Opening Remarks by Prof. Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General, at the occasion of the seventy-ninth session of the WMO Executive Council (EC-79)

Dear colleagues,

As we open this session of the Executive Council, I want to speak to you not only as Secretary-General, but as part of a community that has built something both technically exceptional and politically rare.

WMO has always been a place where cooperation precedes crisis. Where data is openly shared. Where operational trust is not aspirational — it is daily practice.

That foundation remains our strength. But the world around us is shifting. Conflicts are increasing. And we must decide — together— how to evolve, preserving our core identity and coming out stronger on the other side.

This session takes place in a special year for us — the 75th anniversary of WMO. A moment not only to look back with pride, but to look forward with purpose. Our slogan, “Science for Action,” could not be more fitting. Because science without delivery is not enough. Action without coordination is not effective. What we need — what we represent — is both.

We are being asked to do more, and to move faster, with fewer resources. This is not new — but the scale and scope of expectation is growing. Translating those expectations into action means advancing on multiple fronts:

• Deliver Early Warnings for All in 193 countries
• Make sure that we help countries be GBON compliant
• Lead in climate accountability through GHG monitoring
• Support UN system coherence as it undergoes structural reforms
• Enable digital transformation, responsibly and inclusively
• And do all this while managing budget constraints, staffing pressures, and uneven Member capacity

None of this is theoretical. You feel it in your NMHSs. I feel it in the Secretariat. 

This is a moment that requires clear thinking, coordinated action, and institutional reimagining.

Let’s be honest: in the wider UN and multilateral system, WMO remains under-recognized.

Yet there is no resilient development, no food security, no disaster risk reduction, no climate action — without the services, science and infrastructure that we, collectively, provide.

This is not a communication problem. It is a strategic positioning challenge. And it is solvable — if we align our narrative with broader global priorities, and if we demonstrate impact in terms that others understand.

When we talk about data exchange, let’s connect it to diplomacy and security. 

When we discuss warnings, let’s link them to public trust and institutional legitimacy. 

When we invest in hydrology, let’s show how it underpins peace and agricultural and food systems.

As we prepare our next Strategic Plan and advance on adapting our Organization, I want to set out three areas where your leadership and engagement are essential to the success of our shared mandate:

A. Help us prioritise. 

We cannot afford to stretch ourselves thin. I ask for your guidance — technical and political — on what must come first. Where should we deepen our efforts? What can be phased or simplified? A clear, shared sense of priority will help us protect the essentials and deliver where it matters most.

B. Engage as co-designers. 

This is not a Secretariat-driven reinvention. It must be guided by those who implement, adapt, and sustain our work — our Members. Your experiences, your institutional knowledge, your regional perspectives and your support are critical to shaping reforms that are grounded, inclusive, and implementable.

C. Strengthen our collective visibility. 

Some of you have the voice and visibility to advocate at the highest international levels. Others, carry out vital work in silence, with limited means and little recognition. WMO must be a bridge. We must elevate all Members — amplifying those who are less visible and empowering those with reach to help tell our shared story. Because when the world sees how we support one another, it better understands the true value of this Organization. I strongly encourage you to join me in making our Organization more visible to all our partners.

We don’t need to shout. But we do need to explain, clearly and confidently, why WMO matters — especially in a world where many urgent causes are competing for limited attention and funding.

What we offer is not minor. It is essential infrastructure. It is continuity. It is foresight. And it is global public good in its purest form.

If we can articulate that value — together — we will not only protect what we’ve built, but scale it for the future.

Colleagues, 

We are not starting from scratch. We are starting from strength. But clarity and purpose will determine whether that strength is preserved — or transformed.

I look forward to your advice, your engagement, and your leadership.

Thank you.