Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is set to speak at the Glasgow climate summit on Monday and present Israel's goal of zero emissions by 2050, but will also speak of Israel's technological abilities, which he says can help the transition to sustainable energy.
"This is real, and we are part of it," the prime minister said of climate change. "For the first time, Israel is taking the matter seriously and standing alongside the developed world in dealing with it," he said, speaking to reporters on his way to Scotland.
Bennett said he planned to take the start-up nation and transition it into a green nation and intended to call on entrepreneurs in the start-up industry to begin investing in green energy technologies.
"Half of the work to reach our goal of zero emissions, will be achieved through yet technologies that have not yet been developed," he said.
Bennett added that he intended to remove some of the bureaucratic obstacles faced often by the business sector. However, there is no plan of action in place at this stage.
The prime minister admitted that his decision to announce Israel's climate response goals came after he met with entrepreneurs who urged him to bring Israel up to the level of developed nations.
"The corps of the matter is to direct the entrepreneurial spirit in that direction," he said. but calling on them is not enough."
Bennett said few venture capitalists invest in climate change solutions.
"Israel has an asset found only in Silicon Valley," he said. "we have 1,000 to 2,000 entrepreneurs who have already succeeded in making an exit. I've spoken to some of them in recent months and told them to stop investing in the ad platforms for the internet," Bennett said.
"A number of investors have said that Israel must meet its emission's goals if it wants to succeed in selling green technologies. It must become the Betta site for them," he said.
On Sunday, the UN published its report on the state of global climate, claiming the past seven years were the warmest since temperature measurements began and the world meteorological organization warned "we were heading into unprecedented times."
First published: 08:04, 11.01.21