{"id":14664,"date":"2017-01-10T07:00:14","date_gmt":"2017-01-10T13:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=14664"},"modified":"2025-06-05T13:08:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T17:08:37","slug":"if-israel-can-find-common-ground-around-the-environment-why-cant-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2017\/01\/10\/if-israel-can-find-common-ground-around-the-environment-why-cant-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"If Israel Can Find Common Ground around the Environment, Why Can\u2019t Texas?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A solar array at the Arava Institute.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deep in the Israeli desert is an academic institute that is building peace in the region by putting nature at its center. The Arava Institute<\/a>, in partnership with Ben Gurion University, brings students from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and around the world to find common ground around environmental problems and build trust \u2013 and peace \u2013 from there.<\/p>\n

On a recent trip to Israel, including to the Arava Institute, I was told many times by many people, \u201cEverything is political here.\u201d Water and energy are no exception. In a region where water can be scarce and oil has long reigned as king, the politics of environmental issues are even more extreme than what people in many parts of the world can wrap their heads around.<\/p>\n

Of course, environmental issues in Texas \u2013 and across the country \u2013 can be highly divisive. But polls consistently show Americans want to protect and defend the health of our children and the well-being of our communities. And clean energy can play a critical role: Our nation\u2019s power sector accounts for nearly 40%<\/a> of U.S carbon emissions \u2013 causing health problems<\/a> such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, and a staggering<\/a> number of premature deaths every year.<\/p>\n

Today, Texas opens its 85th<\/sup> Legislative Session. Wouldn\u2019t it be refreshing if, instead of fighting over taking action on climate change, leaders sat down with a common starting point: to ensure clean, available water and clean air through renewable energy, while maintaining a robust economy? Perhaps we can learn from the Arava Institute and start with our commonalities, like the desire for clean air and clean water, to build cooperation and achieve clean energy progress.<\/p>\n

Building bridges in the Middle East<\/strong><\/p>\n

Water and energy are extremely divisive in the Middle East. In a peace deal<\/a> struck between Israel and Jordan in 1994, water was at the forefront. Because Israel has, for all intents and purposes, solved its drinking water scarcity (more on that in future blog posts), it is able to share water and technology with its neighbors. Although sharing water as part of the peace deal is not yet smooth sailing, its presence points to the critical nature of the resource in the region.<\/p>\n

With its motto, \u201cNature knows no borders,\u201d the Arava Institute decided to turn the regional politics of environmental issues on its head. Founded as an academic and research center for environmental leadership in 1996, in the wake of the Oslo Middle East Peace Accords, it focuses on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, transboundary water management, and long-term socio-ecological research. The Institute aims to foster cooperation through solving regional environmental issues, which the students, researchers, and faculty understand transcend political divides.<\/p>\n

Although ethnic, religious, and national tensions were still present, the Institute provides a safe space for people to start breaking down those barriers by establishing commonalities and trust. Finding a shared language \u2013 nature and the environment \u2013 enables students to talk about areas where they may not necessarily agree.<\/p>\n

One student I met, Louis Krahan, told me:<\/p>\n

Any time there is such a diverse group of people together, controversial, challenging, and substantive conversations are abundant. Further, when that group is working on an issue that intimately affects so many of them [the environment], the dialogue and relationships become so deep and real. [\u2026] The Arava Institute allows for the stakeholders from both sides to come together and learn to trust each other, all the while equipping themselves with practical tools to collaborate on an issue important to all.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Americans agree on clean energy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sitting at the table listening to the experience of the Institute\u2019s students, I couldn\u2019t help think back to where I live. Texas has serious water issues, like droughts and water scarcity, not to mention clean air issues<\/a> related to our oil and gas production and use.<\/p>\n

And Texas leaders spend a lot of time \u2013 and money<\/a> \u2013 arguing back and forth about environmental regulations and the lack thereof. Yet, poll after poll shows people broadly support clean air and clean energy:<\/p>\n