Ko Barrett
Ko Barrett currently serves as the Deputy Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a role she assumed in April 2024. Before this appointment, she was the Senior Advisor for Climate at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she provided strategic direction to align NOAA’s climate services with national and global climate goals.
From 2015 to 2023, Ms. Barrett was one of the first women elected as Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In this role, she played a crucial part in advancing global climate science, particularly through her leadership in the Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere and the Gender Action Team. Her expertise in climate science and policy has been instrumental in shaping international climate strategies.
Ms. Barrett represented the United States in climate negotiations for over 15 years, particularly within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She has also held leadership roles within NOAA, including Deputy Assistant Administrator for Research Programs and Director of the Global Climate Change Program at the US Agency for International Development.
Throughout her career, Ms. Barrett has received numerous accolades, including the NOAA Administrator’s Awards, the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Award, and a shared Nobel Peace Prize with the IPCC in 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina – Asheville and has been recognized for her contributions to environmental science and policy.