Israel's Desalination Crisis Highlights 'Climate Obsolescence' Threat

A near-total shutdown of Israel's desalination system, caused by pollution from the Mediterranean Sea, exemplifies the growing threat of 'climate obsolescence.' The crisis began when cyanobacteria, previously known as blue-green algae, thrived in warmer, nutrient-rich waters originating from the Nile region. A summer storm dispersed these bacteria, creating murky waters that overwhelmed and forced the closure of desalination plants.

This event underscores the urgent need for environmental and climate resilience, defined as the ability to cope with, function during, and recover quickly from environmental changes. Key to this resilience is flexibility and planning that anticipates future extreme and volatile conditions, rather than relying on past averages.

'Climate obsolescence' describes how infrastructure, products, or services designed for specific past climate conditions become unsuitable due to changing environmental factors. Examples include railway tracks buckling in extreme heat, power plants struggling with warmer river water for cooling, and drainage systems failing under intense rainfall. Even outdoor events like concerts or sports matches are vulnerable to extreme weather.

Everyday items are also affected. Lithium-ion batteries in smartphones and electric cars, crucial for performance and safety, are highly sensitive to temperature. Performance degrades significantly below freezing and above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). While phones may slow down or shut off to prevent overheating, the core issue is whether these devices can function reliably during the year's hottest days, which may exceed historical averages.

Professor Adi Wolfson, head of the Green Engineering program at Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, argues that current engineering and planning practices, which rely on historical weather data, are no longer adequate. This approach assumes a stable climate, making any infrastructure built upon it prone to functional failure. Climate obsolescence signifies a failure to grasp the full, long-term impacts of climate change and a flawed perception of time, where the past is no longer a reliable guide for the future. Israel must move beyond planning as if the climate crisis hasn't already arrived.