The Drought Resilience Conference in Geneva, led by Dr. Ayman Ghulam, CEO of the Saudi National Center for Meteorology (NCM), is an opportunity to address the challenges related to drought. Dr. Ghulam emphasized the importance of sharing insights, exchanging ideas, and forging strong connections to combat land degradation and drought, along with their social, environmental, and economic impacts. The conference also serves as a platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in drought resilience, such as the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership and the WMO International Initiative for Early Warning of Dust and Sandstorms.
Dr. Ghulam highlighted NCM’s key initiatives in drought monitoring and research, including a cloud seeding program to enhance rainfall in the Kingdom and extensive research on climate change, dust storms, and air quality. The NCM is also monitoring and evaluating droughts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, optimizing drought indices and correlating drought variability among countries. These efforts demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental leadership and mitigating the impacts of drought.
The Saudi delegation at the conference, which includes scientists, decision-makers, and planners from NCM, is actively participating in discussions and showcasing ambitious initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI). These initiatives, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, involve collaboration with 19 other countries and aim to address climate change and environmental challenges. The Climate Change Center (CCC) at NCM conducts climate modeling studies to evaluate the potential impacts of afforestation on Saudi Arabia and regional climates.
The upcoming COP16 in Riyadh, scheduled for 3-13 December 2024, will underscore the urgent need for enhanced global efforts to combat land degradation and drought. Dr. Ghulam extended a warm invitation to the international scientific community to participate in this important event, emphasizing the role of the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) as a key partner for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16. The conference in Geneva serves as a platform for discussions on advanced monitoring techniques, effective policy frameworks, and community engagement strategies to strengthen resilience against drought and its impacts in sectors such as agriculture, food security, water scarcity, and energy generation.
In conclusion, the Drought Resilience Conference in Geneva, led by Dr. Ayman Ghulam, CEO of the Saudi National Center for Meteorology (NCM), highlights the importance of global collaboration to address drought-related challenges. The conference serves as a platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in drought resilience, including the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership and the WMO International Initiative for Early Warning of Dust and Sandstorms. The upcoming COP16 in Riyadh, scheduled for December 2024, will underscore the urgent need for enhanced global efforts to combat land degradation and drought, with a focus on social, environmental, and economic impacts. Global leaders, experts, and stakeholders are coming together at the conference to explore policy frameworks for enhancing resilience to drought worldwide and transforming challenges into actionable solutions. Through initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), Saudi Arabia is demonstrating its commitment to environmental leadership and mitigating the impacts of drought. The Climate Change Center (CCC) at NCM is conducting climate modeling studies to evaluate the potential impacts of afforestation on Saudi Arabia and regional climates, further supporting the country’s efforts in environmental sustainability.
