OpEd: It’s almost too late. We must urgently collaborate on global climate action.

As we mark Earth Day, it’s evident that tackling climate change requires more than isolated efforts; it demands a concerted, global approach. The environmental challenges we face today know no borders and constitute a significant feature of the poly-crisis we are grappling with today. Water scarcity, food security, and renewable energy impact lives across the planet and contribute significantly to national, regional, and global stability. Localized solutions are insufficient, and politics has no place when it comes to finding, adopting, and scaling solutions. This is a global problem; the only way to solve it is together.  

Israel’s experience developing climate technologies highlights a crucial lesson: addressing global climate challenges requires deep, scalable technological solutions and extensive cross-border collaboration. We can significantly enhance our global response to climate change by leveraging Israeli sustainability innovation and fostering international partnerships. It’s almost too late.   

The Necessity of Cross-Border Collaboration  

While some regions of the world are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, our global economy and interconnected supply chains make it imperative that we look beyond geographical borders when examining both consequences and potential solutions. When drought causes communities to migrate for lack of potable water, or when flooding threatens crop growth, prices worldwide rise, people go hungry, and nations become unstable. When energy supply is impacted by extreme conditions such as hurricanes, wildfires, and war, a shift to off-grid renewable energy resources can save lives and livelihoods. 

Just as climate change has far-reaching effects, the solutions designed to adapt to and mitigate challenges require collaboration and partnerships across borders and sectors. 

Israeli Climate Innovation in the Global Arena  

Israel is home to nearly 900 innovative companies in the climate tech sector. They have the potential to make a significant impact on a global scale, but their success hinges on international cooperation and technology transfer. Drip irrigation technology, for example, has become a world standard in ensuring maximum crop yield, improving the lives of millions in the global south. Technological advances in alternative food proteins, sustainable materials made from household waste, and carbon sequestration demonstrate further contribution to the global effort to combat climate change. Additionally, a culture of academic exchange and knowledge-sharing helps identify gaps in regulation and policy while generating best practices around tech transfer and the commercialization of cutting-edge ideas. 

The fight against climate change is urgent and requires a unified approach. It’s not just about adopting Israeli innovations; it’s about creating synergies between nations to foster a global ecosystem of climate resilience.  

Overcoming Challenges Through Partnership  

The path to a sustainable future is fraught with challenges, from technological barriers to political and economic constraints.  Adopting new technologies is costly, and cultural divides can lead to misaligned expectations. Yet a commitment to building relationships that lead to long-term collaboration is key. In just 30 years, the tech sector in Israel has become an example of effective entrepreneurial growth, incubation, investment, and scale. The country’s streamlined approach to research and development and its tech talent density have made it a destination for nearly 450 multinational corporations and significant private investor funding. 

Overcoming barriers requires a collaborative effort that leverages the strengths of countries, industries, and organizations worldwide. Israeli technology can play a pivotal role in this process, offering innovative solutions that, when combined with global partnerships, can address the multifaceted nature of climate change. Innovation is best when shared, and at Startup Nation Central, I am fortunate to contribute to bringing Israeli climate tech solutions to the forefront of our shared global challenges. 

The message is clear this Earth Day: no country can combat climate change alone. International collaboration is not optional—it’s essential. 

 Aviva Steinberger is the senior director of strategy at Startup Nation Central, a Tel Aviv-based nonprofit organization that promotes Israeli innovation around the world.

Originally published in USA Today, on Earth Day – April 22 2024