Of all disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation measures, early warning and anticipatory action are among the most proven and cost-effective ways to save lives and reduce losses.

Advances in early warning systems and preparedness have saved tens of thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. People-centered, end-to-end, multi-hazard early-warning systems can help minimize the harm to people, assets, and livelihoods by triggering early action that is well-prepared and tested.  

UNDRR, as co-lead of the Early Warnings for All initiative, works with diverse partners from across nations and sectors to close gaps in coverage and ensure these systems protect people and safeguard development gains.

This is why in March 2022 the UN Secretary-General launched the Early Warnings for All initiative which called for every person on Earth to be protected by early warning systems by 2027. 

In November 2022, the UN Secretary-General launched at COP27 an Executive Action Plan to implement the initiative and designated as the co-leads the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). 

Yet, as of 2022, only half of countries globally are protected by multi-hazard early warning systems. The numbers are even lower for developing countries; less than half of the Least Developed Countries and only one-third of Small Island Developing States have a multi-hazard early warning system.

Action plan pillars

Under the Action Plan, different organizations will lead the implementation of the four elements or pillars that make up the early warning chain:

Pillar 1: Disaster risk knowledge, is led by UNDRR. 

Risk knowledge represents the first foundational pillar of effective early warning systems. However, significant gaps in terms of risk information and assessments persist worldwide. Less than half of the countries with existing early warning systems have access to appropriate disaster risk information, and even fewer have national legislation and regulatory frameworks for emergency response.

As the Pillar 1 lead, UNDRR leverages its global leadership, trusted knowledge, and convening power to close gaps in data, strengthen governance, and empower decision-makers and vulnerable communities to act on risk.

Activities under Pillar 1 include building risk knowledge capacity through training, advancing the use of disaster loss and risk data for better forecasting and anticipatory action, developing new tools such as risk information systems and innovation with AI, strengthening governance and coordination, and supporting national implementation plans for early warning systems. This work empowers decision-makers to understand, identify, and respond to risks.

Throughout these activities, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth leadership, and Traditional and Indigenous knowledge are prioritised to ensure that no one is left behind.

Pillar 2: Detection, observations, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of hazards, is led by WMO.  

Pillar 3: Warning dissemination and communication, is led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).