Disasters cause loss of life, damage infrastructure and disrupt livelihoods. However, when governments, civil society organisations, communities and households have access to robust and timely information they can take actions to prevent or reduce losses. For this reason, the UN Secretary-General has launched a call to ensure that Early Warning Systems reach everyone within the next five years.

This working session will consider the progress that has been made by key actors working with disaster management agencies to monitor and produce hazard-related forecasts and deliver warnings as well as how to ensure early warnings reach the people, entities and places most exposed to those hazards in ways that are reliable, actionable, accessible and inclusive of all.