The World Meteorological Organisation elected Celeste Saulo of Argentina as its first female leader on Thursday. She will lead the WMO’s crucial global role in monitoring climate change.
At the UN climate and weather agency’s congress in Geneva, Saulo, a WMO vice-president and the head of Argentina’s weather service since 2014, won with a resounding majority.
Saulo, 59, is likely to become a well-known spokesperson on this crucial global issue as the WMO’s involvement in climate change has grown.
“In these times when inequality and climate change are the greatest global threats, the WMO must contribute to strengthening the meteorological and hydrological services to protect populations and their economies, providing timely and effective services and early warning systems,” Saulo said after her election.
“My goal is to steer the WMO towards a situation where all members’ voices are heard equally, the needs of the most vulnerable are prioritised, and each member’s unique needs and characteristics are taken into account when determining the course of action.”
On January 1, she will replace departing secretary-general Petteri Taalas. The maximum second term of the Finnish meteorologist, which lasted four years, is about to expire.
The WMO coordinates global efforts to track greenhouse gases, sea levels, temperatures, glacier melt, and other indicators of climate change.
It uses thousands of weather stations and satellites to measure important aspects of the atmosphere, land, and ocean.
– Priority for early warning
The general assembly of the 193 WMO member states and territories, which occurs every four years, included the leadership election on the penultimate day of the congress.
By the end of 2027, the congress, which convened on May 22, passed a resolution mandating that early warning systems for dangerous weather events be available to everyone on Earth.
Given the growing effects of melting sea ice, glaciers, and permafrost on sea level rise, it elevated the cryosphere, or frozen world, to the top of the agenda.
Additionally, a new initiative was approved that aims to improve global greenhouse gas monitoring by combining observations from the surface and space.
The main objective, according to Saulo, is to work on behalf of the member nations and territories and bring their voice—the voice of the developing world, small island states, and the less developed world—in order to accomplish our priorities.
“Early warning for everyone is a key initiative, and we will work to make it a reality.
“I have faith. This outcome demonstrates that people are upbeat and that improvements are possible.
– The ‘pride’ of Argentina
Saulo, the head of Argentina’s National Meteorological Service, won the election by defeating three other WMO senior officials.
They were the third, Chinese assistant secretary-general Zhang Wenjian, the second vice-president Albert Martis of Curacao, and the current number two, Russian-Swiss deputy secretary-general Elena Manaenkova.
With 108 votes, Saulo received the necessary two-thirds majority on the first vote. Zhang, who was her main rival, got 37, a diplomatic source claimed.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez posted on Twitter, “Argentine science continues to be recognised in the world. What pride!”
Santiago Cafiero, Argentina’s foreign minister, was quoted in a statement as saying that Saulo “inspires us all with confidence” and that “for Argentina, the candidature is strategic, important, and relevant in the history of our country.”
She possessed “the proper professionalism — and a vision,” according to Cafiero.
Saulo’s appointment was hailed as “good news” by Amy Pope, who will take over as head of the UN Migration Agency, who cited female UN officials in Geneva who “are very focused, not on ego but on getting the work done.”
The International Organisation for Migration’s incoming director general wants to concentrate her leadership on the factors that are driving population movement in the twenty-first century, like climate change.
Pope stated, “WMO will have significant data that is pertinent to the work that we do… we can collaborate so that we get better results for more people.
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