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The concept of stewardship  has emerged in recent decades as a critical pillar for reshaping the relationship between investors, corporations, and society. More than simply maximizing returns, stewardship emphasizes a long-term responsibility to safeguard both financial and social value. This article traces the origins of the stewardship idea, outlines its institutionalization in the global Stewardship Code  frameworks, and highlights its growing connection to the ESG movement. Dr. Benny Furst shows how these ideas have gradually spread worldwide, including the development of an international stewardship network that links regulators, institutional investors, and civil society actors. Finally, the article reflects on the challenges and opportunities of embedding stewardship principles into the Israeli market. It raises important questions about how such frameworks can be adapted locally to promote sustainable governance and ensure that financial power is used responsibly. To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog.

This post challenges the long-standing belief that investors care only about financial returns. For decades, capital markets were guided by the doctrine of shareholder value maximization, assuming that profit was the sole objective of anyone holding equity. Yet changing societal expectations – particularly among younger generations – reveal a different reality: many investors want their money to reflect their values, not just generate income. Building on the framework proposed by economists Oliver Hart and Luigi Zingales, the post argues for a shift from maximizing shareholder value to maximizing shareholder welfare, meaning that ethical and social preferences should be considered alongside financial ones. Despite this shift in mindset, most investors are still unable to act on their convictions. Proxy voting remains concentrated in the hands of institutional intermediaries such as pension funds and asset managers, who continue to vote primarily on the basis of returns. To close this gap, new models are emerging across global markets. Direct voting programs give individuals control over how their shares are voted. Value-based voting policies allow investors to choose predefined proxy strategies that reflect their priorities. Mission-driven funds align both capital allocation and voting behavior with stated values. These innovations redefine money not just as capital but as a form of democratic expression – a way to vote through investment. This is not a rejection of profit. It is an expansion of investor freedom, turning sustainability into a matter of choice rather than constraint. To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog

This post explores FoodTech as a critical intersection of food and innovation—responding to growing environmental, social, and regulatory pressures. Traditional food systems, especially those based on animal products, are no longer sustainable. In contrast, FoodTech offers scalable solutions that integrate ESG values into core product and infrastructure design.   The discussion highlights emerging technologies such as alternative proteins, vertical farming, and smart supply chain tools. These innovations reduce greenhouse gas emissions, resource usage, and food waste—yet their success depends not only on technological advancement but also on cultural acceptance, investor confidence, and clear regulatory pathways.   The post stresses the market's transition from hype-driven investment to "smart money" that prioritizes B2B infrastructure solutions. At the same time, regulatory clarity and public trust are essential. Strategic communication, early-stage public education, and cross-sector collaboration are necessary to scale solutions.   FoodTech's promise lies not just in technological novelty—but in creating a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable global food system.   To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog

Israel is one of the most densely populated countries in the OECD, with a fast-growing population and limited land. Rapid urban expansion consumes about 30 km² of open spaces each year, fragmenting natural habitats. This process weakens biodiversity, increases vulnerability to climate change, and undermines essential ecosystem services. To address these challenges, Israeli planning authorities have begun integrating ecological corridors  into national and regional spatial plans. These corridors connect open landscapes and protected areas, enabling wildlife movement, genetic exchange, and the preservation of resilient ecosystems. While development projects such as roads or railways may intersect them, new planning rules require ecological crossings or alternative solutions to maintain continuity. International experience highlights the effectiveness of such approaches. France’s “Green and Blue Grid,” the Netherlands’ national corridor system, and Germany’s legal framework for ecological networks all show how connecting nature can coexist with urban growth while enhancing long-term sustainability. Beyond ecological benefits, the corridors hold significant economic value. Ecosystem services in Israel are estimated at 6.49 billion NIS annually, including food provision, climate regulation, and flood prevention. Preserving open spaces also reduces future public spending on disaster recovery and infrastructure, while boosting property values near green areas. Ultimately, maintaining ecological continuity is not only an environmental necessity but also a strategic economic investment. By protecting and strengthening open space connectivity, Israel can secure both biodiversity and social resilience, ensuring healthier communities and stronger long-term growth. To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog.

