Beneath the headlines and headliners at COP27 (The 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), Israel found a place not before witnessed.  The State of Israel had its first pavilion – an impressive display of clean tech and innovation with activities continuing throughout the conference.

It started the first day with our President, the Honorable Isaac Herzog, launching the Israeli Pavilion and addressing the conference, whose remarks included his term, the RenewBeneath the headlines and headliners at #cop27sharm (The 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), Israel found a place not before witnessed. The State of Israel had its first pavilion – an impressive display of clean tech and innovation with activities continuing throughout the conference.

It started the first day with our President, the Honorable Isaac Herzog, launching the Israeli Pavilion and addressing the conference, whose remarks included his term, the Renewable Middle East – a regional ecosystem of sustainable peace, and an Arabic quote from the Koran, a tribute to the host country, and a quote from Genesis, the first book of the Bible.

The next day, 10 promising start-ups in the field of climate tech showed what the private sector is actually doing to use technology in the struggle against climate change.

The same day, at #climatech -IL@COP27, Israeli Tech for Global Climate Challenges, the state of climate tech in Israel was explored and unprecedented regional cooperation was heralded in a packed event held in what is called the Innovation Zone of COP27. The event was organized by the Israel Export Institute in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manufacturer’s Association of Israel, Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, Mekorot, Herzog Fox & Neeman, Start-up Nation Central, Eilat Eilot, and Capital Nature.

There will be many takeaways from COP27; its messages, commitments and promises will be analyzed and judged. But one thing is sure. As the time for implementation of the cop21 Paris Agreement declarations and the cop26glasgow ‘s Climate Pact pledges draws near, without a major stage for private sector initiatives receiving massive support and investment, the road will be met with disappointment and criticism of empty words by the 90 or so heads of state and hundreds of other politicians who stood in the sunshine of Sharm el-Sheikh and pledged to be saving the planet.

Janet Pahima, Adv.
Of Counsel and head of Impact Investment, Herzog, Fox & Neeman