Saudi Arabia is expanding its cloud-seeding program, a controversial method aimed at increasing rainfall to combat the country’s severe water shortages. Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Saudi Arabia’s deputy environment minister, outlined the expansion plans during an interview in New York at the UN General Assembly. The kingdom is hoping to lead the region in cloud seeding and other efforts to address desertification.
The program, which has been ongoing for years, was initially unsuccessful but has seen major improvements thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence and meteorology. Researchers now better understand the specific conditions necessary for cloud seeding to work. Faqeeha explained that the process is no longer a “shot in the dark” but rather a calculated and precise effort to bring rainfall to areas that need it.
Cloud seeding involves releasing chemicals into clouds to trigger rainfall by cooling them. While the method is gaining traction globally, it remains controversial due to concerns about its long-term environmental impact. Critics argue that artificially altering weather patterns could have unforeseen consequences, especially as more countries explore the practice to address their own climate issues.
Saudi Arabia sees cloud seeding as essential to increasing its water supply and combating desertification. The country will host the COP16 summit in December, where desertification will be a key topic. Faqeeha emphasized that the program is just one of several innovative approaches the kingdom is taking to ensure sustainable water resources.
While the practice remains divisive, Saudi Arabia is determined to expand its cloud-seeding program and lead the Middle East in efforts to combat desertification. The kingdom’s leadership in the region on this issue could serve as a model for other nations facing similar environmental challenges.
