At a climate conference in Tel Aviv, Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks stressed the need for ambitious climate action: "Climate action can be an important driver for the national economy, especially in a technologically advanced country like Israel." The minister also met with her Israeli counterpart Avi Gabbay.
Israel is currently drawing up its INDC for the climate agreement to be adopted in Paris at the end of the year, and the Tel Aviv conference aimed to deliver key input for this work. It also marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel. Hendricks underlined the economic opportunities that go hand in hand with climate action, particularly in an innovative country like Israel. "An economy geared to climate action and focusing on energy efficiency offers major opportunities for growth." She noted that Germany had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 27 percent since 1990, while in the same period the German economy grew by 39 percent. "This shows that economic growth can be decoupled from emissions. In fact, in the 21st century, climate action is a prerequisite for competitive and forward-looking economic activity – and hence for sustainable prosperity."
Hendricks also pressed for the adoption of an ambitious climate agreement at the end of this year in Paris. To achieve this, all Parties have to commit to ambitious climate targets. "Paris must send a clear signal: we need a joint decision by all countries to follow a low-carbon and climate-friendly development path."
In the margins of the conference, Hendricks and Gabbay signed a Joint Declaration of Intent for cooperation on air quality control. An exchange of knowledge and experience between German and Israeli experts will improve the application of best available techniques in the permitting of industrial installations in Israel, and thus lead to greater environmental protection.