On October 22, 2025, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) headquarters in Geneva became the stage for a passionate defense of science and weather forecasting. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, addressing a special WMO meeting, did not mince words as he praised the vital role played by meteorologists and scientists in safeguarding lives and livelihoods across the globe. Against a backdrop of mounting skepticism toward climate science—particularly in the United States, where President Donald Trump’s administration has openly questioned climate change and slashed funding for scientific agencies—Guterres’s message was both urgent and resolute.
“Without your long-term monitoring, we wouldn’t benefit from the warnings and guidance that protect communities and save millions of lives and billions of dollars each year,” Guterres told the assembled scientists and officials, as reported by The Associated Press. He alluded to what he described as “the dangerous and existential threat of climate change,” making clear that the stakes are higher than ever.
The timing of Guterres’s remarks could hardly have been more pointed. Just a week earlier, the WMO had reported a sobering milestone: heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the Earth’s atmosphere had jumped by the highest amount on record last year. The concentration now stands at a level not seen in human civilization, a fact that scientists link directly to the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events—floods, storms, wildfires, and heat waves—that are reshaping lives and economies from the Americas to Asia.
Guterres’s praise for the WMO was effusive. He called the agency’s staff “the quiet force that illuminates all the rational climate decisions that we take.” He also urged, “Scientists and researchers should never be afraid to tell the truth.” These words, while uplifting, carried a clear edge—an implicit rebuke to those who would undermine, ignore, or politicize the findings of the scientific community.
His remarks came at a time when the Trump administration’s approach to science has drawn sharp criticism from experts and advocates. President Trump has repeatedly called climate change “a con job,” and his administration has led what many see as an anti-science push. According to The Associated Press, the U.S. government has enacted deep cuts to the National Weather Service and dismissed hundreds of weather forecasters and employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For Guterres and many of his peers, these moves threaten the very foundation of public safety and evidence-based policy.
The WMO meeting itself was focused on promoting early-warning systems—tools that give countries, rich and poor alike, a fighting chance to prepare for disasters. These systems are crucial for bracing communities against the onslaught of natural hazards, from typhoons in Southeast Asia to wildfires in California and heat waves in Europe. Guterres emphasized that without the data and guidance provided by meteorological agencies, the world would be far less equipped to handle the mounting challenges posed by climate change.
“The warnings and guidance that protect communities and save millions of lives and billions of dollars each year” are not just abstract benefits, Guterres noted. They are the result of painstaking observation, analysis, and international cooperation—work that is often invisible to the public but absolutely essential. The Secretary-General’s comments underscored the notion that science is not a luxury or a partisan issue but a lifeline for humanity.
Beyond the halls of the WMO in Geneva, the day’s news brought reminders of the very real consequences of environmental threats and the need for robust scientific infrastructure. In Taiwan, authorities reported their first-ever cases of African swine fever, a devastating animal disease that is nearly always fatal to pigs but does not affect humans or other animals outside the pig family. The outbreak was detected after samples from dead pigs on a farm in Taichung tested positive on October 21, 2025. In response, officials culled at least 195 pigs, established a control zone with a radius of almost two miles, and imposed a five-day ban on the movement and slaughter of pigs across the island starting at noon on October 23.
Taiwan’s Agriculture Minister, Chen Junne-jih, stated that the island would isolate the virus strain before reporting it to the World Organization of Animal Health. The swift and decisive response highlights the value of scientific vigilance, as well as the international protocols designed to prevent the spread of such diseases. Taiwan, which already prohibits the import of meat or meat products without inspection and quarantine, has set fines exceeding $32,000 for violations—underscoring the seriousness with which it approaches biosecurity.
Meanwhile, the world’s attention was also drawn to other crises that day. In Guatemala, lawmakers passed a new anti-gang law, designating notorious groups such as Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha as terrorist organizations and increasing sentences for gang-related crimes. The move followed the escape of 20 gang members from a Guatemalan prison, an incident that led President Bernardo Arévalo to accept the resignations of three top security officials. The legislation also orders the construction of a new prison for gang members, reflecting the government’s determination to regain control after years of violence and instability.
Elsewhere, tragedy struck off the coast of Tunisia, where a boat carrying migrants seeking to reach Europe sank near the port of Mahdia. According to local judicial authorities, 40 people—many of them from sub-Saharan Africa, including infants—lost their lives. Tunisian naval units managed to rescue 30 other migrants from the water. The prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the causes and circumstances of the sinking, as Tunisia remains a major departure point for those risking everything in search of a better life across the Mediterranean.
These stories, disparate as they may seem, are bound together by a common thread: the need for evidence, vigilance, and coordinated action in the face of complex threats. Whether the challenge is climate change, animal disease, organized crime, or migration, the underlying message from Geneva is clear. As Guterres put it, “Scientists and researchers should never be afraid to tell the truth.” The world, he argued, cannot afford to turn its back on science or those who dedicate their lives to understanding and protecting our planet.
In a time of uncertainty and competing priorities, the events of October 22, 2025, serve as a reminder that science—quiet, persistent, and often underappreciated—remains one of humanity’s best hopes for a safer and more resilient future.
