UN meteorological agency now has a woman in charge – 01/05/2024 – Environment

Argentine Celeste Saulo, the first woman and first South American to head the WMO (World Meteorological Organization), wants to prioritize the most vulnerable countries in the face of accelerated climate change and the increase in extreme weather phenomena.

“Climate change is the greatest global threat of our time and the increase in inequality worsens its impacts”, said Saulo in a statement published on Thursday (4) to announce that he has taken on the role of secretary-general of this UN agency.

“Coming from the Global South, I am fully aware of the need to make an effort to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable”, so that these countries can develop their resilience in the face of extreme phenomena, he added.

Saulo stated that many national meteorological and hydrological services lack resources and “even a small increase in investment generates enormous socioeconomic benefits for our communities.”

The new head of the WMO, who succeeds the Finnish Petteri Taalas, was elected last June.

Saulo had directed the Argentine National Meteorological Service since 2014 and was the first vice-president of the OMM.

Argentina will lead the activities carried out by the global meteorological community “to transform scientific knowledge into the best possible services for society”, the statement also says.

Much of the WMO’s work is using and sharing the work of national meteorological agencies on greenhouse gases, sea levels, temperatures, glacier melt and other indicators of climate change.

Recently, the organization made it a priority to ensure that the entire world population is covered by early warning systems for meteorological risks by the end of 2027.

WMO Member States also approved last year the creation of the Global Greenhouse Gas Surveillance, to account for both the natural sinks of these gases and emissions related to human activities.

“We have just experienced the hottest year on record, and 2024 could be even hotter and more extreme if the effects of the current El Niño episode are fully felt in temperatures and meteorological phenomena,” Saulo said on Thursday.

“Human and industrial activities are clearly responsible [por essa situação]”, he stated.

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