Royal Meteorological Society celebrates milestone with focus on climate action and future readiness in 2025
Professor Brian Golding, president of the Royal Meteorological Society, used his 2025 Christmas message to reflect on a year in which the society both marked a milestone and sought to sharpen its contribution to societally relevant weather and climate science. According to the original report, Golding highlighted two stark reminders of the work ahead: the devastation in Jamaica from Hurricane Melissa and what he described as limited global progress on emissions curbs at COP30.
The society emphasized its presence at the UN talks, noting that RMetS again attended as an observer and used a COP hub to showcase “RMetS voices, insights, and reflections” on how weather and climate science can inform global solutions. The message framed this engagement as part of a broader effort to translate scientific evidence into the actions that will shape a sustainable future.
2025 was also an anniversary year for the society. The organization celebrated its 175th anniversary with an event at Hartwell House, the site of the society’s founding in 1850, and invited leading voices across the community to set out visions for the future of forecasting, professionalism and the role of meteorology in society. The society recalled its origins, noting that its founders met “to form a society the objects of which should be the advancement and extension of meteorological science by determining the laws of climate and of meteorological phenomena in general”.
Alongside celebration, the society used the year to secure its future work. In April 2025, RMetS launched the Fund for the Future to provide long-term financial stability and enable expansion of education and outreach programmes, encouraging members and supporters to leave a gift in their wills so the society can grow its impact over the coming decades. The initiative was presented as a response to enduring and emerging challenges such as misinformation and the accelerating need for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Operational and professional work also featured strongly in Golding’s summary of the year. RMetS reported hosting more than 50 events, including the Annual Weather and Climate Conference and an Early Careers and Student Conference, publishing a peer-review guide for early-career researchers, and releasing a joint Met Office toolkit, "Science Communication: Opportunities and Challenges", to help scientists engage more effectively with the public. The society also published sector-focused climate assessments, including the 'State of the UK Climate' in its International Journal of Climatology and a 'State of the Climate for the UK Energy Sector' report that examined impacts of weather on generation, demand and infrastructure.
Education and public engagement were singled out as priorities: the education team expanded climate-literacy work with a new curriculum for school leavers, teacher training for geography educators and an annual survey showing many young people remain underprepared for green careers. The society also marked the tenth anniversary of its Weather Photographer of the Year competition, introducing a new climate category and gallery to better link striking imagery with climate impacts.
Golding concluded by stressing the society’s role as the UK’s professional body for weather and climate science, noting the milestone of reaching 100 chartered meteorologists this year and reiterating thanks to members for their support. According to the message, these advances, from accreditation to outreach and financial planning, are intended to ensure meteorology continues to serve society’s needs as climate risks grow.