By: Van
Soul Addey
World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo has underscored the
importance of scientific evidence and systematic observations in guiding global
climate action as world leaders gather for the COP31 Antalya Leaders Summit in
Türkiye.
Saulo said science, action
and implementation were taking centre stage at the summit, held under the theme
“Towards a Sustainable, Resilient and Equitable Future.”
The summit was convened at
the invitation of His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the
Republic of Türkiye, who invited heads of state and government to participate
in the high-level gathering.
Ahead of the summit, Saulo
joined other leading climate scientists in briefing United Nations
Secretary-General António Guterres on the latest scientific insights and
evidence to inform his intervention at the Leaders Summit.
She expressed appreciation
for Guterres' vision and leadership in advancing global climate action,
stressing the importance of scientific knowledge in shaping responses to
climate challenges.
“Without science and
systematic observations we are flying blind,” Saulo stated.
The WMO Secretary-General is
also scheduled to address the high-level opening of the summit, where she will
present highlights of the organisation's State of the Climate Update 2025.
The update is expected to
provide an overview of global climate conditions in 2025, a year Saulo
described as one of “many broken records, lives and dreams.”
Her remarks reinforce the
importance of using reliable climate data, scientific observations and
evidence-based assessments to support international climate negotiations and
accelerate the implementation of climate action.
