When the world meets to prevent disasters
In June 2025, Switzerland hosted and co-chaired the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction — the world's foremost forum for reducing disaster risk — and helped chart the course for the next years.
Act before the storm
Just days before the Global Platform opened in Geneva, the village of Blatten in the Swiss Alps was buried under nine million cubic metres of rock, ice and mud after a glacial collapse. Three hundred people had been evacuated in time. One life was lost. At the opening ceremony, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed reflected on what had just happened: "Early warning saves lives but cannot save glaciers from disappearing." Climate change is making hazards worse and more frequent. The world needs to act upstream — reducing risks before disasters strike, not just reacting afterward.
Just days before the Global Platform opened in Geneva, the village of Blatten in the Swiss Alps was buried under nine million cubic metres of rock, ice and mud after a glacial collapse. Three hundred people had been evacuated in time. One life was lost. At the opening ceremony, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed reflected on what had just happened: "Early warning saves lives but cannot save glaciers from disappearing." Climate change is making hazards worse and more frequent. The world needs to act upstream — reducing risks before disasters strike, not just reacting afterward.
Project highlight
Blatten is not alone. In October 2023, a glacial lake burst in Sikkim, India — dozens killed, hundreds missing, entire communities devastated. Through the SCA-Himalayas project, SDC and Swiss scientific experts have partnered with India's Disaster Management Authority to install monitoring systems at glacial lakes and to develop national guidelines for disaster risk reduction. One important goal is to build local capacity to act before disasters strike. One example of how Switzerland turns global DRR commitments into action, from the Himalayas to the Alps.
Blatten is not alone. In October 2023, a glacial lake burst in Sikkim, India — dozens killed, hundreds missing, entire communities devastated. Through the SCA-Himalayas project, SDC and Swiss scientific experts have partnered with India's Disaster Management Authority to install monitoring systems at glacial lakes and to develop national guidelines for disaster risk reduction. One important goal is to build local capacity to act before disasters strike. One example of how Switzerland turns global DRR commitments into action, from the Himalayas to the Alps.
Switzerland opens its doors
Ambassador Patricia Danzi, Director-General of the SDC, co-chaired the platform alongside the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction UNDRR. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis opened the conference on behalf of Switzerland, underlining the urgency of acting before disasters strike. Switzerland's engagement went well beyond hosting: a whole-of-society delegation — federal agencies, science, civil society and private sector — arrived with a clear, collectively developed voice, shaped through Switzerland's Consultative Group.
Ambassador Patricia Danzi, Director-General of the SDC, co-chaired the platform alongside the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction UNDRR. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis opened the conference on behalf of Switzerland, underlining the urgency of acting before disasters strike. Switzerland's engagement went well beyond hosting: a whole-of-society delegation — federal agencies, science, civil society and private sector — arrived with a clear, collectively developed voice, shaped through Switzerland's Consultative Group.
3,600 people, one conversation
Over 3,600 participants from 177 countries gathered in Geneva — governments, UN agencies, scientists, local authorities, youth, people with disabilities, women leaders and the private sector, all at the same table. Progress since 2015 was acknowledged honestly: disaster deaths have halved, and national risk reduction strategies have more than doubled. Women's leadership in disaster risk reduction received particular attention. But gaps were named too. The number of people affected by disasters has nearly doubled. The most vulnerable communities are still left behind.
Over 3,600 participants from 177 countries gathered in Geneva — governments, UN agencies, scientists, local authorities, youth, people with disabilities, women leaders and the private sector, all at the same table. Progress since 2015 was acknowledged honestly: disaster deaths have halved, and national risk reduction strategies have more than doubled. Women's leadership in disaster risk reduction received particular attention. But gaps were named too. The number of people affected by disasters has nearly doubled. The most vulnerable communities are still left behind.
Shaping the global agenda
The Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction reflect Switzerland's positions: invest in prevention, deepen risk knowledge, integrate climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, close financing gaps, leave no one behind. Its strength lies in the collective momentum it builds among governments, scientists, local actors, the private sector and civil society. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRR, singled out Switzerland: not only for its investment in disaster risk reduction, but for turning that commitment into measurable results.
The Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction reflect Switzerland's positions: invest in prevention, deepen risk knowledge, integrate climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, close financing gaps, leave no one behind. Its strength lies in the collective momentum it builds among governments, scientists, local actors, the private sector and civil society. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRR, singled out Switzerland: not only for its investment in disaster risk reduction, but for turning that commitment into measurable results.
Learning and sharing...
Switzerland's engagement extended well beyond the conference rooms. The Swiss Innovations stand brought together federal agencies including the Federal Office for the Environment and the Federal Office for Civil Protection, SECO, MeteoSwiss, the insurance industry, NGOs including the Swiss NGO DRR Platform and academia— a living example of the whole-of-society approach to disaster risk reduction.
Switzerland's engagement extended well beyond the conference rooms. The Swiss Innovations stand brought together federal agencies including the Federal Office for the Environment and the Federal Office for Civil Protection, SECO, MeteoSwiss, the insurance industry, NGOs including the Swiss NGO DRR Platform and academia— a living example of the whole-of-society approach to disaster risk reduction.
...peer to peer
Four thematic field visits took 200 global experts into Swiss forests, cities and research centres, exchanging experience on wildfire prevention, water management, extreme heat preparedness and climate services. Switzerland brought its knowledge and experience to the table — and came back enriched by the insights, innovations and ground-level wisdom of partners from every corner of the world.
Four thematic field visits took 200 global experts into Swiss forests, cities and research centres, exchanging experience on wildfire prevention, water management, extreme heat preparedness and climate services. Switzerland brought its knowledge and experience to the table — and came back enriched by the insights, innovations and ground-level wisdom of partners from every corner of the world.
From Geneva to every village
No other city brings together such a concentration of global expertise in disaster risk reduction. — This ecosystem makes Geneva the world's natural hub for prevention: where global policy, scientific knowledge, financial innovation and field experience converge. Switzerland, as host country and long-standing partner of this community, tends that flame. As Christian Frutiger, Switzerland's co-chair, concluded at the closing ceremony: "Disaster risk reduction is a strategic investment, not a cost. Let us invest today in a safer, more resilient tomorrow — for all."
No other city brings together such a concentration of global expertise in disaster risk reduction. — This ecosystem makes Geneva the world's natural hub for prevention: where global policy, scientific knowledge, financial innovation and field experience converge. Switzerland, as host country and long-standing partner of this community, tends that flame. As Christian Frutiger, Switzerland's co-chair, concluded at the closing ceremony: "Disaster risk reduction is a strategic investment, not a cost. Let us invest today in a safer, more resilient tomorrow — for all."
Weather-related and natural disasters threaten prosperity and development. They cause direct and indirect costs of up to 2.3 trillion US dollars annually. Poorer countries are particularly hard hit, facing a decline of up to 10 per cent of their GDP in the event of a disaster. At the same time, investment in disaster risk reduction is particularly effective: every franc invested generates a return of up to four francs. In 2025, the SDC strengthened 362 disaster risk reduction systems in 24 countries; 4.3 million people benefited from improved protection measures thanks to SDC projects.
Further information:
Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction
SDC Disaster Risk Reduction
Further information:
Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction
SDC Disaster Risk Reduction
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