Global Call For United Efforts To Tackle Sand And Dust Storms At Riyadh Conference

The First International Conference on Sand and Dust Storms, which took place in Riyadh from March 4 to 6, underscored the urgent need for global cooperation to combat the increasing threat of dust storms, particularly in the West Asia and Middle East region. Hosted by the Saudi National Center for Meteorology (NCM) alongside the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Sand and Dust Storm Warning Regional Center, this pivotal event gathered a diverse group of leaders, researchers, and experts from around the world.

The conference emphasized the importance of extending the NCM-WMO regional centres' reach to encompass all countries within West Asia and the Middle East. These regions are notably vulnerable to dust storms, largely due to resource depletion. A key outcome of the discussions was the consensus on establishing a coordination framework among nations to effectively tackle transboundary dust storms. This includes aiding source countries in reducing their impact and conducting in-depth research to uncover the primary causes of these storms.

Participants advocated for collaborative efforts among regional countries to utilize the expertise of the regional centre and international research institutions. This collaboration aims at coordinated research and monitoring, including the establishment of strategically positioned research stations and a regional network for enhanced data exchange and early warning systems.

Another critical issue addressed was the need to increase public awareness regarding the social, health, economic, and developmental consequences of dust storms. The conference also recommended holding regular regional meetings to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration among nations.

The potential benefits of existing Saudi initiatives, such as the Regional Climate Change Center and Regional Cloud Seeding Program, were highlighted as valuable resources in helping mitigate the adverse effects of dust storms across the region. The conference also stressed the importance of further research into how dust interacts with human-made emissions and their collective impact on health, in line with World Health Organization standards.

Linking research outcomes with policy-making processes was identified as crucial for devising effective strategies to counteract dust storms and their associated challenges. The conference praised Saudi Arabia for its role in hosting the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and called for enhanced development programs and stronger connections between research and policy.

The three-day event covered a wide array of topics related to sand and dust storms, including their impact on air quality, human health in urban dry areas, prediction and mitigation strategies, monitoring and forecasting techniques, dust characterization, and its effects on solar energy devices and climate in the Arabian Peninsula. A dedicated panel discussion aimed at boosting regional resilience against sand and dust storms, drought, and land degradation was a key feature of the conference. This session focused on strengthening data exchange, developing an international cooperation framework, aligning efforts with sustainable development goals, addressing root causes and challenges, and integrating dust and sandstorm data into relevant COP16 decisions to aid affected parties.

With inputs from SPA