WMO empowers the next generation of leaders on weather, climate and water
Amid the accelerating challenges of our changing climate and the opportunities of new technology, the role of young people has never been more essential. Around the world, youth are innovating, communicating science, mobilizing communities, and their influence is reshaping how the world understands and responds to weather, climate and water risks.
At the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), this momentum is now being translated into action through the Youth Action Plan (2025–2027), a new framework placing youth at the heart of WMO’s mission.
From Design to Action: Youth Action Plan Approved, what’s next?
On 20 November 2025, WMO celebrated World Children’s Day with its first “Next Generation of Climate, Weather and Water Leaders Day”, held as part of the Organization’s 75th anniversary. The event introduced staff to the newly adopted Youth Action Plan through lively presentations, interactive moments, and insights from partners. The message resonated clearly: while young people are among the most affected by climate change, they are also indispensable partners in building resilience.
As implementation advances, WMO is moving from a Youth Action Plan to Youth Action itself. To support this shift, an internal workshop brought together colleagues from across the Secretariat to explore how youth engagement can be integrated into programmes, governance structures and communication practices. The session helped deepen organizational understanding of the Youth Action Plan and strengthened ongoing efforts to embed youth perspectives across WMO’s work.
Youth Focal Point Coordination Meeting
As climate risks intensify across regions, youth networks are becoming essential bridges for connecting local realities with global science. Yet until now, these efforts have rarely been coordinated across borders.
In early 2026, that will begin to change when WMO Youth Member Representatives gather in Tokyo, Japan, for the first Global Youth Focal Point Coordination Meeting.
Hosted by Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the event will unite young representatives from all WMO Regions to align approaches, strengthen collaboration, consolidate youth-mainstreaming efforts, and launch a network dedicated to advancing the Youth Action Plan across all Regions.
At the same time, WMO is broadening its digital and outreach efforts with a new season of WMO podcast: “Beyond the Forecast: Youth Conversations”, a video series featuring WMO members and staff, an updated Youth Engagement webpage. These platforms aim to make climate science more accessible, showcase youth leadership, and inspire future generations to engage with the meteorological community.
The Youth Action Plan embodies WMO’s commitment to strengthening science, improving services, and building global resilience through genuine intergenerational collaboration. As implementation accelerates, one thing is clear: young people are shaping the future of weather, climate and water services, and WMO is committed to ensuring they have not only a seat at the table, but the space to lead.