The fourth session of the Council of Arab Ministers for Meteorology and Climate Affairs at the ministerial level convened on 17 April at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States. The meeting witnessed the participation of several Arab ministers and senior officials responsible for meteorology, alongside representatives from Arab, regional, and international organisations concerned with climate and weather affairs.
His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Economic Affairs Sector, delivered a keynote address in which he commended the Council for its ongoing efforts to establish a unified Arab position in international forums dedicated to meteorological issues. He added that, despite being among the recently established ministerial councils operating under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, the Council is entrusted with considerable responsibilities. These include fostering investment in capacity building, advancing scientific research in the field of meteorology, and promoting the exchange of expertise and knowledge among member states. Such efforts are vital to enhancing weather forecasting capabilities, mitigating the impacts of natural disasters, and strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of Arab societies in the face of the growing climate phenomena affecting the region.
Preceding the ministerial session, the Permanent Committee for Meteorology held a preparatory meeting during which it examined a range of pressing issues and challenges confronting Arab countries. The discussions encompassed the Arab Strategy for Meteorological Services, proposals for enhancing the Council's operational framework, preparations for a comprehensive report on the state of climate in the Arab world, and the Early Warning Initiative. A number of resolutions were adopted on these and other matters, which the General Secretariat, through the Council's Technical Secretariat, will monitor and follow up for implementation.
