Secretary General Celeste Saulo WMO 16 January 2024
/
2:51
/
MP4
/
330.1 MB

Edited News | WMO

Secretary General Celeste Saulo WMO 16 January 2024

STORYLINE

In her first public statement to journalists at the UN in Geneva, the new UN weather chief, Professor Celeste Saulo, emphasized today (16 January) that one of the priorities of her administration will be to strengthen early warning systems that can forecast when and where extreme weather events will be occurring. With natural disasters becoming more frequent due to human-caused climate change, the need for early warning systems has increased.

Adapting to the climate change is not a choice but an essential necessity, said the new Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in her introductory remarks at a press briefing. “It's about building resilient communities, especially in the most vulnerable regions, capable of resisting to, and recovering from, climate-related disasters.”

She added that “early warning systems will be the linchpin in disaster risk reduction, transforming threats into opportunities for sustainable development. Under my leadership, we will fortify early warning systems, enhance data accessibility, and make science and timely, life-saving information accessible to all.”

Making sure that “we are not mere observers, we are architects of a sustainable future,” Professor Saulo said that “over the next years, we have an opportunity, a duty, and a possibility, to shape the narrative on climate action. This is about empowering nations, fostering inclusivity, and creating sustainable pathways for a shared prosperity.”

At the end of her mandate, Professor Saulo would like to be measured on the execution of common tasks she has achieved for the WMO.

“We share a common understanding of what we need, the issues how we can implement, and the implementation is, for me, the crucial aspect of all what we do. If we fail at implementation, we will be failing I would say the world. And here is where my strength will be. It will be focused in implementing and implementing the decisions that our member countries decided.”

Replying to a journalist's question on her role being the first female Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Professor Saulo said that “it's not only about women, I would say it is about diversity and we have different ways of thinking, the problems, the issues and finding solutions. I don't say that it is necessarily better. But I think it's different and I, for example I highlighted for me, how important family is. For me, it's a building block, something that moves me forward because I'm thinking of the new generations all the time. I cannot do something without thinking of the impact for the future generations.”

Professor Saulo is from Argentina. She took office on 1 January 2024. She succeeds Professor Petteri Taalas of Finland who completed his two-term mandate.

-ends-

STORY: WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo

TRT: 2:50”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 16 January 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

  1. Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley
  2. Wide shot: speakers at the press conference
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Over the next years, we have an opportunity, a duty, and a possibility, to shape the narrative on climate action. This is about empowering nations, fostering inclusivity, and creating sustainable pathways for a shared prosperity. We are not mere observers; we are architects of a sustainable future.”
  4. Wide shot: press room with journalists and speakers at the podium
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Adapting to the climate change is not a choice but an essential necessity. It's about building resilient communities, especially in the most vulnerable regions, capable of resisting to, and recovering from, climate-related disasters. Early warning systems will be the linchpin in disaster risk reduction, transforming threats into opportunities for sustainable development. Under my leadership, we will fortify early warning systems, enhance data accessibility, and make science and timely, life-saving information accessible to all.”
  6. Medium shot: UN photographer under screen with speaker
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “We share a common understanding of what we need, the issues how we can implement and the implementation is, for me, the crucial aspect of all what we do. If we fail at implementation, we will be failing I would say the world. And here is where my strength will be. It will be focused in implementing and implementing the decisions that our member countries decided.”
  8. Closed up: WMO spokesperson
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “It's not only about women, I would say it is about diversity and we have different ways of thinking, the problems, the issues and finding solutions. I don't say that it is necessarily better. But I think it's different and I, for example I highlighted for me, how important family is. For me, it's a building block, something that moves me forward because I'm thinking of the new generations all the time. I cannot do something without thinking of the impact for the future generations.”
  10. Medium shot: Journalists in press briefing room
  11. Wide shot: Journalists in press briefing room with speaker on screen
  12. Wide shot: press briefing room with journalists and speakers at the podium


Audio Files 1
Download Secretary General Celeste Saulo WMO 16 January 2024 (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO ENG FRA

Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians

Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine ENG FRA

A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022. 

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF ENG FRA

Sudan war: Life-saving cholera vaccination campaign begins in Darfur

Amid the devastating war in Sudan, UN aid teams are overcoming major obstacles to curb a cholera outbreak claiming lives across the country, with young children particularly at risk.

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025

2

1

2

Edited News , B-roll | UN WOMEN

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025 ENG FRA

Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's recent deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods without much more help from the international community, UN Women said on Friday.

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung ENG FRA

Rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and the grim humanitarian situation in Sudan underscore how the crisis there is deepening, according to a UN Human rights report published today.

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNITED NATIONS

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

United Nations agencies staff demonstrates on Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the killing of their colleagues in Gaza.