Israel’s quiet green revolution

When it comes to international discourse on Israel, one theme dominates almost everything else: conflict. Whether it’s war, occupation, international condemnations or political gridlock, the media’s gaze remains fixated on confrontation. Rarely do we see headlines about the ways in which Israel is quietly contributing to a better world — especially in the realm of environmental innovation. 

Yet in the shadow of boycotts, protests, and diplomatic isolation, something remarkable is happening. Israeli engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs are not waiting for permission to solve global challenges — they are doing it. While some demand Israel’s exclusion from academic and climate forums, their own agricultural fields thrive thanks to Israeli drip irrigation. While politicians grandstand against Israel’s environmental policies, their citizens drink water made possible by Israeli technologies. 

There is a side of Israel that doesn’t make the front pages — but should. A side that brings water to deserts, reclaims waste, and helps farmers grow crops where others give up. It is time that this story, too, is told. 

 Drawing water from thin air 

In many parts of the world, clean drinking water is a luxury. Israel, facing constant water scarcity, didn’t wait for external aid or global agreements — it developed solutions. One of them is H2OLL, a startup producing atmospheric water generators that literally extract drinking water from the air. These compact, energy-efficient machines are already deployed in India, Morocco, and Latin America, generating hundreds of liters daily, even in dry climates. 

“We couldn’t afford to wait for others to solve this. We had to innovate,” said an H2OLL engineer. “And now, we can help others.” 

Israel also leads the world in wastewater reuse, recycling nearly 90% of its sewage for agricultural and industrial use — far ahead of the next country, Spain, which reuses about 20%. It’s an invisible but game-changing contribution to global water resilience. 

 Turning trash into resource: the UBQ revolution 

At the heart of the circular economy stands UBQ Materials, an Israeli company turning unsorted household waste — even dirty diapers and food scraps — into a high-performance, thermoplastic material. This UBQ compound can replace wood, plastic, and even concrete in manufacturing. 

Each ton of UBQ prevents an average of 12 tons of CO₂ emissions. McDonald’s uses it for serving trays; Mercedes-Benz is testing it for automotive applications. With patents secured and expansion underway, UBQ may revolutionize global waste management. 

“We’re not idealists,” said UBQ’s CEO. “We want to make oil-based plastics obsolete — and the only way to do that is by being cheaper, cleaner and better.” 

Climate-smart agriculture: growing where others quit 

Despite being a semi-arid country, Israel’s agricultural output is among the most productive in the world. That’s no miracle — it’s the result of technological determination. 

Salicrop, for instance, enhances seeds to resist salinity and drought without using genetic modification. That means farming is now viable on degraded soils, even in regions affected by desertification. 

Meanwhile, CropX uses soil sensors and AI-driven data analysis to reduce water and fertilizer use by up to 30%, while maintaining — or even increasing — yields. These tools are already being deployed by farmers in South America, Africa and Europe. 

Israeli agricultural consultants are in high demand, helping countries secure food production in the face of climate instability. 

 Wave energy: power from the sea 

In Jaffa, an unassuming set of floats bob along the seawall. They belong to Eco Wave Power, an Israeli company converting wave motion into clean electricity. Unlike other marine energy projects, this system requires no underwater infrastructure and has virtually no ecological impact. 

Recognized by the UN and the European Union, Eco Wave Power is now expanding to Portugal, Gibraltar, and beyond. 

Founder Inna Braverman put it simply: “Israel doesn’t have natural resources. So we create them.” 

The global hypocrisy 

Ironically, Israel — a global pioneer in water, agriculture and energy tech — is often excluded from international environmental discussions. Why? Not because of its lack of innovation, but because of politics. Israel is blocked, boycotted or delegitimized in climate forums by countries that nonetheless implement its technologies back home. 

The contradiction is absurd. Those who chant “boycott” use Israeli-developed applications to track climate data. Nations that accuse Israel of “environmental apartheid” send delegations to learn about drip irrigation and water recycling. 

The message seems clear: We want your tools, but not your presence. 

A story of hope, not headlines

Of course, Israel remains a country entangled in conflict and moral complexity. That will not change overnight. But none of that justifies ignoring the positive role it plays in solving problems that affect all of us. While the media focuses on protests and provocations, Israelis are building solutions for clean water, sustainable farming, zero-waste production and renewable energy. 

This is not about spin. It’s about balance. It’s about giving space to a story of resilience, creativity and real-world impact. 

And that, too, is Israel. 

 Bibliography 

• Axios, “At UN Climate Summit, Israel showcases its innovation economy,” Nov 2024. 

• Reuters, “Israel’s UBQ turns garbage into gold,” Dec 2023. 

• Times of Israel, “Israeli startup Salicrop helps crops thrive in salty soil,” July 2023. 

• Eco Wave Power – official site and UN reports, 2022–2024. 

• H2OLL, product briefs and export case studies, 2023–2024. 

• Netafim, drip irrigation impact report, 2022. 

• CropX Technologies, press releases and farm performance data, 2023. 

• Watergen – background on atmospheric water solutions in disaster zones. 

• Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, sustainability reports 2022–2024. 

• Innovation: Africa, NGO partnerships with Israeli water-tech companies. 

• Ynet News and Globes, interviews with cleantech founders and export ministers.