NCM hosts 2 side events as part of its participation at 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 Organization (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 Mazrouei, Director, UAEREP 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.

In addition, the event included a panel discussion that drew the participation of Stella Kafka, Executive Director, AMS, Cyrille Honoré, Director, Disaster Risk Reduction, MHEWS Office and Public Services Branch, WMO, Dr. Raha Hakimdavar, Senior Advisor on Water, Climate, and Innovation, Georgetown University in Qatar, and Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud, Director of Water and Climate Program, Middle East Institute, Washington DC, USA.

The session examined the contribution of cloud seeding and weather modification technologies to broader climate action goals, the key challenges and opportunities in implementing weather modification strategies on a global scale, and collaborative efforts between international organisations, governments, and the private sector to enhance the effectiveness of weather modification in addressing climate-related disasters, among others.

The second side event took place under the title “Solving Water Scarcity with Rainfall Enhancement: A Climate-Responsive”. Held at the UAE pavilion, the session aimed to provide a comprehensive platform for experts to systematically present and evaluate the benefits of cloud seeding as a sustainable and credible solution to water scarcity.

Key experts including Roelof Burger, WMO Weather Modification Expert Team and Professor, North-West University, South Africa, Kelly Wanser, Founder and Executive Director of SilverLining, Washington DC, USA and Mohamed Mahmoud, Director of Climate and Water Program, Middle East Institute, Washington DC, USA led thought-provoking discussions based on five key points including scientific advances, environmental considerations, ethical dimensions, climate responsiveness, and policy and governance.