Israel’s 2022 Climate Change Conference was held in Jerusalem on February, 23, 2022. The Conference was organised by Haaretz newspaper, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and EcoPeace Middle East. It is regarded as one of the most important annual events in Israel on issues related to climate crisis in the Middle East region. It aims at informing decision makers and the public on the challenges societies are faced with because of the climate crisis.

Among the speakers were John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy of the US on Climate Change, President of Israel Mr Isaac Herzog and the Minister of Environmental protection of Israel Mrs Tamar Zandberg. Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, President of The Cyprus Institute and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change also participated in the conference in one of the panel discussions moderated by Haaretz’s journalist Mr Amir Tibon, which explored the potential impact of the climate crisis in the Middle East. More specifically, the discussion focused on whether the climate crisis could lead to collaboration and peaceful coexistence or exacerbate wars.

“If we do not address this crisis we are doomed. It is really the biggest crisis that the human race was ever faced with. If we possess some sort of intelligence as human beings, we have to use it and address the issue immediately,” stated Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas.

The Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, which is identified by scientists as a climate hotspot will experience the climate crisis faster and more intensively than other parts of the world.

“The impact will be very different in northern Europe compared to the Balkans, Canada or Siberia. It will also be different in our region. However, in our region it will not be different from country to country, as it will not respect borders and naturally, it will not respect conflicts. If we choose not to address it, the impact in our region will be dire…According to the scientific projections, if we do nothing and we continue with business as usual, in our region the temperature increase will be 5 degrees Celsius. The rainfall will diminish by 30% to 40%.  What does that mean? It will be an absolute disaster. There will be collapse of the economies, collapse of societies and any of the problems we have now will look like a mild case compared to the terminal situation we will be dealing with. This means we have to act and we have to act now and we have to do it regionally.”

 Israeli and Palestinian officials, Gideon Behar, the Israeli Special Envoy on Climate Change and Sustainability from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr Shaddad Attili, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation Minister in the Negotiation Department, who participated in the panel discussion, also agreed that the countries of the entire region need to collaborate for battling the climate crisis.  The Climate Change Initiative for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East coordinated by the government of Cyprus as well as the Green-Blue deal of EcoPeace Middle East, are regarded by Israelis and Palestinians as appropriate frameworks for collaboration among them.

Gideon Behar stated:

“There is a wonderful Initiative by the government of Cyprus …. which we are very much supportive of. We think that this is an excellent way to move forward. It is structured in a very clever and a very cautious way and we think that this is one of the main venues to move forward. I can tell you that at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs we have designated the climate changes an area of a priority for us and a part of this is, it is also advancing a regional cooperation in the field of climate change…

Even if we solve the problems on national level, even if the world as a whole is reaching its targets of net zero by mid-century but progress is not happening in this region, then we are in a deep problem so we have to work together.”

Dr Shaddad Attili also called for increased regional cooperation on climate change, including with Israel. He stated that it is unfortunate that the recent appointment of a special climate-affairs advisor to Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, was criticized my many as on social media, as the current economic crisis was regarded far more important that climate one.

However “we all have to be part of this collective initiative to combat climate crisis….Last summer was the hottest in the region… It didn’t differentiate between two people living in the two sides of the wall,” he said.

The various international climate accords to which Israel and the Palestinian are signatories, he continued, “can serve as an agreed basis for further cooperation with our negotiations. As they have already committed to those accords, let’s work together towards meeting our obligations.”

EcoPeace’s Green Blue Deal for the Middle East is an initiative for advancing climate security and regional peace. It urges for actions in four key areas which are: Jordanian-Palestinian-Israeli cooperation to improve adaptive capacities on water and renewable energy security by creating a water and renewable energy exchange; advancing Israeli-Palestinian natural water reallocations and water management; rehabilitating the Jordan River and its once rich biodiversity through investments in region-wide climate-smart initiatives and creation of green jobs and promoting public awareness and education programs—particularly directed toward youth—on resilience diplomacy in the water and climate fields as a means of conflict resolution and peace building.

During the panel discussion Gidon Bromberg, the Israeli director of EcoPeace, pledged for a collaboration between Israel, Palestine and Jordan for the rehabilitation of the river Jordan. Bromberg advocated that the successful example of the river management by five countries after the Balkan war in the 90s, which was previously shared by panellist Ambassador Tanya Miskova, head of the water issue of Slovenia's ministry of foreign affairs, could be repeated in the region for turning the river Jordan from a sewage canal to a the water source that the region desperately needs. 

Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas closing remarks emphasized once more the benefits of regional collaboration:

“As a scientist, I can tell you we do have the solutions. However, no nation can solve this crisis on their own. Well, we can try. It will be far more expensive, slower and we will fall behind. ..The region is full of problems but this cannot, should not stop us.  Actually, addressing climate change will ameliorate these conflicts and possibly by addressing the bigger problem, we will make the smaller problem easier to solve.”

You can watch the panel discussion here.

Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, Minister Shaddad Attili, Ambassador Gideon Behar, Mr Gidon Bromberg and Mr Amir Tibon at the Conference during the panel discussion.

Ambassador Tanya Miskova, Mr Gidon Bromberg, Mr Amir Tibon, Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, Minister Shaddad Attili and Ambassador Gideon Bahar.

Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas at a meeting with the Minister of Environmental protection of Israel Mrs Tamar Zandberg, Ambassador Gideon Behar the Israeli Special Envoy on Climate Change and Sustainability from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Gidon Bromberg Director of EcoPeace Middle East and the Head Commercial and Economic Affair of the Embassy of Cyprus in Israel Mr. Sofronis Papageorgiou.