THE BREN SCHOOL OF Environmental Science & Management
at the University of California, Santa Barbara

Presents

"Financial Meltdown Does not Slow Global Warming: The Environment in Israel"

Hosted by Vered Doctori Blass

Note: Seating is limited; please rsvp to Vered Doctori Blass

Abstract

Global warming, economic activities, and consumption patterns driven by expanding flows of goods have placed increasing pressure on global natural resources and the environment. Financial meltdown may slow the economic activity but not global warming, population growth, urbanization processes, or diminishing amounts of drinking water, food, and safe energy. Exacerbated environmental problems along with the economic crisis will necessitate innovative solutions, especially in the area where water, energy, and food interact. Governments will tend to invest in infrastructure in order to cope with recession, and efficiency improvements will be more important than ever. Israel is not disconnected from the rest of the world, and it has to deal with similar issues; however, in comparison with other developed countries, Israel's natural resources are very limited, making it very hard to support its high standard of living and cope with major environmental problems. 

In addition, since environment has no boundaries, cooperation with the Jordanians and the Palestinians on trans-boundary environmental issues is crucial and took place even at the height of the “Intifada.” Driven by necessity, Israeli scientists and entrepreneurs are hard pressed to find innovative solutions to the nation's major environmental problems, especially the scarcity of water. 

In this talk, Dr. Haram will present the main environmental challenges Israel faces today and will review the Israeli venture industries in the field of cleantech, recognizing the new opportunities in the global market for cost reduction, efficiency improvement, compliance with regulations and entrance to new markets with new products and services.

Biography

Dr. Haran earned her PhD in organic chemistry from Brandeis University. She joined the Israel Ministry of the Environment in 1996 and held the positions of Chief Scientist and Deputy Director General for Industry. She was appointed Director General of the Ministry in 2003. During her term of office, she led the Ministry to formulate a comprehensive national environmental policy and develop the tools necessary for implementing this policy.

Dr. Haran was previously Executive Assistant to the Director of The Center for Applied Studies of the Environment at Hunter College in New York; a senior researcher at A. Y. Laboratories, a water-treatment consulting firm in Tel Aviv; and a researcher and senior lecturer at the Hebrew University. Dr. Haran joined the faculty of Ono Academic College as Head of the MBA Environmental Management Program in 2006. Ono is the fastest growing academic institution in Israel, home to Israel’s largest Law School and largest MBA program with a current student body of 8,500 students.

Dr. Haran is also Chair of the Environmental Committee of the United Jewish Communities' Tel Aviv - Los Angeles Partnership, a board member of the "Environmental Services Company", a member of the public committee of "Maala" - a nonprofit organization that ranks Israeli companies according to a Corporate Social Responsibility Index - and a member of the Israel Presidential Task Force for Promoting the Environment in Israel. She also serves as the Chief Scientist of "Tamarix Ventures", which focuses on Israel-related cleantech investments, and is the head of the advisory committee of a green fund at "Ramco" investment house

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