Israel-Hamas Conflict Casts Shadow on Pivotal Climate Talks
The Israel-Hamas conflict looms heavily over crucial climate talks, infiltrating press conferences, speeches, and even the visual symbolism of photos and handshakes The resulting trust deficit between North and South further complicates the negotiations
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spent Friday meeting with prominent leaders at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. Meanwhile, his country's military distributed leaflets in southern Gaza, advising residents to evacuate as combat operations against Hamas were set to resume following a seven-day hiatus.
Herzog was scheduled to deliver a speech urging action on the climate crisis but missed his slot as he was engaged in meetings with King Charles III, as well as leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the European Union, the United Kingdom, India, and the United Nations Secretary General.
The private discussions undoubtedly focused on Herzog's efforts to elicit support or at least tolerance for Israel's involvement in the conflict with Hamas, as well as on securing the release of the 136 remaining hostages taken in the armed group's October 7 attack. Israel's significant retaliatory military actions have resulted in a war that has tragically claimed the lives of more children than all the year's conflicts combined.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has begun to overshadow the COP28 climate talks. Despite the event only being in its second day, the topic has become unavoidable in press conferences, speeches, and even the visual symbolism of photos and handshakes.
The UK's King Charles III shakes hands with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai on December 1, 2023.
Attendees at the summit were seen wearing Palestinian flag-colored lanyards, while both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly accused Israel of war crimes during their speeches on climate change, which garnered attention far beyond the event in Dubai. This information was shared by the Israeli Presidential Press Office/Handout/Reuters.
Despite facing the climate crisis, Israel's allies, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, continue to support Israel's right to defend itself. Sunak's focus on the ongoing conflict likely leaves little room for addressing climate-related issues, reflecting the broader challenge of prioritizing climate change amidst current conflicts that demand significant resources and attention.
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Tensions have already flared at the summit, with Iranian delegates reportedly leaving due to the presence of Herzog and the Israeli delegation, as reported by Iranian state media IRNA. This move reflects Iran's refusal to recognize Israel, and it remains uncertain whether the Iranian delegation will rejoin the summit.
With 2023 set to shatter temperature records, there is a growing urgency for countries to set aside their differences and address the climate crisis. The consequences of continued feuding in the face of extreme weather events and record heat are too dire to ignore. For example, the US and China recently agreed to resume a climate working group and pledged to significantly increase renewable energy efforts. The reality is that conflict and climate change have become intertwined, making it increasingly inevitable to address them together.
Jordanian King Abdullah II emphasized in his speech on Friday the detrimental impact of war on the Middle East's water scarcity and food insecurity, which are already exacerbated by the climate crisis. He stressed the interconnection between climate change and the humanitarian crises in the region, urging this year's conference of the parties to acknowledge and address these issues.
North-South trust deficit
As we speak, the Palestinian people are confronting an immediate danger to their lives and well-being. In Gaza, more than 1.7 million Palestinians have been forced out of their homes, with tens of thousands being wounded or killed in a region already at the forefront of climate change. The extensive devastation from war amplifies these environmental hazards of water scarcity and food insecurity even further.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict has historically divided the global community along racial, religious, and ethnic lines since Israel's establishment in 1948. However, the current conflict is also deepening the divide between the Global North and South, as stated by Ulrich Eberle, Director of Climate, Environment, and Conflict at the International Crisis Group. According to Eberle, the trust deficit between the US and the Global South has worsened due to the Biden administration's unwavering support for Israel's campaign in Gaza. The ongoing war is making North-South dialogue at COP even more challenging, potentially diverting attention from critical issues.
Heads of states and senior UN officials pose for a "family photo" on December 01, 2023 in Dubai.
During the initial stages of the conflict, US President Joe Biden staunchly supported Israel's right to self-defense. However, the administration has been compelled to shift its stance due to widespread outrage over the devastating impact on Gaza's civilian population.
The Middle East has a history of conflict, but the climate crisis has provided an opportunity for cooperation in the region. The UAE, a supporter of a Palestinian state, has recently started working with Israel on climate initiatives.
In 2021, Israel and the UAE signed a water for energy deal with Jordan, which included the exchange of solar power for desalinated water. However, last month Jordan decided to withdraw from the deal. Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that Jordan could not ratify the deal "while Israel continues to kill children in Gaza," in an interview with Al Jazeera.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) opening in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 30, 2023, saw the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister and COP27 President Sameh Shoukry, with a gavel in hand. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
Amr Alfiky/Reuters
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As the world leaders depart from the summit, it remains uncertain if the heat of the war will dissipate or if the two weeks of negotiations will only add to tensions among key players, allies, and foes. Despite the ongoing conflict, the actual negotiations have not been significantly affected, as noted by Alden Meyer, a senior associate with the climate consultancy E3G.
"Alden told CNN that the current geopolitical stress, compounded with existing tensions such as Ukraine and US-China relations, has made it challenging to balance the collective need to address climate change with conflicts in other areas such as trade, vaccines, debt crisis, and armed conflict in various parts of the world. This is not a new dynamic, but it is particularly intense at the moment."
