Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development
The Dead Sea
The photo illustrates the difference in the water line at the Dead Sea from the year 2000 until today.
Photo by Joern Boehme
Introduction
Environmental issues have always been of central importance to the Greens and to the Heinrich Boell Stiftung. The main issues are: Global warming, energy production and efficiency as well as air quality and water. These issues have gained attention, but the process of changing old patterns and of putting existing technologies to work for the benefit of present and future generations is still much to slow. Existing environmental problems often affect the already disadvantaged parts of the population disproportionately. The foundation supports a variety of Israeli environmental organizations, which over the years attempted successfully to have a growing impact of politics and society.
Nuclear Power?
August 23, 2010 - The myth of nuclear power keeps persevering. Therefore the Heinrich Böll Foundation has commissioned renowned international nuclear experts to deliver detailed facts central to the myths of nuclear energy. This overview provides the public with a current, facts rich and nuclear-critical know-how. more»
Debate
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»
An Alternative for Nuclear Power
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»
Position Paper
Nuclear Power - Myth and Reality – The deep divide over nuclear power is nearly as old as its commercial use. The early dreams of its proponents have faded, whereas the high risks have remained, as well as the danger of misuse by military interests. Terrorism has introduced dramatic, concrete threat. Global warming and the finite nature of fossil fuels do not dispel the major safety issues associated with nuclear power. And the "accident-proof" reactor has remained an unfulfilled promise now for decades. Downlad the entire poistion paper (English, PDF, 34 pages, 157 kB) by Gerd Rosenkranz
Climate Change
STUDY
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»
E-paper
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»
Demonstrators outside COP 15 on December 7, 2009
Israel's Road to CopenhagenDecember 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»
Environmental activist, author and co-founder of the 350.org campaign, Bill McKibben
Climate Change Action
350 Campaign Leader Comes to IsraelOctober 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»
2010 Project Partners
Friends of the Earth Middle East, Updating Climate Resource Guide, Additional Capacity Building Sessions – Based on a comprehensive resource guide they developed in 2008, FoEME will continue to dialogue with the different stakeholders in order to build capacity, hold a conference and update the resource guide to include the regional perspective and developments since the UN Copenhagen conference in December. The project is being implemented in cooperation with other environmental NGOs.
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 2010 will be to follow up with decision makers post-Copenhagen, to launch a public campaign and to engage in inter-sector work with the business comminity on the topic of emisssions 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 2010, the project advocates for the creation of inter-municipal cooperation on sustainable planning and environmental issues.
The Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, Utilizing the Internet to Build a Network of Social-Environmental Advocates  www.greenchange.co.il – The Sustainability Network seeks to take the message of environmental sustainability to the wider Israeli public by using web technology to connect people, share ideas and information and implement projects that cross sectors and will facilitate a sustainability movement in Israel. In 2010, the project will implement virtual and real events to nurture a sustainability community.
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 implement two courses and will hold an international conference in the fall of 2010.
News and Events
The Heinrich Boell Foundation and The Jerusalem Open House cordially invite you to a discussion with Volker Beck: The Opportunities of International Cooperation for the Rights of the LGBT Community.
Thursday, September 2, 2010, 19:00 – 21:00,   24 Nahalat Binyamin St., Tel Aviv
Click here for the invittion and more details
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What Makes a Friend of Israel?
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an international conference

Sunday, September 5th, 2010, 09:30-19:00
The Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya

Conference invitation and program in English
Conference invitation and program in Hebrew
Project Partners From Previous Years