About the Speaker:

Professor Taalas, a renowned expert in climate change, disaster management, water resources, and UN affairs, holds a PhD in Meteorology from the University of Helsinki. He has held key scientific and leadership roles, including serving as Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for eight years and Director General of the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) for over a decade, a role he resumed in 2024. With extensive experience in international organizations, academia, and the private sector, he has advised the UN Secretary-General and led major reforms at WMO. His contributions have earned him multiple prestigious awards, including European of the Year (2021) and Friend of the UN (2022).