This post critiques the overemphasis on carbon metrics in ESG strategy—what the authors call "Carbon Tunnel Vision". While carbon accounting offers clarity and comparability, it risks narrowing the definition of sustainability to a technical exercise, sidelining broader impacts and deeper transformations. Instead, the authors advocate for a holistic approach that treats sustainability as an organizational and cultural shift—not just a data point. Day-to-day operational changes—like employee commuting habits, reducing single-use plastics, and managing waste—are not just tactical moves but powerful levers for shifting mindsets and behaviors. By engaging employees in tangible, habit-forming actions and designing infrastructure that enables sustainable choices, organizations can move beyond compliance toward true transformation. This shift fosters innovation, strengthens internal engagement, and enhances long-term resilience and employer branding. Read the full post in Hebrew on our main blog

In May 2025, Germany’s Supreme Court dismissed a Peruvian farmer’s lawsuit against energy giant RWE, which argued that the company’s historic emissions contributed to glacial melt threatening his home. While the court found no imminent risk sufficient to justify compensation, it established groundbreaking principles: corporations may face civil liability for their proportional contribution to climate damages – even when those damages occur abroad. The RWE case marks a turning point in global climate litigation, reinforcing the sharp rise in lawsuits against fossil fuel companies since the Paris Agreement. Courts in Europe, the U.S., and beyond are increasingly holding both states and corporations accountable for climate impacts – from the Urgenda ruling in the Netherlands to a landmark 2024 decision against Switzerland at the European Court of Human Rights. These rulings highlight how civil and constitutional law are evolving into proactive tools for accountability and prevention. In Israel, climate litigation is still in its early stages, but existing doctrines such as nuisance and breach of statutory duty could provide a legal basis. Inspired by global precedents, Israeli courts and legislators will likely face growing pressure to clarify the scope of corporate liability for climate-related harms. Ultimately, RWE signals that companies are not shielded by geography or time from accountability for greenhouse gas emissions. For Israel and other states, it is both a warning and an opportunity to adapt legal systems to the realities of a warming world. To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog

This post presents key insights from the authors 2024 research into the perceptions of senior figures in Israel’s capital market regarding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and corporate responsibility. Based on in-depth interviews with 23 executives, regulators, investors, and opinion leaders, the study reveals a market still lagging behind global leaders, with fragmented awareness, inconsistent implementation, and minimal regulation. The findings highlight skepticism about ESG’s financial relevance, a lack of reliable local ESG metrics, cultural barriers, and insufficient media engagement – conditions that fuel greenwashing and limit investor demand. Unlike Europe’s regulator-driven approach or the United States’ politically polarized "post-ESG" climate, Israel’s ESG development remains slow and largely uncoordinated. The research outlines a comprehensive roadmap focusing on education and research, the creation of a transparent and credible Israeli ESG index, unified and mandatory ESG disclosure aligned with global standards, and a broad cultural shift to raise public awareness and foster cross-sector cooperation. Closing Israel’s ESG gap is both a market necessity and a societal opportunity, with the potential to boost competitiveness, attract responsible investment, and strengthen the long-term resilience of Israel’s economy and society. To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog.

Israel ranks among the top ten countries in per-capita use of single-use tableware, generating about 13 billion pieces of waste annually. Past regulatory measures, such as taxes, proved temporary – once removed, old habits quickly returned.   This post introduces a behavioral policy approach based on the COM-B model – Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation – as a tool for diagnosing and addressing the root causes of persistent single-use habits. The model helps organizations map physical and psychological abilities, social and infrastructural opportunities, and both reflective and automatic motivations that shape behavior.   By applying COM-B in four diverse organizations, tailored interventions – ranging from removing single-use items from offices to strengthening social norms for reusables – achieved measurable reductions. The research shows that real change requires more than awareness campaigns; it demands targeted, evidence-based strategies that work within each organization’s unique context.   Ultimately, the path to sustainability is not just about providing alternatives, but about reshaping the habits, environments, and motivations that drive everyday choices.   To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog

