Just ahead of the start of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow on Sunday, Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Energy Minister Karine Elharrar announced today that Israel will join the growing number of countries pledging to be carbon neutral by 2050. Going carbon neutral means balancing the amount of carbon emitted with the amount that is taken out of the atmosphere and stored.
Israel’s plan includes “100 action items” which encourage hi-tech innovation to develop technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, advance environmentally friendly infrastructure projects, encourage recycling and energy saving and prepare for climate change.
Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting Energy Minister Karin Alharrar said: “The time has come for us to mobilise Israeli creativity and innovation for the State of Israel’s fight against the climate crisis”.
This week, Prime Minister Bennett visited green energy company Phinergy, which produces “metal-air batteries” that allow electric vehicles to expand their range by three times without the need to recharge.
On Monday, President Isaac Herzog hosted the Israeli delegation due to attend the Conference in Glasgow. He was presented with a range of innovative environmental technologies, including technology to harvest organic waste as a renewable energy source and food products such as meat substitutes and alternative proteins.