President of the World Meteorological Organization: Meteorological monitoring is an essential pillar for enhancing the resilience of the global economy
Abu Dhabi, March 23 / WAM / His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos, President of the World Meteorological Organization and Director General of the National Center of Meteorology, stressed that meteorological and climate monitoring systems constitute the basic foundation for protecting lives and property, supporting economic stability, and promoting building a more sustainable future.
In his speech on the occasion of World Meteorological Day, corresponding to March 23 of each year, His Excellency Al Mandoos said that this year’s celebration comes under the slogan “Monitoring Today, Protecting Tomorrow,” which reflects the international community’s commitment to enhancing monitoring and monitoring capabilities to keep pace with accelerating climate challenges, indicating that the world is going through a pivotal phase that requires concerted efforts and integration of scientific and technical systems to ensure the safety of societies and the sustainability of resources.
He explained that monitoring is no longer just collecting data, but has become the “backbone” of various aspects of modern life, as the economic, agricultural and environmental sectors depend on it in their strategic decisions, stressing that the accuracy of weather forecasts and early warnings contribute directly to reducing human and material losses, as an early warning 24 hours in advance may reduce the damage of extreme weather events by up to 30%.
He pointed out that providing early warning services to all countries of the world is no longer an option, but rather an urgent necessity, because of its significant impact in reducing economic losses estimated at billions of dollars annually, in addition to protecting livelihoods and enhancing the well-being of communities.
His Excellency stressed that the cross-border nature of weather and climate requires close international cooperation, as the protection of any country is linked to understanding and monitoring the entire Earth’s atmosphere, praising the pivotal role of the Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) as a pioneering model for international cooperation, as it includes thousands of land and sea monitoring stations, satellites and buoys, and provides accurate and continuous data that supports prediction and decision-making.
He pointed out that there are challenges represented by gaps in monitoring data, especially in marine areas and developing countries, stressing that they represent global weaknesses, pointing to the efforts made to fill them through international initiatives, most notably the Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF), which aims to provide sustainable funding to enhance the capabilities of countries to operate and maintain monitoring networks.
His Excellency stressed that investment in monitoring systems must be viewed as a strategic investment in economic security and climate resilience, and not just an operational cost, stressing that accurate data represents the basis on which infrastructure decisions, food security plans, and economic policies are built.
Regarding the future, His Excellency Al Mandoos pointed out that the international course of action is based on two main axes: innovation and youth empowerment, explaining that the organization employs the latest artificial intelligence and advanced computing technologies to enhance the efficiency of national meteorological and hydrological services, and to ensure their continuation as a reliable source of vital information.
He stressed the importance of investing in future generations by supporting education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and involving young people in developing innovative solutions to confront the challenges of climate change, noting that they represent the driving force towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
His Excellency stated that achieving a secure future requires a collective commitment to careful and continuous monitoring, stressing that monitoring today is the way to ensure the safety and prosperity of future generations, stressing the need to continue strengthening international cooperation and integrating efforts to achieve this common goal.
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