For the first time, 119 countries now report having Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), a milestone in humanity’s effort to anticipate and mitigate disasters.

According to the Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems 2025 report, released at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the comprehensiveness of these systems has improved by 45% since 2015, reflecting stronger forecasting, communication, and preparedness capabilities.

Yet, even as technology and data advance, millions remain perilously exposed. Small island developing states—home to some of the most climate-vulnerable populations—lag far behind, with only 43% reporting any system in place.

Across the globe, uneven investments, gaps in risk knowledge, and limited community integration threaten the promise of universal protection.

“Disasters are neither natural nor inevitable,” said Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

“Even in the face of accelerating climate crises—record floods, wildfires, heatwaves—we can stop the spiral of growing losses. But this requires urgent financing, risk governance, and locally-led solutions.”

The report highlights that countries with robust, comprehensive early warning systems experience nearly six times lower disaster-related mortality than those without.

Yet, despite gains in pre-disaster anticipatory action, less than one-third of nations report strong capabilities in risk knowledge—the foundation for predicting hazards and triggering timely response.

Emerging threats such as extreme heat, glacial lake outburst floods, and superstorms underscore the urgent need for adaptation.

In response, UNDRR, WMO, and partners have launched a new Extreme Heat Risk Governance Framework and Toolkit to help authorities make decisions before disaster strikes.

The human story behind the statistics is clear. From the survivors of flooding in Viet Nam to communities bracing for hurricanes in the Caribbean, the stakes are not abstract—they are lives, livelihoods, and futures.

People-centered systems that integrate local knowledge, clear communication, and early action are proven to save lives, but global progress depends on sustained investment, inclusive design, and closing the digital divide.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized at the summit: “We must drastically increase investments in adaptation and resilience to deliver Early Warnings for All by 2027. Every delay risks lives, every gap leaves communities exposed.”

The report serves as both a celebration of progress and a stark reminder: technology alone is not enough.

To truly protect humanity, early warning systems must reach every person on Earth—and do so in ways that are accessible, actionable, and grounded in the lived realities of those most at risk.