The Jewish National Fund of Canada has announced the launch of an annual $1 million contest in an effort to foster innovative solutions to the threat of global climate change and position Israel as a world hub for climate solutions.
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JNF Canada calls the initiative is especially urgent in light of the United Nations report published last week that stated that Earth was dangerously close to runaway warning.
"If there is any hope of reversing, or even reducing, the disastrous effects of global warming, it surely rests in human ingenuity," JNF Canada said in a statement.
"As a global solution hub for technological innovation, Israel is a natural gateway in the search."
Every year, the prize committee will select one to four Israeli recipients with the most promising solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions or increasing carbon capture. The winners will receive an award from the $1 million fund co-sponsored by the Jewish National Fund of Israel (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael) in collaboration with Start-Up Nation Central and the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. The finalists' solutions will be showcased in a permanent exhibit at the Peres Center's Israeli Innovation Center in Jaffa.
"It has become clear that climate change is the biggest challenge of our time," Executive Chair of the Climate Solutions Prize Jeff Hart said. "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. As Jewish people committed to Tikkun Olam – repairing the world – we created the Climate Solutions Prize to galvanize Israel, known as the startup nation, to develop breakthrough solutions to help solve the climate crisis, and even turn it into an opportunity."
Chairman of the Jewish National Fund of Israel Avraham Duvdevani said that he considered enlisting Israeli innovation to the battle against global warming as a matter of national importance.
"Throughout its 120 years of existence, KKL has been a leader in environmental action, and we are proud to be taking part in writing the next chapter in the history of sustainability in Israel," he said, pledging that the "KKL will aid the project by offering up its rich experience in the field and its finest professionals."
Applications will be accepted starting fall 2021 with the winners announced at a June 2022 ceremony in conjunction with a planned week-long Climate Innovation Festival in Israel, showcasing Israeli and global sustainability innovation. A separate track for Israeli startups offering technological solutions to battle climate change is also being run by Start-Up Nation Central.
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