November 15, 2011 -

This article examines how German environmental policymaking over the last 40 years transformed Europe’s economic engine into the international driver of green growth.

Ralph Buehler, Arne Jungjohann, Melissa Keeley, Michael Mehling more»

Growth of Limits

- May 11, 2011 - On the road to ecological modernity, prosperity is possible without having to destroy the basis of our livelihood.
Ralf Fücks more»

Global Environmental Governance and Rio +20: Thinking Big – Doing Little?

- May 1, 2011 - There is little faith in the reform of the UN system; nonetheless, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012 – also known as Rio +20 – is not only to set the stage for a green economy, but also to provide an impetus for the institutional reform of the UN environmental sector. The ministerial-level advisory group brought together by the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) is preparing the reforms. The state of the discussion is analyzed here by Barbara Unmüßig, board member of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

 

more»

Toward a Transatlantic Green New Deal: Tackling the Climate and Economic Crisis

- The Heinrich Boell Foundation has published a report, "Toward a Transatlantic Green New Deal: Tackling the Climate and Economic Crises". The report, which was prepared by the Worldwatch Institute for HBS, is part of a new paradigm for an integrated approach to the climate and economic crises in order to create sustainable economic progress into the future. Read the introduction and download the complete publication»

April 21, 2011 - The Israel office of the Heinrich Boell Stiftung published a Hebrew translation of the book, Myths About Nuclear Energy: How the Energy Lobby is Pulling the Wool Over Our Eyes originally published in German as part of a HBS series on ecology. In addition to the translation, HBS Israel commissioned Dr. Shahar Dolev from the Israel Energy Forum to write a preface and summary in order to provide background and context to the Hebrew speaking audience on nuclear energy and the current discourse in Israel. The book debunks seven commonly held myths on nuclear energy including issues of safety, atomic waste disposal, climate protection among others. Marc Berthold Click here to read the foreword and to download the publication»

Myth of nuclear power - a guide

- The recent earthquake damage to a number of reactors in Japan has again highlighted the potential hazards of nuclear power in a dramatic way. The description of nuclear power as reliable, secure, and a source of unbeatable energy has turned out to be a myth. To address the myths of nuclear power, the Heinrich Böll Foundation has commissioned renowned international nuclear experts to deliver reports that provide the public with an overview of current, facts rich, and nuclear critical know-how. On April 6th, 2011 the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Israel will be co-hosting a conference on the issue of nuclear energy as an option for civilian use together with the Hartog School for Government and Policy at Tel Aviv University and the Israel Energy Forum. We will be launching the book, "Myth of Nuclear Energy", written by Dr. Gerd Rosenkranz and translated into Hebrew with a chapter on the Israeli context written by Dr. Shahar Dolev. More about the conference and the guide»

A European Community for Renewable Energies

- According to an ambitious initiative launched by some of Europe's largest companies, the Sahara will become a power hub to provide renewable energy to Europe by the mid of the century. This project should become a cornerstone of a new European Community for renewable energies. By Ralf Fücks, Co-President of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung more»

Nuclear Power is not an alternative!

- August 23, 2009 - The controversy about the use of nuclear power continues. In connection with the debate about climate change and what can be done about it, the nuclear industry and political forces that support it have undertaken efforts to present the use of nuclear power as a means of combatting climate change. The Heinrich Boell Foundation has published a paper “Nuclear Power – Myth and Reality” as early as February 2006, which argues against this notion.
The heated debate has recently become more evident also in Israel. In the Israeli newspaper Haaretz from August 7, 2009, Gal Luft demanded a serious debate on the use of nuclear energy in Israel, while practically proposing its use. Joern Boehme, the director of the Israel office answered the claims made by Gal Luft concerning the debate in Germany in a letter to the editor, published in Haaretz on August 18, 2009. Read the op-ed by Gal Luft followed by the response letter by Joern Boehme»

January 9, 2011 - In Cancún UN members affirmed that average temperatures on Earth must not rise by more than two degrees. They also decided to establish a new Green Climate Fund and called for a timely follow-up to the Kyoto Protocol. In an interview with Hans Dembowski, Barbara Unmüssig, board member of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, assessed the results. more»

Delegation of Israeli NGO representatives to Cancun

- Balmy weather greeted the hundreds of delegations that arrived in Cancun Mexico on the first week of December for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The Paths to Sustainability Coalition, run by Life & Environment and funded by HBS Israel, sent a delegation of three NGO representatives to participate in the conference following their participation in preparatory meetings with the official Israeli delegation. In addition, the coalition published a position paper in English and Hebrew critiquing Israel's climate policy thus far. The NGO representatives' participation is part of an overall strategy of the coalition to engage decision makers and advance climate policy in Israel.

