We believe that the person is part of his environment; he has the right to live in a healthy environment, yet has the duty to protect it for the future generations. We want the people to believe that they have the power to change, to increase their engagement in local and global environmental matters, and to act to ensure sustainable and healthy common space.
Citizens for the Environment (CFE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing the environmental needs and challenges of the Arab community in Israel. Established in 1990 by a group of Galileans in northern Israel CFE has emerged as the leading advocate for environmental sustainability and climate change action within Arab community.
To date, we’ve made significant strides in reshaping public perceptions on various environmental issues, empowering numerous citizen groups, fostering environmental leadership within local communities, and influencing the environment code of conduct of a significant number of factories and plants.
In 2021, CFE achieved a significant milestone by becoming the sole Arab organization authorized to pursue civil enforcement lawsuits against polluters. This groundbreaking achievement underscores CFE’s unwavering commitment to holding accountable those who endanger the environment.
Vision:CFE envisions a just, resilient society where all citizens have access to a clean and healthy environment, can make informed decisions about sustainable resource use, and take actions to safeguard the climate for the well-being and quality of life of current and future generations.
Mission: The organization’s mission is to promote climate justice, protect the right to a clean and healthy environment, and address the impacts of climate change and environmental hazards on the Arab community in Israel. CFE strives to achieve this mission through advocacy, empowering professional leadership, and civil enforcement, in collaboration with community members and partners.
Promote environmental activism and engage local communities in addressing environmental crises and climate change issues.
Advocate for just and inclusive climate policies and strategies that effectively address the impact of environmental hazards and climate change in Arab communities in Israel.