Israel's hi-tech industry is joining efforts to deal with the greatest global challenge of our time: the global climate crisis.

At the COP27 climate conference last month in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Israeli pavilion introduced 10 start-ups. During the conference, an agreement was signed between Israeli start-up H2Pro and Moroccan renewable energy developer Gaia Energy regarding the integration of green hydrogen technology in Morocco. Israel and Jordan also signed a memorandum of understanding to build solar fields in the kingdom that will provide renewable energy to Israel in exchange for desalinated water. Also during the conference, an Israeli-Jordanian declaration of intent was signed to establish a partnership for the ecological restoration and sustainable development of the Jordan River.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Gidon Bromberg, director of EcoPeace Middle East, an organization bringing together Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian environmental activists, described COP27 as a "breakthrough." He said countries in the region understand that they have a "last chance" to act against climate challenges and that this action must be collective and not held hostage to narrow political considerations. Bromberg explained that in the Middle East climate, climate change is not theoretical but already felt on "the skin of the residents" after temperatures have increased by close to two degrees Celsius over the last three decades.

Yoni Sappir, chair of the environmental group Homeland Guards, told Al-Monitor that the recent agreements are the direct result of the Abraham Accords. However, he added that the involvement of the UAE is fueled by the inter-Gulf rivalry with Saudi Arabia, which wants to establish itself as the region's leader in combating climate change.