Leverage emergency telecommunication systems to ensure life-saving disaster alerts

As climate threats escalate, digital systems play a crucial role in delivering life-saving alerts to vulnerable communities. Despite this reliance, only half of countries have sufficient multi-hazard early warning systems, and even fewer have regulatory frameworks linking early warnings to emergency plans. 
 
The UN’s Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative seeks to address these gaps, aiming to establish comprehensive global protection through early warning systems by 2027.  

Pledges and commitments thus far

Members of the AI Sub-Group of the EW4All initiative commit to driving public-private partnerships to develop and implement AI to transform early warning systems. Resources, technology, data, and/or expertise will be contributed to pilots and projects, whilst also ensuring solutions are tailored to local needs where possible. Efforts will focus on scaling successful pilots and empowering countries by improving disaster risk knowledge, advancing monitoring and forecasting, optimizing warning dissemination, and enhancing preparedness and response capabilities.

Anatel, Brazil‘s National Telecommunications Agency, commits to the Early Warning for All initiative by implementing cell-broadcast for effective early warnings, by adopting a regulatory approach, and by sharing its experience to raise awareness. ​ 

MNO Pledge: A number of mobile network operators (Telefonica, Safaricom, Globe, Axiata, MTN, VEON, KDDI, Telstra, Telenor, Vodafone and Telecom Italia), under the leadership of GSMA, pledge to work with governments to support the implementation of cell broadcasts and location-based SMS, to fulfill the ambitious goal of the Early Warnings for All initiative.
 
SSP Pledge: Committed to the Early Warnings for All Initiative’s goal, the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) and its partners are dedicated to enhancing direct-to-handset services and overcoming challenges through cross-sector collaboration, including engaging with device manufacturers, standardization bodies, and other key stakeholders. ​