Saudi Arabia Launches Initiative To Enhance Global Early Warning Systems For Sand And Dust Storms

The Saudi Arabian Presidency of the UNCCD COP16 has introduced a global initiative to monitor sand and dust storms. This project is part of a regional early warning system designed to boost global capabilities, complementing existing efforts by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The initiative was revealed during Resilience Day at COP16 in Riyadh and is a significant element of the Riyadh Action Agenda.

During discussions, participants explored funding strategies to address land degradation, drought, and desertification. Annually, around two billion tons of sand and dust are released into the atmosphere, with over 25% resulting from human activities. This volume is comparable to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza. The Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS) node in Jeddah has now become the fourth WMO-affiliated global node, joining others in Beijing, Barcelona, and Barbados.

Jumaan Al-Qahtani, Vice President of the National Center for Meteorology and Executive Chief of the Sand and Dust Storm Warning Regional Center, stated that "the center has developed three validated models for predicting regional sand and dust storms, which are now operational." He further explained that Saudi Arabia has initiated an international partnership to improve early warning systems in countries lacking adequate capacity.

This initiative will be executed through WMO-accredited regional centers. Saudi Arabia plans to contribute $10 million over five years. Al-Qahtani urged other UN organizations and nations to support this crucial initiative. A major focus at the summit was enhancing global drought resilience.

Saudi Arabia announced the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership with $2.15 billion in funding secured. Dr. Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment and Advisor to the COP16 Presidency, highlighted that "over 1.8 billion people are currently impacted by drought, a number expected to rise." He emphasized that drought resilience must become a global priority, shifting from reactive responses to proactive readiness.

Dr. Faqeeha added: "We are proud to launch this partnership with the support of stakeholders. We call on countries, organizations, the private sector, and NGOs to join us in targeting the 80 most drought-vulnerable countries." In alignment with these efforts, the World Bank announced $24 billion in donor contributions through its International Development Association.

Mobilizing Global Stakeholders

This contribution will generate $100 billion in financing for climate resilience projects across 78 countries. These projects include initiatives for farmers and infrastructure development. COP16 continues its mission to mobilize global stakeholders towards advancing land restoration and drought resilience efforts.

The ongoing discussions at COP16 aim to bring together various stakeholders worldwide to enhance land restoration initiatives effectively. By focusing on proactive measures rather than reactive ones, these efforts strive to build a more resilient future against environmental challenges.

With inputs from SPA