Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (DRRAA), as the Permanent Secretariat of the ASEAN Weather Modification Centre (AWMC), has proposed to host the ASEAN Regional Seminar on Weather Modification 2024, scheduled for October 18-22, 2024.
Given the increasing significance of water resources due to global warming, which has now escalated to a global boiling point, and resulted in extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, bringing the security of water and food resources become a critical global concern. To preserve these vital resources, the development of innovative technologies is essential. Weather modification, a scientific process that can increase rainfall in arid regions, is one of long-term solutions to these challenges.
Thailand is fortunate that the Royal Rainmaking Project have been initiated in 1955 by the royal initiative of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great to address drought caused by climate change. The DRRAA has been dedicated to fulfilling His Majesty's wish to ensure sufficient water for the well-being of the people and has continuously developed and advanced rainmaking technology, by conducting research to prevent and mitigate natural disasters, while securing water resources for agriculture and preserving the country's ecosystem.
The 41st meeting of ASEAN Subcommittee on Meteorology and Geophysics (ASEAN SCMG) held in Singapore in 2019 endorsed the promotion of regional cooperation in weather modification by establishing AWMC. Thailand, represented by the DRRAA, was appointed as the lead agency to develop the terms of reference for the AWMC. Subsequently, the 44th meeting of ASEAN SCMG held in the Philippines in 2023 approved the terms of reference, which were further endorsed by the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) in October 2023.
This seminar, held from October 18 - 22, 2024, at the Asawin Grand Convention Hotel in Bangkok, the Devarai Pattaya Hotel, and with field trips in the Eastern region, attracted 100 participants, including 65 Thai experts from the DRRAA and 11 representatives from partner organizations. International participants totaled 24, representing ASEAN Member States (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines), Asian countries (China, South Korea, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka), and Middle Eastern countries (Jordan and the United Arab Emirates). The regional seminar aims to:
1. Facilitate the exchange of experiences and expertise to enhance the capacity of DRRAA personnel and AWMC members in various aspects of weather modification, enabling them to contribute to collaborative projects and address environmental challenges.
2. Promote cooperation in research, development, and weather modification operations, strengthening networks both domestically and internationally to develop technologies suitable for each country's context.
3. Jointly develop strategies to strengthen AWMC operations, including a collaborative action plan for weather modification, serving as a tool and mechanism for water resource management and regional air pollution mitigation.
4. Share and transfer knowledge on weather modification technology, particularly Thailand's Royal Rainmaking Technology, to ASEAN member states and other cooperating countries, promoting His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great's royal wisdom on rainmaking.
5. Raise awareness and publicize AWMC, with Thailand by DRRAA as the lead agency and permanent secretariat, to relevant stakeholders both domestically and internationally.
Additionally, this 2024 seminar is under the theme of tackling the climate change by innovative-based solution, nature-based climate adaptation, digital transformation, and integrated knowledge management. Attendees will have the opportunities to witness the live demonstrations of Royal rainmaking flights and process firsthand, engage with DRRAA experts, researchers, and pilots to discuss best practices, challenges, and future prospects, explore potential collaborations and knowledge-sharing in this field, as well as commit to sustainable practices under our AWMC community. The highlight is also put on the insight and discussion for R&D rod map under 4S Framework: Security, Safety, Seamlessness and Sustainability.
DRRAA aims for this conference to foster cooperation under AWMC, with the contributions provided by all attendees. Additionally, the conference seeks to jointly define strategies to strengthen the operations of AWMC by developing a collaborative action plan for weather modification. This plan will serve as a tool and mechanism for managing water resources and mitigating regional air pollution, ensuring that future actions align with mutually agreed-upon agreements.