In just a few days, world leaders will convene for one of the most crucial conferences of our generation. During the course of this conference, leaders will attempt to come to a joint agreement on the goals and ways in which the direst consequences of climate change may be prevented. The COP26 meeting is a critical crossroads; some may even say fateful. If we, as human society, can agree on the target of net zero emissions by 2050, then we may likely avoid crossing the warming threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius. This will ensure that we will avoid the most serious consequences of the climate crisis. If an agreement cannot be reached however, then we will inevitably move far closer towards the wide variety of natural disasters that are threatening our future. The challenge is immense, but it is possible: for the first time in human history, the effort needed demands that all major global players be mobilized, including governments, the private sector, civil society, the media, and academia, as well as religious leaders and others. For the first time, humanity is also facing a tangible threat unprecedented in scope and power – even greater than any pandemic - that will have far-reaching implications for many generations. We must therefore make every possible effort to ensure that the Glasgow climate conference is a success, and set ourselves on a path that will secure climate stability, security and prosperity for all the world’s citizens. All Member States need to implement all UN conventions and treaties related to Climate Change including, inter alia, the Kigali Amendment. Meanwhile, we need practical and inexpensive solutions that should be quickly implemented on a broad scale in order to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience and adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis. In this area, Israel stands out as a significant country in climate innovation, possessing a diverse range of companies working in this field as well as major investment in R&D (Research and development). We have created an exceptional climate innovation ecosystem that includes over 1,200 companies and start-ups, which is constantly growing, according to Israel’s first State of Climate Tech 2021 Report. 10% of all new high-tech companies founded in Israel last year were in the field of climate innovation. The range of solutions that Israel has to offer is diverse. In agriculture, Israel offers drip irrigation and precision agriculture. In the field of water and water loss prevention in urban systems, Israel holds the world record with its 3% water loss rate and 90% wastewater reusage rate. Israel also has solutions to offer in desalination, energy storage which complete the solar off-grid solutions. We offer solutions in compressed air or ice, energy efficiency, reforestation, sustainable transportation and smart mobility. Israeli companies develop new materials such as animal protein substitutes, a field in which Israel is leading globally as well as food loss prevention and much more. Israel wants to share its knowledge and collaborate in order to implement these solutions, which will greatly assist in reaching global mitigation targets, building resilience among already-affected countries and communities, and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). International cooperation in the field of climate innovation is also a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the economy for all, create new job opportunities, and allow humanity to prosper and flourish while preserving nature, the climate, and our planet’s ecological diversity. In this context we offer to Rwanda a range of partnerships between the Israeli climate change related innovation eco-system and Rwandan Government institutions and funds, as well as private sector, through new applications, solutions and through capacity building. Let us keep on working together! We sincerely hope that the climate conference in Glasgow will be the positive turning point in the future of humanity that we so sorely need. It is within our power to make that happen. The writer is the Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda
