The Glasgow COP26 reminded us that climate change is a joint, multinational and global challenge. The Innovation ecosystem in both the UAE and Israel can give rise to powerful new environmental partnerships between two nations.
This past summer, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its starkest ever warning in its comprehensive assessment of the state of our planet. The report, conducted over eight years of research by hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists, paints a grim picture for humanity.
It said that if nations are unable to work together to cap greenhouse gas emissions and limit global temperature increases, the resulting widespread devastation and extreme weather will put billions of people at immediate risk.
UN Secretary General António Guterres did not mince words in his statement upon the report’s release: “[This] is a code red for humanity. The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable.”
Reaching net zero emission targets will require a global, cross-sector approach. It will also require the development and scaling of new technology that promotes climate resiliency efforts in our economy as well as in everyday life. Speaking at COP26 in Glasgow , Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett pledged to mobilise Israeli innovation and ingenuity to combat climate change, saying that that "If we’re going to move the needle, we need to contribute Israel’s most valuable source of energy; the energy and brainpower of our people.” But changing course on climate change will require people and countries to come together for this broader mission.
As we work to bring people together to achieve a shared vision for a zero-emission world, we believe the climate partnership between Israel and the UAE will be at the forefront of the movement to build a more sustainable planet for all.
Environmental partnerships
The Abraham Accords, signed just a year ago, are not only a game changer when it comes to the geopolitics of the Middle East, but have also given rise to a powerful new environmental partnership between Israel and the Gulf. In July 2021, the governments of the UAE and Israel signed landmark climate agreements.
The UAE’s Ministry for Food and Water Security signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israel’s Agriculture Ministry to promote cooperation in areas of food production, food supply chains, as well as research and innovation. Another landmark MoU was signed with Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry aimed at funding joint research efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and to ensure biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. These partnerships have expanded beyond governments to the private sector.
Soon after the signing of the accords, UAE’s Masdar and Israel’s EDF Renewables announced an agreement to explore renewable energy opportunities and support the countries’ clean energy objectives. Another agreement was signed to launch a joint Israeli-Emirati water research programme as part of a collaboration between the Israeli Watergen company and Baynunah, a sister company of UAE’s Al Dahra Group, which specialises in food security.
With both Emirati and Israeli firms boasting strong records in sustainable development technologies, the relations between the countries is already proving to be a force multiplier in the battle to tackle this unprecedented challenge for humanity. Experts project deals between Israel and the UAE will surpass $500 million in the next five years alone.
At Start-Up Nation Central, an NGO which supports and promotes Israel’s tech ecosystem, we have long championed the potential of technology and innovation to address the global climate crisis. With the signing of the Abraham Accords, we are investing significant resources to highlight the role of groundbreaking technological solutions to meet the region’s climate goals, connecting like-minded companies, investors, and innovators across the Middle East and beyond. We have noted a significant increase in the interest of governments, private sector stakeholders, and NGO leaders to learn about how they can incorporate Israeli technologies into their own efforts to combat climate change.
UAE is leading the region
Emirati leaders have long been at the forefront of the movement to address the climate crisis and have been ahead in the rolling out of major investments in renewables and clean technologies. The UAE is home to two of the world’s largest solar plants and are soon to break ground on a third. Abu Dhabi has the Middle East’s first facility for carbon capture and storage, and Masdar City has received international recognition as a pioneer in sustainable living and is on its way to becoming a global hub for clean technology. Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, delivered an open invitation from the UAE to the world for partnerships to find sustainable solutions that will tackle climate change and create sustainable economic growth with a positive social impact.
We strongly recommend that Israel answer that call. As we work to bring people together to achieve a shared vision for a zero-emission world, we believe the climate partnership between Israel and the UAE will be at the forefront of the movement to build a more sustainable planet for all.
Collaborations in the field of sustainability where one of the topics that were addressed in the UAE-Israel Business Forum, which UAE Embassy in Israel, Start-Up Nation Central, andthe Israeli Ministry of Economics organized in Tel Aviv recently. The first of its kind event featured senior government officials and business executives from both countries to further promote business partnerships, including in ClimateTech.
Eliran Elimelech is the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Start-Up Nation Central, the hub for corporations, governments, investors, and Israel tech innovation, creating growth opportunities by solving business and societal challenges, globally.
