In an exclusive interview during the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), praised China’s climate change adaptation efforts as exemplary.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
In an exclusive interview during the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), praised China’s climate change adaptation efforts as exemplary. She noted that China not only prioritizes its own interests but also actively supports countries in the Global South in addressing climate challenges.
At the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Azerbaijan in November 2024, China unveiled the "Action Plan for Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation through Early Warning (2025–2027)." The plan outlines concrete steps, such as improving early warning systems and bolstering climate adaptation capabilities in developing nations, to foster a safer, more climate-resilient future. This initiative follows China’s earlier signing of a trilateral agreement with the WMO to support the UN’s Early Warning for All program.
Saulo commended China for its significant contributions to early warning system development. “As a large country with a large population, China is highly vulnerable to climate risks. Yet, its efforts to adapt to climate change set a global example. The technological innovations and capacity-building initiatives spearheaded by China are something the nation should be immensely proud of,” she said. “China’s work in risk assessment, monitoring and forecasting, information dissemination, resilience building, and disaster response has been particularly effective.”
The planet continues to warm. According to a recent WMO report, data from multiple agencies indicate that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record, marking the first time global average temperatures have risen by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Saulo warned that more extreme weather events are likely to occur in the future and emphasized the importance of preparation. "Building resilience and proactively adapting to climate change is critical," she said. "We must integrate both mitigation and adaptation strategies." She praised China for its proactive approach, particularly in transforming energy production and consumption, and expressed confidence that China will meet its long-term climate goals.