On November 30, a batch of meteorological observation equipment provided by China arrived in Pakistan, which would enhance Pakistan's ability to prevent and mitigate meteorological disasters and cope with climate change.
From 2023, experts and scholars from the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) have worked together to develop a Cloud-based Early Warning System (hereinafter referred to as the System).
The System features a cloud-based open platform and toolbox series covering artificial intelligence (AI) models, severe weather identification algorithms, early warning information dissemination, etc., enabling swift and effective tracking of meteorological disasters. Tailored for Pakistan, the System focuses on extreme weather events in Pakistan such as glacial lake outburst floods, monsoon outbursts, heavy rains and other disasters.
In the context of global warming and increasing extreme weather events, it is urgent to enhance early warning capabilities. CMA has made great efforts to enhance climate change response and disaster risk reduction capabilities with other countries.
This July, China held a training workshop for meteorological experts from Pakistan. Twenty experts from PMD went to Beijing for the Training Workshop on the Application of Cloud-based Early Warning System.
"With the Cloud-based Early Warning System, we are able to increase the accuracy of weather forecasting using advanced technologies like AI." said Sohail Babar Cheema, expert from PMD.
During COP29, China's Action Plan on Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation (2025-2027) was published, which has outlined China's commitment to supporting developing countries in enhancing their early warning capabilities and climate change adaptation.
"The Cloud-based Early Warning System serves as a digital bridge that supports United Nations Early Warnings for All Initiative to address the climate change challenge." said XU Xianghua, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of CMA.
"Science and technology is critical to improving early warning capabilities." Said Charles Malakela, a Belt and Road meteorological visiting scholar from Tanzania, when he learned about the System at a conference, and he hoped that the System will also be developed in Tanzania in the future.