Even those of us not particularly cognizant of the climate crisis could not help but be alarmed by what has been happening around us lately. For instance, while massive floods in Germany and Western Europe claimed the lives of hundreds, entire villages in China and India were being washed away by heavy rains. Also, giant hailstones rained down on Italy in the middle of summer, and Britain and Switzerland were surprised by sudden wild and rainy weather. Sardinia, Greece, and Siberia were hit by widespread fires, and in California, temperatures reached unthinkable records of 56 degrees Celsius, leaving residents feeling as though they were sweltering in a real-life oven. Considering all this, the important report released this week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change should serve as a serious warning sign for us all. We must change our ways and transition to a lifestyle and economy that supports – not disrupts – planet Earth’s climate, nature, and environment. The testimonies of the hundreds of scientists who took part in the writing of this report, based on thousands of well-established and diverse scientific studies, are extremely important. The time for change has come. Change, however, is difficult, and we need success stories, peer learning, and technologies that will help us move to a zero-emissions economy by 2050 and halve humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. If you look around for inspiration and good ideas, you will find that Israel stands out from the crowd. Over decades, Israel has learned to establish agriculture in the desert and arid areas, to recycle 90 percent of its wastewater, and to desalinate drinking water. The country has developed breathtaking solutions for energy storage, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. It has cultivated a groundbreaking industry of animal protein substitutes, and knows how to preserve forests in conditions of drought and aridity. Israel is a living laboratory for the development of practical solutions to the climate crisis. Israel’s climate innovation can help the entire world develop the capabilities it needs to adapt to the climate crisis and build resilience. Take, for example, the incredible developments that are taking place in research institutes and the private sector in Israel in the field of animal protein substitutes. Products such as meat, milk, eggs, and more are being produced in laboratories using methods that emit almost no greenhouse gases, and which allow huge swaths of agricultural land currently being used for livestock purposes to be freed up for ecological restoration and reforestation. Another advantage is that these technologies pave way for increased global food security during an era of climate crisis. Israel’s climate innovation is also essential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and provides some of the most fascinating solutions in the world today in the fields of compressed-air energy storage, energy generation from sea waves, the use of advanced computing tools for energy management, and more. Meanwhile, Rwanda also serves as a model to the whole world, not only through reducing CO2 emissions but also through the deployment of hydro and solar energy, plans to improve energy efficiency in industry, and by banning the use of plastic bags and bottles among other commendable moves. The country was the first in Africa to strengthen its commitment to emissions cuts by 2030 and ramp up its adaptation plan. Apparently, we need to harness all of humanity’s amazing abilities together in order to turn a huge ship that is planet Earth – which we all are on, shoulder to shoulder. The only way to do this is by working together, sharing information and experience, and providing mutual support. Israel is willing to contribute to Rwanda its share of experience, as well as to learn from the experiences of Rwanda and others. If we are the objects of life, then we must cooperate with one another. It is clear to everyone today that there is not one single country, strong and developed as it may be that can cope with this unprecedented crisis in human history alone. The writer is the Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda The views expressed in this article are of the writer.
