The "Derech Tzel" organization, operating under the Green Council, was established to support the government’s target of 70% shade by 2040. Its goal is to shift the perception of trees from mere landscaping to essential infrastructure that requires professional management and dedicated budgeting.

Noa Shavit Gogol, professional director at "Derech Tzel," explains: "A tree in the city is a challenge in itself. In paved urban spaces, it is difficult to provide the conditions for a tree to thrive, so it must be constantly protected." Yuval Dov Jean, director of the local authorities division, adds: "The goal is not just to plant trees, but to use the right methods that will allow them to provide real shade in the decades to come."

How Central Cities Are Coping

Israeli cities are increasingly prioritizing shade to reduce climate inequality between neighborhoods:

Rishon LeZion: With an annual budget of about 3 million shekels, the city has established an inter-departmental "Shade Forum" and aims to increase street shade from 8.5% to 30% by 2040.
Bat Yam: Investing 6.5 million shekels in 2026, the city enforces a policy requiring at least 1.5 meters of soil depth above underground structures in new construction projects.
Rehovot: Implementing a multi-year plan with a 1.25 million shekel budget, the city prioritizes high-traffic areas like transit stations and pedestrian paths for shade improvements.
Holon: The city promotes "acclimatizing roofs" and integrates shaded bicycle networks into its municipal development plans to reduce the urban heat island effect.

Defining the tree as essential urban infrastructure is the key to achieving national goals and ensuring a sane urban routine in a warming world.