Pakistan to host UN conference on space technology for disaster warnings

Pakistan’s space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), will host a United Nations-backed international conference in Islamabad from October 27 to 31 on using space technology for early warnings, climate action and disaster risk assessment, Geo News reported.

The event, which runs for five days, is officially called the United Nations-Pakistan International Conference on Leveraging Space Technology for Early Warning for All (EW4All), Climate Action and Disaster Risk Assessment.

Who is behind it

The five-day conference is co-sponsored by:

• the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), through its UN-SPIDER programme
• the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO)
• the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET)

Organisers expect about 200 to 250 participants, including 60 to 70 international delegates and around 150 from Pakistan, among them experts, policymakers, diplomats, educators, researchers, UN agencies, development organisations and the space industry.

Satellites for early warnings

The conference, the organisers say, aims to advance the use of satellites, Earth observation and geospatial data to strengthen early warning systems, improve disaster risk assessment and support climate action.

A key focus is the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to protect communities and infrastructure from climate-driven disasters through effective early warnings. Discussions will also cover the role of space technology in monitoring water resources, agriculture, forests and environmental change.

The programme includes high-level dialogues, technical sessions, expert panels and presentations on disaster risk assessment, climate intelligence, geospatial technology and new tools such as GeoAI. Participants will look at how to shift disaster management from reacting to emergencies towards assessing risk, preparing and acting early. Young researchers and youth-led initiatives will also have a role in the programme.

The discussions are aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action.

Why it matters for Pakistan

For Pakistan, the conference is expected to strengthen national capacity to use space-based and geospatial information for early warnings and climate resilience, according to the organisers. Better tools for assessing flood, drought and heatwave risks can support better decisions, preparedness and protection of vulnerable communities.

By bringing together national and international experts, the organisers say the conference will also promote institutional collaboration, technical training and the practical use of satellite data in disaster management and climate planning, and reinforce Pakistan’s role in regional and international cooperation on space-based solutions.

The event closes on October 31 with a ceremony and a technical visit to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), where participants will see how Pakistan uses geospatial data, satellite monitoring and early warning tools.

A month of space news

Pakistan has been growing its space work. Suparco launched its first indigenously developed Earth observation satellite, EO-1, in January last year, according to its posts on X. Around the world, space agencies are also stepping up; NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 launched on October 1, and NASA’s Perseverance rover set a new driving record on Mars.