By Francesca Serra 

On June 22, the Climate Change Center (CCC) hosted a delegation from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA). Led by Dr. Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, MEWA Deputy Minister for Environment, and Dr. Abdulaziz AlShaibani, MEWA Deputy Minister for Water, and joined by Dr. Ayman Ghulam, the CEO of NCM, the delegation's visit marked a milestone in fostering collaboration between KAUST and MEWA. 

Discovering KAUST's Cutting-Edge Lab Facilities

The visit started with a reception of Mr. Sulaiman Al-Thunayan, the VP of Gov. Affairs, Manus Ward, KAUST Director of Research Translation & Partnerships, during which Prof. Yasser Abualnaja, CCC Associate Director, presented CCC’s mission and ongoing research and development activities in the center. He further discussed the latest projections of climate change on the temperature and precipitation patterns in the Middle East. 

The delegation continued with a guided tour to explore KAUST laboratory facilities such as Shaheen and the KAUST Visualization Core Lab, where Dr. Prajeesh Gopinathan presented a simulated digital twin of the Jeddah Extreme Rainfall Event that occurred in 2021, offering more profound insights into this unique meteorological phenomenon. 

The Operational Arabian Gulf and Red Sea Forecasting Systems

The delegation was also given an overview of the Center's Operational Arabian Gulf and Red Sea Forecasting Systems, which integrates oceanic and atmospheric monitoring capabilities, providing an all-in-one solution for assessing environmental conditions in the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Arabian Peninsula. 

In the end, the delegation visited the Climate Change Center, where they were introduced to several research projects and initiatives. The CCC scientists showcased their analyses of extreme events like droughts and rainfalls over the Arabian Peninsula, along with discussions on the impact of global weather drivers on the Kingdom. Utilizing cutting-edge AI technologies, they demonstrated higher resolution climate information generation and automatic weather phenomenon detection, aimed at offering the most reliable climate information for the Kingdom's decision-makers and the broader regional context. The delegation praised CCC's commitment to climate science and resilience, acknowledging its significant contributions to addressing climate challenges regionally and globally. 

Building a Collective Effort for a Changing World

MEWA's visit to the Climate Change Center served as a kickoff meeting for deeper integration of the two entities' activities, an opportunity to exchange know-how and align research goals with the Kingdom's Vision and needs.

Climate change remains an existential challenge that needs a collective effort to safeguard the environment in which we live: the Climate Change Center, together with MEWA, will support Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to navigate and strive in the changing world of tomorrow.

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