Jukka Petteri Taalas (born 3 July 1961 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish meteorologist and former Secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization.

He was awarded a PhD in meteorology by the Helsinki University Physics Department in 1993, following presentation of his thesis on Arctic and Antarctic stratospheric and lower atmospheric ozone.

Better engagement of private sector and world leading scientific experts, as well as key partner organizations was a part of the reform.

He prefers modest and science based climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and understands the political sensitivity of related actions.

Over his career, Taalas has been an adept of change management to enhance efficiency in the various organizations with which he worked, including research institutes, government agencies, universities and private companies.

[5] He has extensive experience in managing national and international expert organizations with demonstrated ability to enhance efficiency and implement innovation while maintaining high customer and staff satisfaction.

Taalas has also served as a research professor and scientist at FMI dealing with global change, satellites, atmospheric chemistry and UV radiation.