Alon Tal - Böcker

The extraordinary story of Israel’s forests, from ancient times to the present.In this insightful and provocative book, Alon Tal provides a detailed account of Israeli forests, tracing their history from the Bible to the present, and outlines the effort to transform drylands and degraded soils into prosperous parks, rangelands, and ecosystems. Tal’s description of Israel’s trials and errors, and his exploration of both the environmental history and the current policy dilemmas surrounding that country's forests, will provide valuable lessons in the years to come for other parts of the world seeking to reestablish timberlands.

Virtually undeveloped one hundred years ago, Israel, the promised 'land of milk and honey,' is in ecological disarray. In this gripping book, Alon Tal provides - for the first time ever - a history of environmentalism in Israel, interviewing hundreds of experts and activists who have made it their mission to keep the country's remarkable development sustainable amid a century of political and cultural turmoil. The modern Zionist vision began as a quest to redeem a land that bore the cumulative effects of two thousand years of foreign domination and neglect. Since then, Israel has suffered from its success. A tenfold increase in population and standard of living has polluted the air. The deserts have bloomed but groundwater has become contaminated. Urban sprawl threatens to pave over much of the country's breathtaking landscape. Yet there is hope. Tal's account considers the ecological and tactical lessons that emerge from dozens of cases of environmental mishaps, from habitat loss to river reclamation. "Pollution in a Promised Land" argues that the priorities and strategies of Israeli environmental advocates must address issues beyond traditional green agendas.

Bringing together twenty path-breaking speeches and the stories of leading environmentalists from around the world, Speaking of Earth highlights the range of topics and leaders who caught the attention of the public and inspired ecological movements.  The message that emerges is diverse, compelling, and passionate. Articulated through the words of fervent individuals who helped to launch a global transformation, this book offers a refreshing summary of the depth and breadth of modern environmentalism.

Israel and Palestine are, by international criteria, water scarce. As the peace process continues amidst ongoing violence, water remains a political and environmental issue. Thirty leading Palestinian and Israeli activists, water scientists, politicians, and others met and worked together to develop a future vision for the sustainable shared management of water resources that is presented in Water Wisdom. Their essays explore the full range of scientific, political, social, and economic issues related to water use in the region; acknowledge areas of continuing controversy, from access rights to the Mountain Aquifer to utilization of waters from the Jordan River; and identify areas of agreement, disagreement, and options for resolution. Water Wisdom is model for those who believe that water conflict can be an opportunity for cooperation rather than violence.

Israel and Palestine are, by international criteria, water scarce. As the peace process continues amidst ongoing violence, water remains a political and environmental issue. Thirty leading Palestinian and Israeli activists, water scientists, politicians, and others met and worked together to develop a future vision for the sustainable shared management of water resources that is presented in Water Wisdom. Their essays explore the full range of scientific, political, social, and economic issues related to water use in the region; acknowledge areas of continuing controversy, from access rights to the Mountain Aquifer to utilization of waters from the Jordan River; and identify areas of agreement, disagreement, and options for resolution. Water Wisdom is a model for those who believe that water conflict can be an opportunity for cooperation rather than violence.

The environmental history of Israel is as intriguing and complex as the nation itself. Situated on a mere 8,630 square miles, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, varying from desert to forest, Israel’s natural environment presents innumerable challenges to its growing population. The country’s conflicted past and present, diverse religions, and multitude of cultural influences powerfully affect the way Israelis imagine, question, and shape their environment. Zionism, from the late nineteenth onward, has tempered nearly every aspect of human existence. Scarcities of usable land and water coupled with border conflicts and regional hostilities have steeled Israeli’s survival instincts. As this volume demonstrates, these powerful dialectics continue to undergird environmental policy and practice in Israel today.Between Ruin and Restoration assembles leading experts in policy, history, and activism to address Israel’s continuing environmental transformation from the biblical era to the present and beyond, with a particular focus on the past one hundred and fifty years. The chapters also reflect passionate public debates over meeting the needs of Israel’s population and preserving its natural resources.The chapters detail the occupations of the Ottoman Empire and British colonialists in eighteenth and nineteenth century Palestine, as well as Fellaheen and pastoralist Bedouin tribes, and how they shaped much of the terrain that greeted early Zionist settlers. Following the rise of the Zionist movement, the rapid influx of immigrants and ensuing population growth put new demands on water supplies, pollution controls, sanitation, animal populations, rangelands and biodiversity, forestry, marine policy, and desertification. Additional chapters view environmental politics nationally and internationally, the environmental impact of Israel’s military, and considerations for present and future sustainability.

Climate tech is critical for averting planetary chaos. Half the greenhouse gas reductions required to reach “net-zero”climate targets in 2050 will need to come from technologies that have not yet been invented. Without effectivegovernment interventions, market incentives alone will not produce a rapid transition to a low-carbon economy. Thecommercial value of innovative climate technology, especially in its early phases, remains underpriced - far below itssocial value. The good news is that smart policies can change these dynamics and catalyze the necessary creativity andinvestment in clean technology, and its deployment. The key question is: which approaches can lead us to future carbonneutrality, and which are likely to fall short?In Making Climate Tech Work, environmental policy expert Alon Tal demystifies climate innovation programs around theworld - no policy background needed. Beginning with a review of government’s general role in technology policydevelopment, Tal assesses each policy alternative, describing eye-opening experiments in diverse countries, presenting arange of case studies, interviewing leading decarbonization experts, and interpreting new empirical data. Discover howGermany incentivized renewables; Denmark became a wind energy superpower; Australia phased out incandescent bulbs; California’s prisons pioneered low-carbon menus; and why carbon taxes have failed around the world, but couldbe designed for success.Tal distills the benefits and drawbacks of each policy, along with related ethical questions and public perceptions. Heconcludes by addressing two commonly overlooked issues in climate policy: disruption of workers’ livelihoods from theclean energy transition; and integrating the Global South into the planet’s new low-carbon economy - as the region thathas contributed least to climate change but which must be part of a global solution. Tal not only evaluates which policystrategies effectively reduce emissions but also how they can promote climate tech innovation.Humanity is ultimately in a race against time and effective climate policies are critical to ensure a sustainable future.Making Climate Tech Work serves as an essential primer for policymakers, academics, activists, and anyone interested inclimate solutions.

This book brings together unique experiences of India, China and Israel in overcoming economic, social, and natural resource challenges.