DUBAI (WAM)

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), through the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), hosted two side events as part of its participation at the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28).

The events aimed to discuss the crucial role played by rain enhancement and cloud seeding technologies in the broader context of climate change mitigation and building climate resilience. Furthermore, discussions focused on the accomplishment of UAEREP, its managed grant assistance and the technical support offered to more than 11 pioneering research projects awarded by the program over its past four cycles.

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director-General of NCM and President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), said, “The UAE plays a leading role in pioneering innovative technological solutions to address the consequences of climate change and continues to contribute meaningfully to the global conversation on climate resilience and water scarcity solutions. Initiatives like the UAEREP demonstrate the country’s commitment to advancing overarching climate action objectives and fostering international collaboration in climate change mitigation to promote a more resilient and sustainable future for all.”

Alya Al Mazroui, director of the UAEREP, added, “COP28 served as a unique opportunity for UAEREP to showcase its dedication to driving innovation in rain enhancement research and fostering a deeper understanding of cloud seeding among the conference audience. The discussions and insights shared during our side events emphasised the importance of rain enhancement as a viable solution to water scarcity, while highlighting the need to accelerate the adoption of sustainable water management strategies in the face of rapidly changing climate.”

Titled “Climate Change Mitigation through Weather Modification: Cloud Seeding as a Global Case Study”, the first event was held at the WMO pavilion and explored the role of rain enhancement in climate action through sustainable water solutions.

The event featured a diverse array of speakers, experts and researchers from global entities including the WMO’s Weather Modification Expert Team, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) among others.

Elena Manaenkova, PhD, Deputy Secretary-General, WMO delivered the keynote speech at the event whereas Alya Al Mazroui gave a presentation titled “Building the UAE Legacy in Weather Modification” to highlight the country’s noteworthy achievements and contributions in the field of rain enhancement research.

Roelof Burger, WMO Weather Modification Expert Team and Professor, North-West University, South Africa presented on WMO Weather Modification Expert Team’s objectives and achievement.