Time to take stand on climate change

The intensity and regularity of tropical storms and torrential rains lashing the Sultanate have peaked to an all-time high in recent years, bringing widespread devastation.

According to Accuweather, Cyclone Mekunu has brought as much as eight years of rain in Dhofar in three days inundating several parts in the governorate.

Salalah alone received 617 mm of rainfall in just five days.

This is only 9 mm less than the total rainfall of 626 mm that Oman received during the catastrophic Cyclone Gonu in June 2007.

According to Global Climate Risk Index 2018, Oman is the most vulnerable country in the GCC to be impacted by extreme weather conditions.

“Recent storms with intensity levels never seen before have had disastrous impacts,” said David Eckstein of Germanwatch, one of the authors of the index.

Mohammed bin Salim al Toobi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs, in a report titled ‘Initial National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’ confirmed that Oman is vulnerable to climate change.

“During the last few years, the country has witnessed severe tropical cyclones. The intensity of tropical cyclones and severity of their impact may increase in a future warmer climate,” the minister said in the report.