Pakistan will host a five-day United Nations–Pakistan international conference in Islamabad from 27 to 31 October 2026 to explore how space technology can improve early warning systems, disaster risk assessment, and climate action, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said on Thursday. The United Nations–Pakistan International Conference on Leveraging Space Technology for Early Warning for All (EW4All), Climate Action and Disaster Risk Assessment will be held at the Serena Hotel and is expected to bring together 200 to 250 participants, including 60 to 70 international delegates and around 150 national participants. It is being co-sponsored by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) through its UN-SPIDER programme, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO), and the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET).
The conference will focus on the use of space-based technologies, satellite observations, and geospatial data in disaster management and climate planning. Experts, policymakers, diplomats, educators, researchers, UN agencies, development organisations, and representatives of the space industry are expected to take part. A key theme is the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to protect communities and critical infrastructure from climate-related disasters through effective early warning systems. The programme includes leadership dialogues, technical sessions, expert panels, and presentations on disaster risk assessment, climate intelligence, and geospatial technologies, including emerging tools such as GeoAI. Discussions will also cover the monitoring of water resources, agriculture, forests, and environmental change, and the conference will highlight the contributions of young researchers and youth-led initiatives to climate research and innovation.
SUPARCO said participants will examine practical approaches to moving disaster management away from reactive responses and toward proactive risk assessment, preparedness, and early action. The discussions will align with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement, and Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action, with the aim of turning international commitments into practical outcomes at the national and regional levels. For Pakistan, the conference is expected to build national capacity to use satellite-based and geospatial information for early warning, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction. According to the official release, better technical capabilities in assessing flood, drought, and heatwave risks can support more informed decision-making, improved preparedness, and better protection for vulnerable communities, which matters in a country that has repeatedly faced severe floods and heatwaves.
The conference will conclude on 31 October with a closing ceremony and a technical visit to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), where participants will be able to see Pakistan’s disaster management systems and how geospatial data, satellite monitoring, and early warning tools are used in practice. According to the UN-SPIDER event page, the conference will be followed by an international training course on space-based disaster management from 2 to 6 November 2026, also in Islamabad, focusing on moving from reactive to proactive approaches. SUPARCO said that through the gathering Pakistan aims to build partnerships and advance the effective use of space technology to create a safer, more climate-resilient, and disaster-prepared future. The release did not name the keynote speakers or give a full session schedule, so those details will need to be confirmed from the organisers as the event approaches.
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