Video Archives Now Available: Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Prof. Petteri Taalas one-on-one interview with Show Host, Ketan Patel, “Force For Good”

ESG News releases Prof. Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) one-on-one interview with Force for Good Host and Chairman Ketan Patel, live from COP 28, Dubai

Highlights – Prof. Petteri Taalas speaks to “Force For Good” About:

• Prof. Petteri Taalas, an expert in meteorology, discusses the critical role of the WMO, a UN specialized agency for weather, climate, and water, and its founding of the IPCC.
• Insights into the consequences of climate change on humanity, including economic losses, water resource challenges, heatwaves, floods, and sea-level rise.
• Analysis of global climate patterns, the melting of mountain glaciers, and the potential long-term threats to various regions.
• Examination of the economic implications, especially for agriculture, with a focus on the food basket of America and the challenges of feeding a growing global population.
• Regional impacts discussed, ranging from North America’s wildfires to Europe’s heatwaves, China’s challenges with melting glaciers, and the vulnerability of the global South to extreme climate events.
• The IPCC report’s rigorous scientific process and the involvement of experts worldwide in compiling key climate findings.

Event Details:

Show: Force For Good
Guest: Prof. Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Host: Ketan Patel
Original Release Dates: January 12, 2024
Location: COP28, Dubai
Network: ESG News
Producer: Matt Bird
YouTube: Archive

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About Prof. Petteri Taalas

Professor Petteri Taalas has been the Secretary-General of WMO since 1 January 2016. He was appointed by the World Meteorological Congress in 2015 for a first four-year term. He is now serving his second four-year term (Jan 2020-Dec 2023).

• Director General, Finnish Meteorological Institute, 2007–2015 and 2002–2005
• Director, WMO Development and Regional Activities Department, 2005–2007
• Research professor remote sensing, 2000–2002, and Head of research, Scientist, 1986-1999, leader of ozone research unit

International activities and memberships

• Member of WMO Executive Council since 2008 and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Council 2002–2005, 2007 to present
• Chairman of EUMETSAT Council 2010–2014 and EUMETNET Council 2003–2005
• Delegate of Finland to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  2007–2015

National activities and memberships

• Chairman of the board, University of Eastern Finland since 2010
• Alumnus of the year of University of Helsinki 2012
• Member of the Finnish Science Academy since 2010, Advisory board of Fortum Energy Company (turnover 6.2 bn €) and of the Finnish Space and Arctic boards 2003–2005, 2009 to present

University and other degrees

• PhD in Meteorology, University of Helsinki, Department of Physics, 1993
• Management, Executive Education, Helsinki School of Economics, 1998 and 2004

List of publications

Author of ~50 peer-reviewed papers on satellite technology, global change, climate & atmospheric chemistry, dozens of other publications & presentations.

About Ketan Patel

Chair of the Force for Good Platform and Initiative; CEO and Founder, Greater Pacific Capital; Formerly Goldman Sachs, Head of Strategic Group; Formerly Partner KPMG; Author of ‘The Master Strategist’ (Random House, 2005) 

Ketan established the Force for Good Initiative, leading its outreach and research and co-authored its inaugural report, ‘Capital as a Force for Good’, in December 2020, which examined 63 leading global financial institutions and engaged 30 as active participants, establishing the industry’s efforts to impact the world for good.

He was formerly a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and headed the Goldman Sachs Strategic Group. He has worked extensively in the US, Europe, China, Japan and India, providing strategic counsel to the bank’s leading corporate, investing and government client leaders.

Ketan co-founded and leads the investment firm, Greater Pacific Capital (GPC), which invests in high growth enterprises making an impact locally and internationally, profitably and sustainably. 

He also leads GPC’s research work, which focuses on peace, prosperity and freedom, including the rise and fall of civilisations, great power, the changing world order and the shape of the world to come, sustainability, mass inclusion and the eradication of slums.

Ketan is a fellow, trustee and board member of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), and worked with the UNWAAS Global Leadership Initiative, leading the future of finance initiative. He currently chairs the WAAS Global Referendum initiative. 

He is a member of the working group of the UN SDSN Senior Working Group on Joint Implementation of EGD and SDGs and also the Lancet Commission COVID 19 Green Recovery Task Force focused on Sustainable Finance. 

Ketan is the author of ‘The Master Strategist’ (Random House, 2005). 

He grew up in London and India and studied Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and is an MBA and ACMA.

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