Prof. Halil Hasar, Director of Climate Change, met with Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), on the sidelines of the 5th Istanbul International Water Forum.
06 May 2026
Prof. Halil Hasar, Director of Climate Change, met with Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), on the sidelines of the 5th Istanbul International Water Forum.
The bilateral meeting, which was held following the 5th Istanbul International Water Forum, focused on the strategic steps taken within the COP31 process, Türkiye’s climate modeling initiatives, and the upcoming diplomatic engagements in Geneva.
“Türkiye is steadily enhancing its technical capacity to combat the climate crisis”
During the meeting, Director Hasar underscored the vital importance of the WMO’s scientific and academic infrastructure, highlighting that Türkiye is steadily enhancing its technical capacity to combat the climate crisis. Emphasizing that high-resolution climate modeling projects now span an expansive geography from the Caspian Sea to Spain, Director Hasar stated: “We are currently conducting high-resolution climate modeling studies utilizing six distinct models and 40 separate indicators. These initiatives serve as a fundamental cornerstone, not only for our country but also for climate adaptation strategies across the entire region. Director Hasar further noted Türkiye's role in supporting other nations with the development of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), adding that “leveraging qualified human capital is essential for the success of global resilience efforts.
Geneva: A New Strategic Hub for Climate Diplomacy
WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett highlighted Geneva’s role as a global diplomatic center and the headquarters of the WMO. She emphasized the strategic significance of a potential visit by the COP31 Presidency to Geneva to share its thematic priorities with international stakeholders. Barrett reaffirmed the WMO’s commitment to providing comprehensive support to Türkiye throughout this transition. She also expressed the WMO’s enthusiasm for collaborating on science-based programming within the Turkish Pavilion at COP31.