Sand and dust storms (SDS) are increasing in frequency and intensity, posing growing challenges to sustainable development, mainly in the Arab region. As transboundary phenomena, they require coordinated action to effectively mitigate their impacts.
On 20 and 21 May, ESCWA and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), with the support of the Government of Sweden, co-organized in Abu Dhabi the second meeting of their 2025 dialogue series on fostering interregional collaboration on SDS.
Discussions highlighted the need to build a shared, harmonized scientific knowledge base, supported by better data collection and integrated monitoring systems. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening interregional cooperation in addressing the growing transboundary challenges posed by SDS.
