Elected Academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences on 24 June 2013, Professor Petteri Taalas is a distinguished Finnish meteorologist and an internationally recognised figure in atmospheric science and global climate governance. Born on 3 July 1961 in Helsinki, Finland, he received his M.Sc. in 1988 and his Ph.D. in Meteorology from the University of Helsinki in 1993. He began his professional career at the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) in 1985, progressing from Research Scientist to Research Professor and Head of the Ozone Research Unit. He served as Director General of FMI from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2007 to 2015. From 2005 to 2007, he was Director of the Development and Regional Activities Department of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva. In 2015, he was elected Secretary-General of the WMO and served two consecutive four-year terms until 2023, during which he led a major institutional reform and was appointed Core Climate Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In 2024, he returned to Finland as Director General of FMI. He has been a Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters since 2009 and of the Finnish Academy of Technical Sciences since 2015. His broader international service has included Chairmanship of the Board of the University of Eastern Finland, the EUMETSAT Council, and Finland’s principal delegation to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He holds honorary doctorates from the University of Eastern Finland and TERI University in India and is an Honorary Member of the China Meteorological Association. His international contributions have also been recognised through the Commander’s Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland, the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Commander of Honour of Greece.