On April 28, during the press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) of the People's Republic of China about meteorological department during the 15th Five-year Plan, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) anounced that it aims to achieve major breakthroughs in key scientific and technological fields of meteorology by 2030.

CMA stated that the system of meteorological scientific and technological innovation, services and governance will be further improved. In particular, the capacity for addressing extreme weather will be markedly enhanced, and meteorological data elements will become an important driving force for economic and social development.

Meteorological departments will adhere to integrating investment in infrastructure with investment in talent, and coordinate the upgrading of soft power and development of hard power.

On the one hand, meteorological departments will accelerate scientific, technological, institutional and mechanism innovation, and launch key initiatives on extreme weather response, Earth system prediction, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled meteorological services for all industries, and coordinated development of education, science, technology and talents.

Efforts will be made to shore up weaknesses, further give play to meteorology as the first line of defense in disaster prevention and mitigation, and safeguard people's lives, production development, wellbeing and ecological conservation.

Measures also include planning and advancing major projects including FENGYUN (FY) meteorological satellites, integrated land-sea-air-space observation, meteorological disaster forecasting and early warning, Earth system data platforms, and weather modification, continuously consolidating the material and technological foundation for meteorological modernization, and steadily enhancing the capabilities of sophisticated monitoring, precise forecasting and tailored services.

In terms of AI development, CMA is deploying “AI+” initiative.

CMA will boost support in data, computing power and platforms, and accelerate the development of a world-class R&D centre for meteorological AI.

From 2026 to 2030, CMA will further deepen the integrated research, development and application of physical laws and AI, develop AI meteorological forecasting technologies oriented to the Earth system, and promote in-depth integration of AI into meteorological services. This will steadily ramp up the accuracy, resolution, pertinence and timeliness of meteorological forecasts.

Editor: LIU Shuqiao