Interview with WMO Secretary-General: Addressing climate change requires China's full participation

With stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Hong Kong, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo made a busy trip to China in late March.

Saulo was the director of Argentina's National Weather Service and the first vice president of the World Meteorological Organization.  The 19th World Meteorological Congress appointed her as the organization's new Secretary-General, taking office on January 1, 2024, making her the first female Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization.

During her visit, she was impressed by the hospitality of the Chinese people and the level of development of China's meteorological services, she said in an interview with the Beijing News on March 29.  "For me, it has been a fruitful visit, and I hope it will help strengthen the ties between China and the World Meteorological Organization."

Talking about China's contribution to tackling climate change, Saulo spoke highly of China's people-oriented work.  China is a very important player on the global stage, playing its part in both adaptation and mitigation of climate change.  Addressing climate change requires the full participation of a major country like China.

At the beginning of his tenure as Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Saulo set out a new vision for her entire term. "Coming from a developing country myself, I know that there are many challenges, but we also have many ideas and opportunities. It is time for developing countries to take a leadership role in finding solutions to global problems." Saulo said she would do all she could to convince all world leaders that more climate action was needed and to work with the international community to bring solutions to the global problem.

"I am impressed by the level of development of China's meteorological services"

Beijing News: On your current trip to China, you have visited Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Hong Kong. Is this your first visit to China? Could you give us a brief introduction about your trip to China? What impressed you during your visit?

Saulo: Yes, this is my first time in China and I was impressed by many things. First of all, the hospitality of the Chinese people has impressed me deeply. Both our local colleagues and I have great expectations and enthusiasm for this visit.

I am also very impressed by the level of development of China's meteorological services, not only in Beijing, where you have the China Meteorological Administration, but also in Shanghai, Guangdong and Hong Kong, the level of development, the scientific teams, the technical institutions, the infrastructure, the cutting-edge technology, you are also developing artificial intelligence management systems.

Then there is the human-centered work in China. All technologies are grouped together in the way they provide services to people. In my opinion, this is the most important aspect of development, technology and innovation, which must be people-oriented. Finally, I want to mention China's willingness to cooperate at the regional level as well as at the global level. It was a fruitful visit for me, and I hope it will help strengthen the ties between China and the World Meteorological Organization.

Beijing News: The China Meteorological Administration has been cooperating closely with the World Meteorological Organization for a long time. What are the major achievements of cooperation between the two sides?

Saulo: There is a long history of cooperation between the China Meteorological Administration and the World Meteorological Organization. The cooperation between the two sides is first reflected in the sharing of data. Weather knows no boundaries, so we need to help each other, collaborate and share data, share new weather forecast models, share climate models, share information, share satellite observation systems, share space weather systems. The China Meteorological Administration is very advanced in many areas, and they are willing to share that.

These are mainly cooperation in weather and related information. There is also strong cooperation in the sharing of experts and expertise. The World Meteorological Organization is based on this concept of "sharing," in which the most advanced meteorological services in the world's most developed countries can help those who are slightly less advanced. The sharing of expertise and good practices, processes and methodologies is therefore essential for the development of small island developing States and less developed countries, for which we need to do more.

I am very happy to see the results of China's cooperation with the rest of the world through the WMO, and I believe this cooperation will continue.