Saudi Arabia's Initiative To Strengthen Early Warning Systems For Sand And Dust Storms

A recent high-level meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York City praised Saudi Arabia's global initiative to enhance early-warning systems for sand and dust storms. The Kingdom's leadership in promoting cooperation among World Meteorological Organization (WMO)-recognized regional centers was also highlighted, alongside its $10 million financial contribution over five years to help countries affected by these storms.

Saudi Arabia remains committed to supporting climate and environmental action, aiming to foster scientific and technical collaboration to address the impacts of sand and dust storms locally, regionally, and internationally. These efforts align with the Kingdom's strategic vision for environmental protection and sustainability.

Jumaan Al-Qahtani, Vice President of the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) and Executive Chief of the Sand and Dust Storm Regional Center, emphasized that Saudi Arabia continues its fight against dust phenomena through Vision 2030 initiatives. These include the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative, and specialized centers like the Regional Center for Sand and Dust Storms.

The establishment of the Regional Center in Jeddah in 2022 marked a strategic move within an international framework. This center aims to improve dust storm forecasting and enhance early-warning capabilities. It supports alert systems, facilitates data exchange, builds capacity, and mitigates health and economic impacts.

Al-Qahtani announced Saudi Arabia's readiness to host the second International Conference on Sand and Dust Storms in 2026. This event will sustain scientific momentum, assess progress since the Riyadh Declaration, and explore ongoing challenges and solutions related to these phenomena.

He highlighted Saudi Arabia's efforts in combating land degradation. These efforts have resulted in planting over 142 million trees, restoring more than 436,000 hectares of degraded land, and protecting 18% of the Kingdom’s territory under the International Union for Conservation of Nature-supported 30x30 plan.

Environmental Protection Initiatives

Seven royal reserves have been established across Saudi Arabia, covering 13.5% of its total area. In terms of international cooperation, Al-Qahtani noted that Saudi Arabia has taken significant steps to enhance early-warning systems for dust storms globally.

This includes a $10 million financial contribution aimed at developing global models and building capacities. Additionally, partnerships with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) are underway to create a comprehensive plan to reduce dust sources.

The Kingdom's ongoing efforts reflect its dedication to environmental protection through strategic initiatives aligned with Vision 2030. By fostering international cooperation and enhancing early-warning systems, Saudi Arabia aims to mitigate the impacts of sand and dust storms effectively.

With inputs from SPA