Israel’s climate of innovation on COP 27

The world is drastically changing and we are in the midst of a powerful climate crisis that is only getting worse. Widespread floods, devastating typhoons, severe droughts, biodiversity and more pressure on different species – this is only a partial list of the major disasters which UN experts have told us, time and time again, are only likely to increase as we continue to emit greenhouse gases.

The climate crisis spares no one. The Philippines, for example, is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. In my more than a year of residing here as a diplomat, I have experienced a number of typhoons and have seen the damages they brought to the livelihood, infrastructure, agriculture and lives of Filipinos. The climate crisis that the world is going through today is making typhoons worse, which is more challenging not only for the Philippines but also for the whole world.

Israel, on the other hand, is a country located in an arid region and facing chronic water shortages and droughts, high temperatures, changing patterns of rainfall and a difficult environment for agricultural development. Israel has had to invent innovative solutions to address these challenges.

Through decades of knowledge and experience, Israel has found practical solutions to climate challenges, which it wishes to share in the ongoing COP 27 annual climate conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. World leaders, government and private sector representatives, experts and policy formulators gather around to discuss ways to prevent the climate crisis. Participating from Israel is a high-ranking delegation led by the president and joined by representatives from all sectors.

Israel’s efforts and investments are towards research and development of innovations, technologies and practices that involve areas essential to handling the climate crisis. Israel has established a community of innovation called planetech, it includes all relevant stakeholders and looks into developing innovation good for the planet. Some of the areas we are looking at are efficiency of water resources and creation of new water sources, drought-resistant and precision agriculture, invention of animal protein substitutes and sustainable crops, energy efficiency and energy storage, restoration and preservation of forests in arid areas, circular economy and the production of new materials that are environment-friendly. Many ideas also come from an active and aware civil society, which contributes to the climate-environmental discourse and activities that are often integrated into government action.

Evidence of Israel’s desire to share information and experience is the establishment, for the first time, of an Israeli pavilion at a COP conference. The pavilion will focus on climate innovation and solutions, and dozens of events aimed at creating international and regional cooperation in the Middle East. Regional and international cooperation is critical to dealing with the climate crisis; therefore, our goal is that every event at the Israeli pavilion will create a long-term partnership and process.

Speaking of partnership, here in the Philippines, the embassy of Israel continues to collaborate with the relevant government agencies and private sector to exchange knowledge and experience, as well as assist in the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially to achieve food security. Israel is collaborating with TESDA for an 11-month agriculture internship program in Israel. Filipino interns learn from Israel’s advanced techniques and methods of smart agriculture, with the goal that they would apply the learnings once they go back to the Philippines. An estimated number of 10,000 Filipino professionals has benefited from this program.

Another example is MASHAV – Israel’s agency for international development cooperation, which is active here in the Philippines. Filipino scholars attend MASHAV training courses to immerse in Israel’s environmental management, climate change initiatives, renewable energy management and more.

As the Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines, I am eager to introduce Israeli innovation and technology to the Philippines that could help prevent the climate crisis.

In fact, the embassy is initiating an exhibit at the Philippine Senate of Israeli technologies present in the Philippines. The said technologies address the challenges for smart agriculture, water shortage and more. Aside from the exhibit, a series of roundtable discussions between relevant Philippine government officials and Israeli experts will be conducted to bring more Israeli innovation and technology to the Philippines, especially on climate innovation.

International cooperation in the field of climate innovation provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen the economy for the benefit of all, create new jobs and advance human prosperity, while preserving nature, the climate and ecological diversity. One example of such collaboration is the triangular project where solar technology will produce energy in the desert in Jordan. This will be channeled to a water desalination plant in Israel that will supply potable drinking water back to Jordan. This is supported by investment from the UAE. It’s a private sector led initiative supported by the government. This project is a reflection of the new Middle East collaboration on critical issues of sustainability and for the survival of the people and countries of the region.

The success of the COP 27 conference is of the utmost importance, as well as the advancement of all the issues it will focus on: the continuation of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adoption of a global goal for adaptation and adjustment to the climate crisis, development of technologies, international cooperation mechanisms and more.

Israel, as a climate of innovation, is proud to join countries around the world in the COP27 and to share creative Israeli solutions, which are contributing to the fight against climate change. Israel hopes that the Sharm el-Sheikh conference will mark a positive turning point in the future of humanity. Come and see us at the Israeli pavilion at COP 27!

*      *      *

Ilan Fluss is the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines.