The climate crisis is often described as a threat multiplier, where the weak adaptive capacity of a state or a region to deal with the negative implications of climate change can threaten stability and national security interests. In the Middle East, the failure to resolve the water scarcity challenges already faced in the region is a national security issue, that under conditions of climate change will be multiplied to a level that threatens regional stability. However, climate change can equally be seen as a multiplier of opportunities, where a nation or a region could see the threats posed by climate change as a chance to reconsider existing policies and decide to work across borders, in order to increase adaptive capacities so that challenges can not only be overcome but more sustainable, equitable and prosperous results can be achieved. This presentation seeks to inform the considerations of Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian policy makers, and the understanding of international stakeholders, as they work to meet the challenges posed by climate change in our region. A “Middle East Green Blue Deal” – one that gives additional emphasis to the particular importance of water and water scarcity issues in the region is a practical, feasible and effective policy approach to an urgent challenge, and one that can serve to address conflict drivers, advance a two state solution, based on 1967 borders and promote trust-building and cooperation in a conflict-mired region.

Trained as a hydrologist, Nadav Tal has been EcoPeace Middle East's Water Officer since 2015. Previously he worked in the private sector as a consultant to the Ministry of Environment in Israel in the field of soil pollution and groundwater remediation. In 2011 Nadav graduated from Princeton University in the groundwater remediation course. Nadav has been an environmentalist since childhood, dedicating his career to working in conservation and combining this with outdoor activities in Jordan, Israel and Palestine. As part of his work at EcoPeace, Nadav represents the organization on various forums (i.e. The National Water Forum and Green Forum), and regularly gives presentations about EcoPeace's work at conferences and to university and school groups.