The UAE, Israel and Jordan have signed an agreement to build solar power and water desalination facilities to tackle climate change and ensure water security in the Middle East region. 

The “declaration of intent”, signed by government officials at Dubai Expo on Monday, seeks to develop 600-megawatt solar photovoltaic plants in the Hashemite kingdom, which will supply clean energy to Israel, and a sustainable water desalination programme in the Jewish state, which will provide Jordan with up to 200 million cubic metres of desalinated water. 

“The declaration of intent that we are signing today is not just good for the state of Israel and the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, but for the region as a whole and will send a strong message around the world about how nations can work together to battle the climate crisis,” said Israel’s Minister of Energy, Karine Elharrar. 

The agreement comes as the UAE has just pledged to invest more than 600 billion dirhams ($163 billion) in clean and renewable energy over the next several years to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.  

The UAE has also recently won in its bid to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023, which brings countries together to talk about climate change. 

“Following the UAE’s confirmation as host of COP28 in 2023, the UAE is keen to demonstrate how this region can raise climate ambition in ways that together enhance sustainable development, stability and prosperity. Today’s declaration is a great example of this that we can build on,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change. 

Different countries, different needs 

Jordan requires additional supply of clean water, with its annual renewable water resources estimated to be 80 cubic metres per person, lower than the threshold of 500 cubic metres per person. The country is considered the second most water-scarce state in the world. 

Israel is also looking to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the energy sector by 2050 and hopes to meet 30 percent of its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2030. 

According to a statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the signing of the intent to develop renewable energy and water facilities for Israel and Jordan, respectively, has been made possible by the signing of the Abraham Accords last year. 

“[The accords] opened up a new era of cooperation between the UAE and Israel,” the statement said. 

Jordan is considered an ideal site for the solar power plants, while Israel has facilities that can help the Hashemite kingdom address its water requirements. 

“Jordan has an abundance of territory and sunshine which is perfect for solar panel fields, good for energy solutions and storage, and Israel has desalinisation plants that can help Jordan with its water scarcity,” said Elharrar. 

(Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria ) 

Cleofe.maceda@refinitiv.com 

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