Seeking sustainability and food security, as part of the relations between humans and their immediate surroundings, is deeply rooted in Judaism. The Torah (Hebrew Bible) teaches that mankind was created, in part, to protect and care for God’s creation.
The “Do not destroy” (bal taschit) concept in the Talmud (Jewish law) is an affirmation of God’s possession of land. There is the commitment to the creation, and to one another, by avoiding destruction or degradation of land. According to the teaching, it is mankind’s responsibility to preserve and sustain the earth. In reference to preserving nature and preventing destruction, the Torah instructs us not to cut down fruit giving trees.
Another important commandment is about the seventh year or the sabbatical year (shmita), which is obeyed to the letter to this day. Intensive farming is perceived as a threat to sustainability, so farming must be halted every seventh year to allow the soil to rejuvenate itself. “Six years you may sow your land and gather in its produce. But in the seventh [year] you shall release it and abandon it; the poor of your people shall eat [it], and what they leave over, the beasts of the field shall eat. So shall you do to your vineyard [and] to your olive tree[s] (Exodus 23:10, 11).
Such ancient understanding of the need to preserve the natural balance, and to formulate the relation between humankind and its surroundings, is inspiring, and we should draw from this when discussing climate change and man-made environmental degradation.
A pandemic has shaken the world in 2020, causing deaths, forcing people to stay isolated indoors, and countries to close their borders, leading to economic adversity not seen in recent times. The new year has begun with a potent mix of hope and anxiety; while several countries are still reeling from the deadliest phase of the pandemic, others have started mass vaccination. However, even as the world grapples with the coronavirus, climate change requires much more and urgent attention.
As the economist Jérôme Jean Haegeli said, “Covid-19, like climate change, will be a huge test to global resilience. However, while Covid-19 has an expiry date, climate change does not, and the failure to ‘green’ the global economic recovery now will increase costs for society in the future.”
The dark cloud of the pandemic, however, has a silver lining to it. The pandemic showed how societies can tackle a global challenge by taking responsible, collective actions and by implementing strict, tangible measures for the greater good. Moreover, complete lockdowns in countries such as Israel and India led to cleaner air, and better and greener environment. This reflects an inflection point in the climate change crisis, which gives the world a unique opportunity to influence and drive action towards mitigating climate change.
The point is, if we learn from the pandemic, we can better address climate change by being more informed about the repercussions of inaction, and be better equipped to save lives and prevent the worst possible outcome. The current crisis can prepare our response to the next one.
For various reasons, mainly necessity, Israel has been a global leader in tackling climate issues. Located in a semiarid climate zone, with over 60 per cent of its very limited land mass covered by desert, it is a hotspot for global warming. However, with innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity, the country has developed an infinite number of solutions for environmental challenges; solutions that it can share with the entire world.
A water-scarce country only 20 years ago, Israel now exports water to its neighbours. It has made huge strides in water purification, recycling and desalination; close to 90 per cent of its wastewater is purified and recycled for use in agriculture. Imagine the effect a similar rate of recycling globally would have on reduction of greenhouse gases, environmental pollution and destruction of natural ecosystems!
Israeli farmers have made significant achievements in desert farming with the pioneering use of precise irrigation and innovative technology. Israeli technology has reduced water requirement for irrigation by more than 30 per cent, and has simultaneously increased groundwater levels through efficient management and maintenance of traditional water storage structures.
Israel has invaluable experience in, and data on, raising forests in semi-arid and low-precipitation areas. It has been engaged in a massive reforestation effort in the last century and is probably the only country in the world that has more trees today than it did 50 years ago.
Israel has been a world leader in reducing coal consumption and is committed to halt coal usage by 2025. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has unveiled Israel’s carbon emissions targets for 2050, aiming at an ambitious 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases over the next 30 years. Today, renewable energy sources are positioned at the top of Israel’s agenda to guarantee a sustainable future.
Israel has also welcomed partnership with India in the quest for a future with low carbon and pollution levels, and a future based on green energy through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) that reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
The signing of recent Abraham Accords significantly increases the possibility of regional cooperation with our neighbours in the Middle East, with it in the field of climate innovation. Such cooperation is critical to preventing the effects of the climate crisis. It will also enable the transfer of renewable energy and water. Climate change is therefore an excellent opportunity to build regional collaborations that will enable the expansion of economic activity and create a platform for regional integration.
Israel and India share key commonalities despite their vastly different geographic, economic and demographic size, as well as distinct cultural and historical circumstances. Both are centres of scientific and technological advancement, while rooted in ancient civilisations with an illustrious cultural and intellectual legacy; both serve as vibrant, liberal democracies in challenging geostrategic surroundings; both are committed to serving as constructive members of the international community in the advancement of sustainable development goals. As such, cooperation in fields related to climate change carries great potential for future collaborations.
The two countries are working closely on implementing water management techniques. So far, 29 centres of excellence have been established in India to share knowledge and develop skills in agriculture and water management, and seven desalination plants using Israeli technology have been installed along the coasts of India.
India and Israel have signed an agreement to cooperate in health care and medicine, including sharing of expertise in building climate resilient infrastructure and support of ‘green health care’. The cooperation also underlines their joint efforts in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ties between Delhi and Jerusalem have expanded beyond the realms of security and defence, trade and investment, and technology and innovation. Israel-India cooperation in climate change is a great opportunity for both countries to take forward the vibrant cooperation in science and technology, health care, space, agriculture and water management. Adopting a ‘green way of thinking’ across all sectors will be key for climate resilience, and India and Israel together can lead the world’s efforts for making peace with nature.
The writer is Consul General of Israel to South India, Bengaluru