Who is Celeste Saulo first female to head WMO

Professor Celeste Saulo from Argentina has recently assumed the role of Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), making her the first woman and the first South American to hold this position.

Before this, she served as the Director of Argentina’s National Meteorological Service since 2014 and was also a former First Vice-President of the WMO.

Who is Celeste Saulo?

Professor Andrea Celeste Saulo, born on May 6, 1964, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a renowned meteorologist and educator. She has been serving as the director of the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN), Argentina’s National Meteorological Service, since July 8, 2014. She was also the first vice president of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) from April 24, 20181, and she assumed the role of Secretary-General of the WMO on January 1, 2024.

Professor Saulo has had a distinguished career in research and teaching, with a focus on atmospheric modeling, the representation of uncertainty in forecasts, and the generation of products oriented to decision making. She has authored or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and book chapters.

She has been a researcher at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) since 2000, and is a professor at its Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences. Saulo earned her undergraduate degree in 1987 and a PhD in 1996 from UBA.

In her personal life, Professor Saulo is a mother of two and enjoys playing tennis, cooking for her family, and dancing to Latin rhythms. She loves music, reading, and cinema.

Professor Saulo leads climate resilience

In her new role, Professor Saulo aims to steer the WMO towards its goal of enhancing resilience to extreme weather, climate, water, and other environmental events across all nations, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable.

She plans to lead the WMO community in leveraging scientific advancements to improve societal services. This includes enhancing observation and data exchange for more reliable and accessible weather forecasts, harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence, and broadening Early Warning Services to safeguard all individuals on Earth.

Furthermore, Professor Saulo intends to strengthen WMO’s climate change monitoring and research to better inform decisions on mitigation and adaptation strategies. This includes a novel initiative called the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch.

“Climate change is the greatest global threat of our times, and increasing inequality exacerbates its impacts”. We just lived through the warmest year on record and 2024 may be even hotter and more extreme once the full impact of the ongoing El Niño plays out on temperatures and weather events,” she says. “Human and industrial activities are unequivocally to blame.”

“Coming from the Global South, I’m acutely aware of the need to do more to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable. I am highly motivated to help every National Meteorological and Hydrological Service achieve its mission to save lives and livelihoods. Most of these services have the experience, knowledge and passion to fulfil their mandate, but many lack the resources to do so," said Professor Saulo. “Even a small increase in investment leverages huge socio-economic benefits for our communities.”

Saulo focuses on WMO's growth

Professor Saulo has stated that one of her main goals is to enhance the regional presence of the WMO and empower National Meteorological and Hydrological services through a grassroots approach. She also aims to increase geographical diversity within the WMO Secretariat.

She is committed to fostering strong ties with the United Nations family, development agencies, and the private sector, particularly in relation to the Early Warnings for All initiative. Saulo believes that effective leadership and tangible results are rooted in robust partnerships.

Professor Saulo took over from Professor Petteri Taalas of Finland, who served two terms. She was appointed on June 1, 2023, at the quadrennial World Meteorological Congress, the highest decision-making body of the 193-member WMO. She officially assumed her role on January 1, 2024.

Career Background

Professor Saulo was recently honored as a member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), a prestigious award for those who excel in the field of weather, water, and climate. She has had a remarkable career in research, teaching, and management, and has made significant contributions to society.

Before leading the National Meteorological Service of Argentina, she had a successful academic career. In her leadership role, she brought about major changes in the organization, focusing on achieving results, meeting societal needs, promoting equity, inclusion, and respect, and building connections at national, regional, and international levels.

She has been part of various expert scientific panels within the WMO. Her research has significantly contributed to our understanding of the South American Monsoon System, and she has worked on interdisciplinary issues like wind energy production, agricultural applications, and early warning systems in recent years.

Professor Saulo has written or co-written over 60 scientific articles and book chapters. She has guided many students at both undergraduate and graduate levels and has led 23 research projects funded by national and international agencies.

She has extensive teaching experience in areas like numerical weather prediction, atmosphere dynamics and thermodynamics, mesoscale meteorology, and cloud dynamics and microphysics.

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