Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, on Tuesday said that the 7th International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF) serves as a vital platform for global collaboration, where innovation and technology, particularly in rain enhancement, are key to achieving sustainable water solutions.
Organised by the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), the forum is running until January 30 at Conrad Abu Dhabi, Etihad Towers, bringing together over 50 global experts to discuss solutions for water security and weather modification.
In her keynote address during a high-level plenary session titled "Regional and Global Perspectives on Water Security", the minister said: "Approximately half of the world's population faces severe water scarcity, with 3.5 billion lacking access to safely managed sanitation facilities. These alarming statistics underscore the need for immediate action, cross-sector dialogue, and strong partnerships at international, regional, and national levels."
She stressed the UAE's leadership in tackling water security both locally and globally, highlighting the country's Water Security Strategy 2036, which aims to reduce per capita water consumption by half while fostering sustainable practices.
"The challenge of water security is vast, but through collective action, we can make meaningful progress and build a more secure water future for all," Dr. Al Dahak added.
The session, with the participation of top experts including LoÏc Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, ISC Co-Chair, and Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, discussed the regional and global implications of climate change on water availability, distribution, and quality.
Moderated by Tom Urquhart, News Presenter, Dubai Eye Radio, Arabian Radio Network, the session focused on how rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and increased frequency of extreme events are impacting water resources.
A Milestone in Advancing Rain Enhancement Research
The event marks UAEREP's 10th anniversary, stressing its commitment to advancing rain enhancement science and technology as a sustainable solution to water scarcity, while also contributing to water and food security both locally and globally.
Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director General of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) and President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), reflected on the 10th anniversary of the UAEREP to Aletihad, stating: "We are very happy to reach this milestone and appreciate all those who helped the UAEREP continue."
"I hope the forum will facilitate the gathering of scientists and lead to meaningful outcomes, with participants presenting significant breakthroughs."
Also speaking to Aletihad, Alya Al Mazrouei, Director of UAEREP, said the seventh edition of the forum highlights the programme's impact and celebrates "a decade of progress". "We also launched the Sixth Cycle Grant, focusing on new research topics," she added.
On the forum's role in fostering global collaboration, she said: "What started as a modest workshop in 2017 has grown into a global platform for rain enhancement and weather modification, bringing together experts from various sectors to collaborate and generate innovative ideas for future research."
The forum also focuses on how AI can be leveraged to enhance technology in rain enhancement, making it a key topic for this edition, she noted.
"The forum aims to contribute to global water security by connecting scientists worldwide to push the boundaries of research and technology, benefiting water security both locally and globally."
Mohammed Mahmoud, CEO of the Climate and Water Initiative, spoke to Aletihad about global water security.
"Climate change has really impacted the reliability and resilience of our water resource supplies... securing water supplies has become very, very important in terms of ensuring it's consistent and reliable for all people."
He discussed the importance of global collaboration, saying: "This is not a unique problem… countries in the region, like the Middle East, face this more than others, but it is a universal issue. There's an appetite globally to collaborate and cooperate."
He highlighted innovations in the field: "AI helps in predicting cloud seeding-when, where, and how much. Innovations aim to improve the materials and methods for better, safer rainfall production."
On rain enhancement, Mahmoud observed that the biggest challenge is perception. "People think it is science fiction, but it has been around for almost 80 years. Misunderstanding of how it works creates resistance," he said.
"Rain enhancement is not new, but its potential is now recognised. With advancements in AI, supercomputing, and cloud seeding, the future is bright, and there's still much to improve," Mahmoud said.
