WMO remains one of the most effective examples of technical cooperation in the multilateral system, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo told the closing session of Executive Council (EC), which agreed on a number of resolutions to fine-tune and strengthen the work of the 193-Member UN specialized agency.
The week-long meeting focused on financial sustainability, strategic priorities, governance and the future direction of WMO in the face of growing demands for science and services, rapid technological change and Artificial Intelligence and an evolving private sector.
"One lesson stands out from this week," said Celeste Saulo . "Technical excellence and diplomacy are not alternatives. They need each other."
"Technical knowledge helps us understand the consequences of our decisions. Diplomacy enables us to transform different perspectives into collective decisions.
Together, they allow this Organization to move forward," she said.
"We are an organization built on global interdependence. Perhaps that is why our best solutions are rarely individual ones. They are collective ones."
The Executive Council reaffirmed its commitment to Early Warnings for All, the global initiative spearheaded by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to ensure that everyone in the world is covered by early warning services. It highlighted the need for strong global observing systems - satellites in space, ocean observations and long-term surface observing stations. It endorsed a coordinated resource mobilization strategy and strengthened foundations for partnerships with the private sector.
The EC examined the current financial situation the Organization is facing as a result of delays in payments of assessed contributions, including the Secretary-General's actions taken to find efficiencies and protect liquidity. The EC further reviewed and approved a proposed tiered approach to prioritizing the Organization's activities in the face of increased financial constraints.
The Executive Council adopted the results framework of the draft Strategic Plan 2028-2031. This sets out three long-term goals:
- Support Members' delivery of high-quality, user-oriented and scientifically authoritative services. This includes strengthening Members' early warning services; advancing of sector-specific weather, climate, hydrological, marine, cryosphere and related environmental service provision; and optimizing the skills and professional development of responsible staff.
- Integrated, resilient and future-ready infrastructure: observing, data sharing, processing and prediction systems. Objectives include a standardized, robust, and integrated observing system; resilient and interoperable global data sharing; relevant and accessible processing and prediction capabilities; and stronger technical capabilities and workforce; accelerated integration of research and innovation into operational infrastructure.
- Strengthen institutional development, high-impact science and strategic partnerships. This goal focuses on strengthening the institutional foundations and providing sustained support to enable NMHSs to fulfil their mandates effectively, including supportive policy frameworks, reliable financing and strong partnerships across the hydrometeorological community.
These three long-term goals are underpinned by a foundational goal which focuses on effective governance and organizational capacity across the WMO system, with governance arrangements and institutional capabilities that enable the Organization to support Members effectively and implement the Strategic Plan in a coherent, accountable and results-oriented manner.
WMO also agreed to establish a drafting team to continue work on the strategic context and foresight elements of the draft Plan.
EC members also discussed the UN's Joint Inspection Unit review of WMO's governance architecture, constitution and constituent bodies and agreed on a way forward to review the findings and assess the next steps.
"Our Members need a strong WMO today, but they will need an even stronger one tomorrow. My hope is that we continue this journey together: focused on our core business, strengthening the Organization, and ensuring that it continues to provide Members with the science, services and cooperation they need in a time of profound change," said Celeste Saulo.
