Naama Barak
March 7, 2022, Updated March 6, 2022

Israeli solutions for the global climate crisis are receiving a push from a host of Israeli and Jewish organizations that announced a $2 million prize to help researchers and startups bring their innovations to the market.

JNF Canada, Start-Up Nation Central, KKL-JNF and the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation launched the Climate Solutions Prize on March 1 to encourage the development of blue-and-white technologies to battle climate change and position Israel as a hub for climate-tech innovation.

Israel already has more than 700 technology companies developing solutions for climate challenges, including sustainable food systems, circular economy, clean energy, energy efficiency and storage, sustainable mobility, sustainable manufacturing, nature protection, and many more. Three Israeli companies recently made it to the Cleantech Global Top 100 list.

The prize encompasses two tracks, one for scientists and researchers and the other for startup companies. Winners will be announced at a Climate Innovation Festival scheduled to be held in Israel in October 2022.

“Climate change is the biggest challenge of our time. If temperatures continue to rise, all we have worked so hard to build may be at risk due to increased flooding, forest fires and drought,” said Jeff Hart, the executive chair of the Climate Solutions Prize.

“As Jewish people committed to tikkun olam – repairing the world – we created the Climate Solutions Prize to galvanize Israel, known as the Start-Up Nation, to develop breakthrough solutions to help solve the climate crisis, and even turn it into an opportunity.”

Left to right – KKL-JNF Chief Scientist Dr. Doron Markel, CEO of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation Efrat Duvdevani ,Start-Up Nation Central CEO Avi Hasson, KKL-JNF Vice-Chairperson Emily Levy-Shochat, Executive Chair of the Climate Solutions Prize Jeff Hart, JNF Canada Chairman Lance David.

Addressing the prize launch via video, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, “This prize excites the famous Israeli creativity and curiosity that turned us into a startup nation and compels us to live up to this reputation.”

KKL-JNF Vice-Chairperson Emily Levy-Shochat added, “KKL-JNF’s commitment to the Climate Solutions Prize is a vote of confidence in the ability of Israeli research to bring about technological breakthroughs in the global battle against climate change.”

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