Weathering the Future, The World Meteorological Organization
75 Anniversary, Forum
The two-day Investors Forum marking WMO’s 75th anniversary gathered leaders from finance, technology, aviation, shipping, commodities, philanthropy, and development sectors that rely on WMO’s weather, climate, and water data. The Forum launched the WMO Commons, aiming to mobilize US$100 million over five years to strengthen global monitoring, prediction, and service systems by leveraging public and private investments and complementing existing climate finance. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized that weather disasters, such as the 2023 Swiss storm causing over CHF 100 million in damage, exceed WMO’s annual budget. She said the Forum showed what’s possible when science, policy, and finance align for climate action.
Moderator: Claire Doole, Former BBC correspondent, international spokeswoman and communication trainer
Setting the Scene: Risk
Key findings from the World Risk Poll on global perceptions of extreme weather/climate risks and the growing demand for information services
- Ruth Boumphrey, Chief Executive, Lloyd’s Register Foundation
- Andrew Rzepa, Senior Partner, Gallup
Opening Remarks
Investing in Our Climate Future: The Imperative of Supporting WMO's Mandate
- Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO
Climate Security as a Strategic Investment in Global Stability
How climate and weather intelligence reduces fragility, mitigates conflict risks, and strengthens global stability
- Peter Maurer, Board Member, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd; President, Basel Institute on Governance; ex-ICRC President
Driving Economic Transition through Climate Intelligence
Efforts to build sustainable economies that are more resilient to the variations of weather expected in the future, and the importance of the WMO’s actions.
- Mark Bowman, Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Shipping and Weather
The relationship between global shipping, trade and climate
- Stefania Lallai, Vice President, Sustainability Cargo Division, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
Advancing planetary resilience with AI
How technology can unlock faster, more precise, and more inclusive climate action.
- Yossi Matias, Vice President, Google
Harnessing Capital for a Sustainable Future
Insights from the World Investment Plan on channeling global finance into climate defenses and resilient growth, underpinned by WMO’s climate and weather intelligence.
- Ketan Patel, Founder & Chairman, Force for Good
For more Information: Press Release
WMO is the United Nations system's authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources. As weather, climate and the water cycle know no national boundaries, international cooperation at a global scale is essential for the development of meteorology and operational hydrology as well as to reap the benefits from their application. WMO provides the framework for such international cooperation for its 193 Member States and Territories.