Environmental Diplomacy: The UAE and Israel before and after October 7
Publisher: Institute for National Security Studies
Author(s): Francesca Fassbender and Udi Sommer
Date: 2024
Topics: Climate Change, Cooperation
Countries: Israel, United Arab Emirates
Environmental cooperation was a key component highlighted in the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE in 2020. However, it has since received limited attention compared to other aspects of their bilateral relations. In this article, we analyze how environmental diplomacy between the two countries has evolved using interviews, media reports, and participant observations at conferences such as COP28. We contrast this cooperation before and after the terror attacks of October 7 and the subsequent Hamas-Israel war. Our analysis highlights the potential for environmental collaboration before October 7, not only for its symbolic, economic, and sustainability benefits for both countries but also for regional integration. We then contrast this with the post-October 7 period, showing how environmental diplomacy was used as a platform for covert diplomatic interactions and continued, though limited, collaboration. Furthermore, we examine the factors that influence and may continue to influence the potential of environmental diplomacy, including accusations of “ecocide” and “econormalization” since the start of the war. Finally, we discuss how environmental cooperation between Israel, the UAE, the Palestinians, and other Arab states could play a crucial role in post-war recovery and regional stability. We apply the framework of environmental peacebuilding to analyze the impact of such collaboration on bilateral relations and the broader region.