Riyadh: CEO of the National Center for Meteorology and General Supervisor of the Sand and Dust Storm Warning Regional Center, Dr. Ayman bin Salem Ghulam, has introduced the “Global Partnership to Enhance Early Warning Systems for Sand and Dust Storms” initiative. The launch was made during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh.

According to Saudi Press Agency, this initiative is designed to strengthen global capabilities for forecasting dust and sand storms, minimize their impacts, and facilitate effective responses through collaboration among the four regional centers affiliated with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): the Jeddah Regional Center, the Barcelona Center, the Beijing Center, and the Pan-America Center in Barbados.

Dr. Ghulam underscored the critical need to tackle this persistent environmental issue, which affects over 330 million people each year, including 14% of children worldwide. He pointed out the
significant health, economic, and environmental damage caused by these storms, emphasizing that the initiative’s goal is to save lives, secure livelihoods, and bolster resilience through improved data sharing, support for scientific research, and the development of early warning systems.

Highlighting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment, Dr. Ghulam mentioned that under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom has pledged $10 million over five years to support the initiative’s success. This financial backing reflects Saudi Arabia’s dedication to addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development.

Dr. Ghulam also noted that the initiative is in line with other significant environmental efforts spearheaded by the Kingdom, such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, which aim to combat climate change and land degrad
ation. He emphasized that international cooperation is essential to achieving these ambitious objectives.

In his call to action, Dr. Ghulam urged all countries, United Nations organizations, research institutions, and the private sector to join this global partnership. He stressed that tackling dust and sand storms necessitates collaborative efforts to ensure a more sustainable and healthier future for coming generations.