3.11.2015; Ramat Gan, Israel. Mr. Liad Ortar has been named Manager of theCorporate Social Responsibility Institute (CSRI) operating at the College of Law and Business (CLB).

Ortar served as Head of Sustainability Reporting at CSRI for the past two years, is replacing Dr. Ofer Sitbon who will continue his work as Senior Academic Advisor. Dr. Ronit Dunitz Kader, former Head of CSRI, will continue to serve as Chief Academic Advisor. CSRI operates within CLB to promote awareness and legislation of socio- environmental Corporate Responsibility in Israel, in an academic and public scope.

Ortar is one of Israel’s leading experts on Corporate Responsibility Reporting and is a prominent figure in this area. Since 2006, Ortar focused his work on corporate responsibility. As CEO of BeyondBusiness Consulting he assisted some of the large corporate entities in Israel in the internalization processes of sustainability and CSR. Ortar was the first to introduce the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) to the Israeli market. Ortar has also erected the Center for Quality Assurance of CSR Reports and he continues to lead the center activity globally. Ortar has a BA in Political Science and MA in Environmental Studies.

Prof. Moshe Cohen- Eliya, President of CLB: “I would like to thank Dr. Sitbon and Dr. Dunitz Kader on their involvement and activity until now. As founders of CSRI, their contribution to Corporate Social Responsibility is invaluable. I would like to congratulate Mr. Ortar on his new position. Mr. Ortar is at the forefront of CSR in Israel and is renowned worldwide for his activity in this field for nearly a decade. CLB is proud to have Mr. Ortar take the lead of CSRI and of CLB’s work in social involvement.”

Mr. Liad Ortar, Manager CSRI: “I’m both excited and honored to have been given the opportunity to triumph over CLB’s commitment to enhance CSRI’s activity. Two years ago, Ofer and Ronit opened the gates of CSRI to me giving the public platform to promote CSR in Israel. Corporate entities in Israel have not internalized sufficiently their responsibility in socio- environmental issues stemming from their business activity. CSRI, with me as Manager, is ready to take on the mounting challenges facing us in promoting the public interests in Israel.”

Liad Ortar can be reached directly – liad.ortar@gmail.com 

Presenting the Israeli Law Proposal for Mandatory Sustainability Reporting

Link to the position paper – link

Sustainability reporting is undoubtedly at a crossroads. Businesses are expected to be voluntarily transparent, yet this has proven to be ineffective. The traditional approach to CSR, which was formulated mainly by the business sector, is beginning to alter its course. In the past, legislative and enforcement agencies have insufficiently examined the social and environmental conduct of corporations. The agencies have viewed this as “beyond compliance” for businesses. Today in the developed world there is a trend of ‘return to regulation’ and CSR is included in that trend. As Israel aspires to maintain its position as an advanced economy, it is crucial to be prepared for these upcoming changes. Alongside with these developments, we can also see a strengthening of civil society, a redistribution of responsibilities and resources, and a new way of economic thinking (sharing economy, social entrepreneurship, cooperatives etc.).

The law proposal attached to the position paper intends to find a method for regulating CSR in a more sophisticated manner. The law does not seek to set a harsh standard for corporations to obey ‘as is’; rather, it outlines a detailed set of sustainability reporting guidelines. These guidelines shift the enforcing responsibility from state agencies to the public. The public (through specialized NGOs) would now be able to judge and rate each corporation according to its performances. Today, the public and even business managers are eager to have a clear set of expectations in regards to CSR and some even prefer to shift to a model of CSR that is bound by law and under state supervision, where the requirements are clear to all.

Want to hear some more ?

Contact CSRI directly – liad.ortar@gmail.com

CSR and Climate Change: Between Growing Public Expectations and a Lack of Global Response

Editors – College of Law & Business, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel

In July 2014, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel and the College for Law & Business (CLB) organized a joint symposium on the topic of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its connection to the global phenomenon of Climate Change. The symposium focused on the rights and obligations as well as voluntary steps of corporations in order to adapt to climate change on the one hand, and to mitigate further global warming on the other hand. Corporate executives, leading academic researchers and committed regulators from Germany and Israel discussed the role of corporations who find themselves between growing public expectations and a lack of a global climate policy. The question of social responsibility of corporations was examined from a political, academic and economic perspective. 

For further information on the symposium content please follow the link.

Due to the success of the symposium, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel and CLB decided to issue a special position paper on the topic of the symposium, giving interested readers an opportunity to deepen their knowledge on climate change and CSR and further relate to it in their respective institutions.

Therefore, we call upon the symposium participants and other interested contributors to send us an abstract on their suggested contribution following these guidelines:

The call is open for corporation’s executives (presenting their corporate approach as a case study to the topic), private consultants, NGO, think tank and academia representatives as well as governmental officials.

• Corporation’s contributions should include answers to the following questions:
  • What is the overall strategy of your corporations in regards to climate change?
  • Why did your corporation decide to tackle the issue? Please provide a preview on the main motivations.
  • What are your future plans in regards to climate change?
  • Please provide the link to the relevant additional information from your internet site (only if in English).
• NGO/think tank/academia representatives should include answers to the following questions:
  • What is the nature of your institution work in regards to climate change?
  • How does your work relate to the general theme of CSR and corporations?
  • How do you see the role of the business sector in tackling climate change? And what are the requested changes that should happen in order to enhance that role?
  • Please provide the link to the relevant additional information from your internet site (only if in English).
• The contribution should be submitted in English.
• The length of the paper is to be up to 500 words. Please take notice that the editor is not obligated to include the full text ‘as is’.
• A photo of the writer and the logo of the company/organisation should be attached.
• After closing the submission period, the proposed contributions are to be reviewed by the editors for final selection. Remarks or clarifications might be following the editorial process.
• Dead line for submission is 2014, November 15^th.
• The papers are to be sent to: Ms. Daliah Marhoefer, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel; Mail: daliah.marhoefer@kas.de

Any additional questions or requests can be directed to the position paper editor, Mr. Liad Ortar at liad.ortar@gmail.com

We are looking forward to your contributions!

 The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel and CLB teams