Israeli delegation to showcase startups, climate initiatives at COP29 in Baku Article by The Times of Israel

An Israeli delegation comprising more than 100 members will attend the 29th UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, starting on November 11.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will attend during the second week, accompanied by three ministers from the environmental protection, energy, and transportation ministries, along with numerous officials, Caliber.Az reports per The Times of Israel.

As in previous COP meetings, Israel will have a pavilion, which will host 20 climate startups selected from 80 applicants. The pavilion will also feature a section dedicated to Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, continuing Israel’s tradition of addressing this issue at international forums.

Throughout the event, dozens of discussions will highlight the importance of regional and international cooperation, with organisations such as Startup National Central, MASHAV (Israel’s international development agency), and the KKL-JNF (Jewish National Fund) taking part in talks. Israeli representatives, including Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, will also engage in interfaith sessions at the Faith Pavilion.

Foreign Ministry climate envoy Gideon Behar emphasised the significance of Israel’s participation, saying, “We cannot give the impression that the war has closed us off. We are part of the international community; we have a voice, can influence, and want to contribute to the global fight against climate change, offering solutions and technology.”

The conference this year will focus on increasing financial contributions from developed nations to developing countries, which face the brunt of climate change effects such as rising sea levels, droughts, and severe storms. Despite fulfilling a 2009 pledge to provide $100 billion annually to developing nations by 2022, these countries argue that the sum is inadequate and call for more contributions, including from newly developed nations.

Another key discussion at COP29 will be finalising the rules for Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which allows countries with reduced emissions to earn money by selling carbon credits to assist other nations in meeting their emission targets.

Despite ongoing tensions in Gaza and Lebanon, regional cooperation on climate issues continues. Recently, representatives from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, and Gulf states, alongside Greece and the EU, met in Cyprus for climate-related discussions.

Thus, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary in Dubai in December 2023.

The conference will gather 70,000 to 80,000 international participants, including government leaders, business figures, and civil society representatives, to drive action on the climate crisis.

By Aghakazim Guliyev