Climate change has intensified extreme weather events, including stronger hurricanes, heavier rains, severe floods, prolonged droughts, and intense heatwaves. Other hazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, pandemics, and technological or industrial accidents, further compound the risks to communities worldwide. Nearly half of the world’s population is now highly exposed to natural hazards and disasters, with the most severe consequences affecting people in remote or underserved areas who often lack access to reliable information and communication services.
Emergency telecommunications, guided by
National Emergency Telecommunication Plans (NETPs), are essential across all phases of disaster risk management. They ensure the continuity of communications for critical stakeholders before, during, and after disasters, and facilitate the rapid flow of vital information for effective coordination of humanitarian operations during
response and recovery phases.
The
Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative is a global effort to ensure that everyone is protected by life-saving early warning systems. ITU leads Pillar 3 on Warning Dissemination and Communication, helping countries leverage multiple communication channels and networks to deliver actionable alerts to people at risk.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also transforming disaster management by enabling faster hazard detection, predictive modelling, automated impact assessments, and more precise early warnings. These capabilities enhance situational awareness and strengthen the effectiveness of preparedness and response efforts.
ITU membership has emphasized that, within the framework of emergency telecommunications, both AI and the EW4All initiative can play a transformative role in advancing countries’ disaster resilience. This was highlighted and supported during World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025, particularly on Resolution 34 (
Rev. Baku, 2025 provisional report) on the role of telecommunications/information and communication technology in disaster preparedness, early warning, rescue, mitigation, relief and response, reinforcing the importance of integrating innovative technologies and inclusive early warning systems into national strategies.