On the occasion of the end of his term as Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability, Ambassador Gideon Bachar explains how climate diplomacy, regional resilience, and collaborations in the areas of water, food security, and Israeli innovation can determine whether the region will withstand the climate crisis.
For more than 5 years, Ambassador Gideon Bachar served as the Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this time, he promoted climate innovation while collaborating with countries in the region and around the world. Now, just before he leaves his post and embarks on a new mission as Israel's Ambassador to Kenya, where he will also be responsible for the countries of Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Seychelles, we spoke with him about the environmental challenges facing the entire region, the opportunities that Israel offers the world, and what still needs to happen here to meet the growing climate challenge.
How did you get started in climate diplomacy?
"Nearly 20 years ago, I was an ambassador to several countries in West Africa, where I directly encountered the consequences of the climate crisis on vulnerable populations. I understood that this crisis is the greatest challenge facing humanity today. Several years ago, I proposed to the Foreign Ministry the idea of appointing an envoy, like other countries in the world, to advance the field of climate diplomacy. I later also had the privilege of holding the position, and I thank the Foreign Ministry for that. Climate issues are regulated through international agreements – this is climate diplomacy. The [climate] crisis is global, and only through global cooperation can we deal with it effectively."
What does the State Department's Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability do?
"As a special envoy, I was active in raising awareness and preparing for the impacts of the climate crisis in various sectors. We organized conferences in the areas of carbon sequestration, money, and climate change. During the UN climate conferences Israel has joined a variety of international climate initiatives and declarations in the fields of energy, agriculture, transportation, health, and more. All of this has contributed to Israeli climate diplomacy, to building Israeli climate resilience, and to increasing awareness and ambition in building better preparedness for the climate crisis. In addition, a great deal of activity has been done on cooperation throughout the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. The war has delayed some things, but we believe that regional partners are very necessary for creating regional climate resilience. The ambition is to see Israel cooperating with neighboring countries in diverse areas, from food security to preparing for sea level rise. In this context, it is important to say that climate and environmental cooperation can be a bridge to peace."
What are the most critical climate challenges in our region?
"This year there is a severe drought in the Middle East. Historically, we know that droughts in our region tend to last several years in a row. We are already seeing a dramatic decline in the levels of water reservoirs in countries around us, such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and even Cyprus and Greece. I would be happy to see joint marine nature reserves for the countries of the eastern Mediterranean basin and joint programs to protect the monk seal, which is very rare."
"Crises create an impetus and opportunity to promote regional cooperation and establish cooperative relationships in a variety of areas. Last year, we participated in a regional conference in Cyprus with a number of regional countries, including Arab countries. Our region is full of failed states that are struggling to function, and despite this challenge, there are still enough stable countries, such as the Gulf states and the European Union, for us to be able to work together and promote joint climate action."
What is Israel's role in global climate diplomacy?
"The vision that guides us is that Israel can and should be a global center for climate innovation. Israel is located in a hot, desert place, and since its establishment has been facing climate challenges. Over the years, a variety of methods and tools have been developed in Israel that can now be used by the entire world. At the center of our climate diplomacy was the issue of sharing solutions; we called it 'climate innovation.'"
"Israel is a world leader in areas such as renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency, wastewater treatment, desert agriculture, and more. In addition, we are a leader in the protection of forests in arid regions. We are second in the world, after the United States, in the development of animal protein, and we are at the forefront of AI and weather forecasting. Israel needs to position itself as a global center in these issues. For example, in the field of water, we need and can be a global center of Water innovation"We have experience that is of immense value in the world."
Is this being implemented?
"There is economic mobilization by the Innovation Authority and the private sector - one in six new startups today is in the field of innovative ecology. We need to understand that as the climate crisis hits the world, the need for Israeli knowledge and experience will increase. For example, Europe is currently suffering from droughts, decreased precipitation, and heat waves. European agriculture has always been based on rain, and today they know that they must switch to irrigated agriculture. For this, they need Israeli knowledge and experience. It is important to understand that climate innovation can be a huge growth engine for the Israeli economy. One of the main challenges is to attract investors here, among other things through regulatory relief that will allow them to establish test and development sites here."
Looking inward, where does Israel stand in the face of climate challenges?
"The climate crisis is a crisis in the making that is getting worse, and therefore the focus on it is ongoing. We cannot be in a situation where we rest on our laurels. It is difficult for people to fully understand the situation because we are used to a situation where if a problem arises, then a response can be found and solved. But in the climate context, the problem is exponential. In other words, the crisis is constantly getting worse and any response that is given will inevitably be inadequate. Therefore, as a starting point, we need to be constantly in a state of examination, of upgrading, and of preparation."
What requires change?
"Local authorities are a key factor in preparedness, and it is important that every authority in the country has a climate change preparedness plan. We recently experienced another extreme heat wave, one of many. Every government body needs to examine its preparedness. Are we prepared for a heat wave in the health sector? Are we prepared for fires? Is our transportation system prepared for extreme heat wave conditions?"
"In previous years, the Meteorological Service has done an amazing job and provided us with tools for predicting floods, winds, and heat waves. We need to take advantage of these tools and implement them. We know that in the coming decades, temperatures in the country will rise, and according to the models, in 2070 we will reach more than 55 degrees in the Hula Valley and in other places we will stand at 45 and 50 degrees. How will the settlements in the Arava and the Jordan Valley continue to exist? How will people continue to live in Tiberias? How will agriculture cope in these areas? These are questions that are important to ask them now."
"There is also the critical issue of food security"Israel imports a significant percentage of its food, and we must prepare for a situation in which, due to extreme weather events, our food security will be affected, especially since the population here is growing at a significant rate."
Can Israel help other countries?
"The number of climate refugees and displaced persons as a result of climate crises is increasing due to the increase in natural disasters and droughts. UN estimates indicate that in the coming years there will be hundreds of millions of people who will migrate between countries and seek a livelihood because they will no longer be able to live in their own country."
"It is important to protect our borders on the one hand and to provide assistance to those people on the other. This also brings me to my next position in Africa, in countries with tens of millions of people who are dealing with the climate crisis. As an ambassador, I would be happy to cooperate with any initiative that comes to promote critical areas there, such as food security, water and environmental agriculture. We have a mission as the State of Israel, as a Jewish people. Already in his book "Altneuland," Herzl wrote that part of the essence of Zionism is to help developing nations. This will be good for everyone and good for Israel. I am ending my role with great satisfaction. I was privileged to be in a very important key position, both in promoting the State of Israel's climate diplomacy and in contributing to building a Climate resilience our".
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