This Friday, June 6, 2025, Nice hosted the inauguration of the 22nd edition of the International Weather and Climate Forum, organized in conjunction with the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC). Heads of state, scientists, representatives of international organizations (NGOs), policymakers, and journalists from around the world gathered for a common cause: communicating the impacts of climate change on the oceans.
At the opening, Myriam Seurat, the event’s presenter, emphasized the importance of “mobilizing all stakeholders for the preservation of the oceans and sustainable use in climatic contexts.” She also mentioned that it is crucial to have more effective communication on climate issues, especially this year, concerning their direct impacts on the oceans.
Furthermore, it was reported that over 2,700 people were connected live to watch the major event.
Alongside presenter Myriam Seurat, three major figures inaugurated the event: Pierre Bahurel, General Director of Mercator Ocean International and representative of the Copernicus Marine Service; Jean Jouzel, climatologist, former member of the IPCC and president of Weather and Climate; as well as the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, who honored the event with his presence, marking this opening committed to climate action.
Other key figures captivated the audience by sharing their daily work and ongoing projects to better understand and preserve the oceans. Virginie Thierry (researcher and coordinator of Argo-France), Allain Ratier (former Director General of EUMETSAT, Board Member of Weather and Climate), and Pierre-Yves Le Traon (Scientific Director of Mercator Ocean and the Copernicus Marine Service) each provided valuable insights into the scientific and technological issues related to marine climate.
Nice, Host and Actor in Climate Action
Speaking at the opening, Christian Estrosi praised the international mobilization around the ocean and climate. He thanked the partners, Media Workshop, Mercator Ocean International, Copernicus Marine Service, and the United Nations, mentioning representatives from Costa Rica, while emphasizing the importance of educating the youth on these issues. “Our schoolchildren become the educators of their parents,” he stated.
He is very proud that this year the city of Nice had the honor to host the great United Nations Ocean Conference as well as participate for the first time in the opening of the International Weather and Climate Forum, as he considers the “Mediterranean Sea is increasingly threatened today.”
Additionally, through his speech, the mayor of Nice reminded that meteorology is much more than a simple daily bulletin: it is a pillar of public service, essential for anticipating risks and protecting populations. He highlighted the French excellence in this field – from engineers to supercomputers – and urged to maintain this technological lead to effectively address upcoming climate challenges: “Meteorology is a fundamental public service beyond our comforts, and we must enable ourselves worldwide to have the most precise forecast possible. In France, for example, by praising the French meteorologists and journalists, we must more than ever enable ourselves to anticipate dangerous phenomena. We are among the best in this field. We have the best engineers, the best supercomputers, and we must remain so to protect our populations and our planet.”
Finally, Christian Estrosi defended the fundamental role of meteorology as a public service, praising French expertise in forecasting and risk anticipation. “Today, it is an important moment: sharing meteorological science with as many people as possible. Its breadth will allow us to tackle the greatest challenge of our time: combating climate change and reducing emissions,” he concluded, calling for a collective response to the greatest challenge of our era.
