Saudi Arabia Chairs WMO Panel On Tropical Cyclones To Strengthen Regional Preparedness And Cooperation

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), led the 51st session of the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC). This virtual meeting included member states and international organizations. Dr. Ayman bin Salem Ghulam, NCM's CEO, welcomed participants and thanked them for their ongoing collaboration to tackle tropical cyclones and severe weather.

Dr. Ghulam highlighted that this session is a chance to review technical and scientific reports showcasing the PTC's efforts. These efforts aim to boost member states' readiness against tropical cyclone risks and reduce their effects on communities and infrastructure. He stressed learning from past cyclones to develop new methods for better monitoring and forecasting.

The growing frequency of tropical cyclones and severe weather events has been noted by Dr. Ghulam. He stated that this trend requires stronger regional coordination and improved preparedness to combat climate change impacts in the region. The agenda for this PTC session covered reviewing performance reports, lessons learned, and future plans.

Participants discussed enhancing cooperation among member states to create effective strategies for managing tropical cyclones sustainably. The meetings concluded with a focus on continuing joint efforts to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) while addressing regional climate challenges.

The session underscored the need for innovative mechanisms to improve monitoring accuracy and expand information sharing among member states. Dr. Ghulam emphasized that reviewing past experiences is crucial for developing these mechanisms. The discussions also aimed at fostering sustainable strategies for dealing with tropical cyclones.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ghulam expressed gratitude towards participating countries and organizations for their dedication to enhancing joint actions against severe weather conditions. He reiterated the importance of integrating efforts to achieve SDGs in tackling climate-related issues affecting the region.

The PTC session served as a platform for exchanging ideas on how to enhance preparedness levels against climate change impacts. By focusing on lessons learned from previous cyclones, member states aim to strengthen regional coordination and cooperation in addressing these challenges effectively.

With inputs from SPA