This post argues that traditional ESG disclosures overlook a critical dimension: Climate justice. Glossy reports often highlight direct emission cuts yet ignore broader social impacts, especially on vulnerable communities most exposed to environmental harm. Embedding climate justice principles means looking beyond compliance to questions of fairness—who bears the risks, who shares the benefits, and whose voices are heard.   The author outlines practical steps companies can take: mapping at-risk groups near operations, making environmental data publicly accessible, involving communities in decision making, prioritizing projects that serve marginalized areas, and ensuring boards integrate social climate risks into strategy and compensation. These measures transform ESG from a metrics exercise into a tool for equitable transition.   Climate justice reporting is not philanthropy—it strengthens resilience, reduces reputational risk, and builds trust with investors and society. Companies that adopt this lens will lead the shift toward a low-carbon economy that leaves no one behind.   To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog

This paper examines the critical relationship between climate action and economic stability, arguing that the transition to a low-carbon economy represents both an environmental necessity and a significant economic opportunity. Despite decades of international climate agreements, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise while climate impacts intensify worldwide. The analysis reveals a substantial gap between declared emission reduction targets and actual implementation, demonstrating that existing technologies can achieve the majority of required emission reductions by 2050. The study shows that rapid decarbonization is not only compatible with economic growth but essential for preventing catastrophic economic losses from climate damages. The author argues that climate crisis management is fundamentally economic risk management, both globally and locally. While climate inaction poses severe economic threats through extreme weather events and systemic disruption, the transition to renewable energy and clean technologies offers unprecedented economic opportunities, as evidenced by countries that have successfully decoupled emissions from economic growth. The paper concludes that achieving Net Zero by 2050 requires coordinated action from policymakers, businesses, and civil society, with clear carbon pricing mechanisms and strategic investments in clean energy infrastructure. The author recommends viewing the low-carbon transition not as an economic burden but as a pathway to sustainable prosperity, emphasizing that the choice is between costly climate damages and profitable climate solutions. Author : Yoni Sapir, CEO of Future Climate Innovation Company

This post challenges the conventional separation between marketing and ESG, arguing that marketing is not just compatible with ESG—it's essential to it. From responsible advertising and inclusive design to circular product strategies and socially driven branding, marketing decisions shape how ESG values are understood, experienced, and acted upon.   While regulatory frameworks have formalized ESG reporting, the deeper opportunity lies in how brands embed these values into their products, messaging, and customer relationships. Consumers increasingly reward brands that align with their ethics—not just in what they sell, but in how they sell it.   The post presents a framework called "Impact Marketing", which integrates environmental and social concerns into core marketing functions. This includes ethical communication, sustainable product development, inclusive outreach, and the cultivation of emotional resonance around shared purpose.   Ultimately, ESG should not be an external checklist—it should be a strategic lens that shapes how brands connect, differentiate, and lead.   To read the full article, visit our Hebrew main blog

Presenteeism, defined as employees attending work while ill, represents a widespread phenomenon with significant implications for both individual well-being and organizational performance. Pre-pandemic data reveals that 60% of Israeli employees reported attending work during illness, compared to 42% in the European Union and 68% in the United States. This practice carries substantial health and economic consequences, including the spread of infectious diseases to colleagues and clients, deterioration of the individual's health condition, and decreased productivity. While absenteeism results in a complete loss of daily productivity, presenteeism creates harder-to-quantify costs through reduced output, professional errors, and safety violations. Research suggests that the cumulative costs of presenteeism may exceed those of absenteeism, challenging traditional organizational perspectives on attendance.   The factors driving presenteeism are multifaceted, encompassing individual health status, gender-related considerations, workplace stress, negative organizational behaviors, levels of job autonomy, and organizational culture. Israeli research findings reveal significant gender disparities, with women exhibiting higher rates of presenteeism, particularly pronounced in the education sector where 15% of the workforce is employed. Critically, the study demonstrates that managerial support and assistance significantly reduce presenteeism rates, suggesting that organizations can effectively address this issue through supportive management cultures. Given the dual impact on employee welfare and public health—especially relevant for infectious diseases—organizations must develop comprehensive approaches that prioritize both worker well-being and broader social responsibility, recognizing presenteeism as a systemic organizational climate issue requiring strategic intervention. Haim Bleikh is a researcher at the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel. This post is based on his 2024 study (Hebrew).