For the first time since it began participating in UN climate conferences, Israel will not send an official state delegation to COP30, the world’s biggest and most important forum for cooperation and decision-making in the development and climate fields, set to take place this year in Brazil. The decision, made against the backdrop of global criticism over the war in Gaza and concerns about provocations targeting the Israeli delegation, is undeniably dramatic.
Yet, contrary to popular belief, it does not signal the end of Israel’s standing in the global arena of climate and international development. At a time when Israel is often perceived as part of the problem, it is essential to highlight the contribution it can make to global solutions.
First, there is no point in sugarcoating reality: Israel’s absence from the conference has consequences that could damage our position in climate and development affairs.
Consequences of Israel's absence
Among other things, it reduces Israel’s influence on drafting the 2035 NDCs (the global framework that will bind nations in climate commitments), limits its ability to shape financing mechanisms for developing countries, weakens economic opportunities for Israeli innovation, and undermines the soft diplomacy that the country has carefully cultivated for years. Moreover, it narrows the access of private-sector companies and environmental organizations to key international platforms.
Still, despite the official absence, Israel retains enormous potential in climate change and international development. The country is home to NGOs active worldwide, pioneering technology companies in water, agriculture, renewable energy, and climate health, as well as universities leading research and international training programs.
Over the years, Israel’s participation in COP conferences has enabled the creation of exceptional regional partnerships, including with countries with which it has few formal diplomatic ties, and strengthened its branding as an innovator in climate tech. These are areas that position Israel as a player capable of offering real solutions to global challenges, rather than being seen solely as a negative actor in other contexts.
The diversity of local stakeholders and accumulated expertise allow Israel to preserve its status even in times of crisis. All of this should, and must, serve it today, at a moment when its international standing in the field appears to be weakening.
What Israel should do
To prevent further decline and maintain Israel’s relevance on the world stage, action is required on several fronts simultaneously (some of which Israel has pursued in the past but has neglected in recent years):
• Formulating a national climate strategy for international representation – setting clear goals, narrative, and messaging that can strengthen Israel’s positioning even without a physical presence at COP.
• Hosting a “mini-COP” in Israel – a parallel hybrid conference with live-streamed international speakers, tailored to the main COP30 themes (such as health, education, energy, transport, and trade). This would connect civil society, business, and government actors; generate visibility and influence; and provide global access for students and researchers – the next generation of climate professionals.
• Participating in pilots and multilateral frameworks – joining regional or global projects such as the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East Climate Change Initiative, WHO climate-health initiatives, or forest and biodiversity programs, while sharing knowledge from proven projects of MASHAV, the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, and recommending metrics for 2026.
• Digital dissemination of Israel’s positions – publishing a policy paper or draft 2035 NDCs and distributing it to international stakeholders, journalists, and investors, to maintain political, economic, and scientific influence.
• Establishing a permanent cross-sector task force – involving government ministries, civil society, and academia working year-round rather than only ahead of annual conferences. Its role would be to coordinate information, networks, and resources for coherent international engagement.
Israel’s official absence is a warning sign, with the potential to harm the country’s climate and development community. Yet rather than treating it as inevitable, the community should see it as a wake-up call. With a clear strategy and genuine cross-sector cooperation, Israel can preserve its international standing, continue leading meaningful projects, and ensure it remains a relevant actor in global climate and development: one that is seen as part of the solution, not just part of the problem.
The writer is CEO of SID Israel, the umbrella organization of the Israeli international aid and development community.