Taalas reappointed WMO Secretary General

Petteri Taalas reappointed as the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) for second term beginning on January 1, 2020, said an official press release.

Petteri Taalas has served as the WMO’s Secretary-General since 2016.

The election for the Secretary-General of the World meteorological Organisation took place at the WMO’s general assembly in Geneva on 13 June 2019. There were no alternative candidates in the election.

‘Petteri Taalas’s broad experience and expertise have been vital for his international work for the UN’, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.

‘His selection for another term as Secretary-General of the WMO provides an excellent opportunity to continue long term work for the organisation’s development. At the same time, it is also a recognition of Finland’s strong profile and constructive activities aimed at strengthening both the UN and other multilateral cooperation, particularly in areas relating to climate, water and weather. International climate policy plays a key role in curbing climate change, and the importance of the WMO for this will in future see a greater emphasis,’ he said.

‘In the field of meteorology, Finland has a bigger international role than one would expect for a country its size. Climate change, depletion of water resources and natural disasters are global challenges. Developing the operations of the World Meteorological Organisation to help solve these challenges requires the institute itself to be strong and well led. I am fully convinced that Petteri Taalas remains the right person to be leading the World Meteorological Organisation onwards in the face of these challenges’, said Minister of Transport and Communications Sanna Marin.

Petteri Taalas works in close cooperation with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Among other responsibilities, he will be leading the Scientific Working Group at the Climate Summit to be held in September 2019.

‘Combating and adapting to climate change is the greatest challenge faced by humanity’, said Petteri Taalas, adding ‘failing in this task would significantly reduce human well-being for many generations to come.’