 

The Coalition’s position paper and more»

The Development of Israeli Policy to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

- August 26, 2010 - The Institute for Desert Environmental Research at Ben Gurion University's Sde Boker campus together with the Heinrich Boell Stiftung’s Israel office hosted a workshop in May which allowed for an objective, international, peer review of the McKinsey / Israeli greenhouse gas mitigation policy. Three top international experts were recruited for the workshop and participated in the day of multi-sector learning and dialogue together with a group of leading academics, environmental leaders from civil society, top officials from the Ministry for Environmental Protection and business leaders from Israel. The next day, the international experts were invited by the Knesset Environment/Health Sub-Committee to present their findings and recommendations. read more and see a video of the workshop»

Climate Change and Democratization - A Complex Relationship

- August 25, 2010 - The paper examines whether democracy at the country level and global climate change matter for another. It raises the question of how to support democracy’s advance in the face of multiple challenges that include the adverse effects of global warming and extreme weather events merits much more attention than it has received so far. Peter Burnell more»

Failure or Oppurtunity?

- March 23, 2010 - From a sheer climate protection perspective, various experts claim that the outcome of the Copenhagen climate conference has been a failure. Two months after the Copenhagen climate summit, this paper sheds some light on the different regional and national evaluations of the conference and analyzes how perceptions on the outcome of the conference vary between key countries and regions. more»

Israel's Road to Copenhagen

- December 9, 2009 - From December 7th to 18th, 2009 the much awaited for United Nations Climate Conference (COP 15) is taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Heinrich Boell Foundation in Israel is supporting a delegation of Israeli NGOs from the Sustainability Coalition  - working under the auspices of the environmental umbrella organization Life & Environment - to actively advocate for a comprehensive climate policy by the Israeli government. more»

350 Campaign Leader Comes to Israel

- October 21, 2009 - Environmental activist, author and co-founder of the 350.org campaign, Bill McKibben came to Israel on September 6-7, 2009 as part of a worldwide tour to raise awareness for climate change action. The 350 campaign is organizing an international effort that will culminate in a global day of climate action on October 24th. Amazingly, there are over 4,200 events scheduled in 170 countries on October 24th, the largest international political action ever recorded in human history! more»

Climate Change and Israeli Policy

- The Heinrich Boell Stiftung has defined the issue of climate change and sustainable development as being central to its work internationally, both in the areas of mitigation and adaptation. It advocates and advances an agenda for development rights for developing nations and contributes to seeking solutions in many international forums while at the same time, adapts its work to the specific context of each of its 28 offices around the world. more»

Friends of the Earth Middle East, Promoting Green Jobs in a Green Water Economy in Israel - Recognizing the contribution to climate change mitigation, and the positive environmental and social effects of a green water economy, FoEME will conduct a study estimating the number of possible jobs created by a demand management focused water economy in Israel (green jobs), as opposed to the creation of jobs for desalination. Showing the positive effect on job creation will be a good way to convince decision-makers to change policies towards a green water economy in general.

Israel Energy Forum, Promoting Energy Conservation in Israel – By working with stakeholders in different sectors including industry, local and national government, utility companies and tourism, the Israel Energy Forum aims to promote policies that increase energy efficiency and reduce demand that will lead to a more sustainable energy policy in Israel.

Life & Environment, Paths to Sustainability NGO Coalition – The Sustainability Coalition, while working with its member organizations, seeks to impact Israeli policy on climate change through the production of reports and position papers, ongoing dialogue and advocacy with Knesset members and government officials, raising awareness in the media and capacity building. The focus in 2011 will be ongoing advocacy work with decision makers on climate policy, bringing adaptation issues to the public discourse and engaging in inter-sector work with the business community on the topic of emissions reduction.

The Society for the Protection of Nature – Tel Aviv-Jaffa Branch, The Metropolitan Green Council Watch – The Green Council Watch increases public involvement and transparency of municipal councils in the Greater Tel Aviv area and seeks to impact master plans that emphasize socio-environmental issues and solutions. In 2011, the project advocates for the creation of inter-municipal cooperation on sustainable planning and environmental issues.

The Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, Developing Sustainable Communities: Integrating Agendas for Change -  The project aims to integrate the different agendas of local agents for social and environmental change into a shared agenda and action for sustainability by creating networks of leadership forums and developing community best practices.

The Harold Hartog School of Government and Policy, Tel Aviv University, Environmental Policy Center  - This new initiative has created a center for the research, analysis and dissemination of environmental policy position papers and recommendations and will work with diverse stake holders – academia, civil society and decision makers. The center this year will organize two conferences and publish two environmental policy position papers.

Shatil, Working Toward an Environmentally Just Israel – This project will conduct a survey among environmental and social organizations on the topic of environmental justice and will build a coalition that will work together to promote an integrated agenda of social and environmental justice issues in Israel.