Despite the war in Gaza, can Israel’s tech genius save the planet? Its climate change envoy says yes

Despite the ongoing war, more than 100 Israelis will head to Baku, Azerbaijan this month.

They will officially represent Israel at COP29 – the United Nations’ annual climate summit.

COP, short for the Conference of the Parties, is the key meeting for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which gathers nations, experts and activists to tackle global climate issues.

Israel will again set up a national pavilion, as it did at COP28 in Dubai and COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. This year, the pavilion will spotlight climate technologies, according to Gideon Behar, Israel’s ambassador and special envoy for climate change and sustainability at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We think our biggest contribution to the climate crisis is via innovative ideas and solutions,” Behar told the JC. “We will concentrate on displaying these technologies.”

The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) has selected 20 disruptive climate startups to support this. These companies are active in areas such as energy, water, agriculture, sustainable manufacturing, construction, food tech, transportation, waste management and carbon capture.

Among them is Marine Edge, which develops regenerative technology to optimise fuel efficiency for cargo ships, cutting emissions. CI Sensing, an emissions monitoring company, has technology for early detection and accurate quantification of emissions. Another standout is Salicrop, an agritech company whose non-GMO seed enhancements help crops survive drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures.

Behar noted that Israel’s pavilion will host dozens of events where the delegation can share ideas to help combat the climate crisis and strengthen regional and international cooperation.

Azerbaijan’s Mukhtar Babayev is the president of COP29 and Behar highlighted the close relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan, calling it a “friendly country”. Israel views this as a valuable opportunity. This year, Azerbaijan drafted nine COP29 declarations and pledges, with Israel signing on to nearly all of them.

“Our aim in Azerbaijan is to increase our regional and international cooperation on climate change,” Behar said. “We think Israel has a lot to offer the world, but only through collaboration and cooperation can we overcome the challenges of climate change.”

COP29 arrives as Israel marks over a year of regional conflict and reflects on last year’s climate goals, which shifted drastically after the October 7 Hamas attack. Israel had big plans for COP28 in the United Arab Emirates. Initially, the country prepared a delegation of 1,000 people, including seven or eight ministers, officials from multiple ministries, academics, investors, more than 100 companies (including 30 startups) and environmental groups. However, in the end, only 28 representatives from the Environmental Protection, Energy, and Economy Ministries attended. President Herzog joined for two days but did not deliver official remarks, focusing instead on meetings to help gain the release of the hostages held by Hamas. Israel’s plans for business representation also shrank. The IIA, set to send 30 companies, managed only four – all from the Gaza periphery. Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman promised to pass a climate law before COP28.

While the bill reached the Ministerial Committee on Legislation before the event, it was delayed in the Knesset until April 2024.

It passed a first reading in the Knesset, but there have only been a few environmental committee sessions since, and it’s unclear if the law will pass before COP29 in Azerbaijan.

Israel’s climate goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 27 per cent before 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. By 2025 the country aims to generate 20 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources and end coal use by 2026. Additional targets are to reduce emissions from new cars by 95 per cent and recycle 54 per cent of municipal solid waste by 2030.

But Israel has struggled to make progress. A 2023 report from the Environmental Protection Ministry found that Israel is on track to reduce emissions by just 12 per cent by 2030 compared to 2015. However, in September, the Knesset approved a carbon tax order, which will take effect in 2025. Behar downplayed concerns that Israel might facea backlash at COP29 over the Gaza war despite reports that the conflict will be a central topic at the event.

Even though the UAE banned anti-Israel protests at COP28, several countries used the platform to accuse Israel of worsening the climate crisis through its actions in Gaza. Many, mainly Arab nations, linked the climate crisis with what they described as a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, creating a distraction from the summit’s focus on addressing the shared threat of climate change.

Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Communications, Eamon Ryan, who will co-lead climate adaptation negotiations at COP29, has already stated he plans to confront Israel about the war. He argued in an interview with a local paper that carbon emissions from military operations should be factored in to reflect the true environmental cost of conflict. His colleague, Social Democrats climate spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore, criticised Israel’s participation in COP29 as “hypocritical”. She claimed in an interview that “the war in Gaza in two months emitted the same amount of emissions as 20 developing countries” and added that “rebuilding Gaza will use emissions equivalent to 135 developing countries”.

Behar said he prefers to focus on what Israel brings to the table. According to the Foreign Ministry, Israel’s climate innovation centres on both mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to a changing climate.

The country is home to approximately 1,300 companies and startups in the climate field, with dozens more added each year. Additionally, nearly 150 civil society organisations are active in environmental and climate efforts. Israel holds world records in water management. It treats and reuses 85 per cent of its wastewater in agriculture and industry, compared to a global average of 30 per cent.

Only 7 per cent of water is lost to leaks in Israel’s supply system, far below the global average. Its desalination plants are among the most advanced in the world.

Israel is also a global leader in alternative protein development, second only to the United States, according to the Foreign Ministry.

This includes innovations in plant-based proteins, cultured meat, and fermentation-produced proteins. “Israel has a unique position in the world,” Behar told the JC.

“We are a small country in the desert, in the Middle East, with very few resources.

“We have developed so many technologies for our survival that can now be applied elsewhere.”

Israel is already collaborating with the United Kingdom on climate initiatives.

This work includes a formal research partnership between the Technion and Imperial College London and a project between Tel Aviv and Bristol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban settings.

Behar sees climate consciousness as deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, with customs such as shmita – letting the land rest every seven years – and Shabbat, a day without labour on the land.

“I think there is a message that the Jewish people can bring to the world during these challenging times of climate change and environmental degradation – of tikkun olam, repairing the climate,” Behar said.

“I believe it is our destiny and responsibility to protect creation and repair the damage we’ve done.

“The Jewish people have a special calling, and by working together, Israel and Jewish communities worldwide can truly contribute to a better world.”