An ambitious climate deal between Israel and Jordan, known as Project Prosperity, has collapsed due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Saqib Rahim reports for Grist.
In short:
- Project Prosperity aimed to exchange Israel's water surplus for electricity from Jordan's solar farms, but the October 7 Hamas attack halted progress.
- Jordan, heavily affected by regional instability, canceled the deal and is accelerating its own desalination project to ensure water security.
- The collapse of the deal highlights the broader impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on regional cooperation and climate initiatives.
Key quote:
“Why would we collaborate with someone killing us and controlling our resources? How can I collaborate with someone occupying me? Controlling me?”
— Anonymous Palestinian official
Why this matters:
The conflict disrupts not only political relations but also crucial climate cooperation in a region severely affected by water scarcity and climate change. Without such collaborations, effective climate adaptation in the Middle East becomes even more challenging.
