Skip to main content

Emerging trends in global resilience: launch of the 2026 World Risk Poll Resilience Index

Understanding Risk Global Forum 2027: Road to Abu Dhabi

Date

This event starts on

Time

This event lasts from 12:00 - 18:00 (Europe/London)

Location and Format

The Lloyd’s Register Building, London, and online

Event type

Conference

To mark the UN’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, and as part of the ‘Road to Abu Dhabi’ series of convenings leading up to the Understanding Risk Global Forum in May 2027, this free hybrid event will launch the 2026 World Risk Poll Resilience Index.

Register now

Overview

Since 2021, the World Risk Poll Resilience Index has provided a unique resource for understanding the resilience and vulnerabilities of countries and communities around the world, in the face of natural hazards, climate change-related disasters and other shocks.

Built using data from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll spanning 140 countries, the Index measures resilience at four levels – individual, household, community, and societal – providing the most holistic assessment of resilience available at a global level.

Now in its third edition, the 2026 Resilience Index is starting to reveal the key trends shaping global resilience, the factors behind those trends, and insights that point to solutions.

To mark the UN’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, and as part of the ‘Road to Abu Dhabi’ series of convenings leading up to the Understanding Risk Global Forum in May 2027, this free hybrid event will:

  • Launch the 2026 World Risk Poll Resilience Index revealing the trends shaping global resilience across the past five years, and how these are affecting different countries, communities and demographic groups.
  • Discuss the factors driving these changes, as well as the solutions needed to both address the vulnerabilities and capitalise on the strengths highlighted.  
  • Take a deep-dive into the latest World Risk Poll data on the coverage of disaster early warning systems, alongside a new systematic review into the effectiveness of these systems as a key enabler of resilience.
  • Explore current activities to develop and scale capability in understanding climate and disaster risk, which underpins evidence-based design and investment in physical, social and financial resilience.

This event will be of interest to anyone – including researchers, policymakers, companies and civil society actors – working to improve the resilience of countries, communities and systems in an increasingly volatile world

Session 1: Emerging trends in global resilience

Panel discussion: launch of the 2026 World Risk Poll Resilience Index; discussing the trends shaping global resilience, the factors behind them, and how to address vulnerabilities and scale solutions.

Speakers
  • Nancy Hey OBE, Director of Evidence and Insight, Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Safety Evidence Centre
  • Fitse Gelaye, Resilience Practice Lead and Head for Africa, Resilient Cities Network
  • Marcos Concepcion Raba, Executive Director, Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR)

Session 2: Early warnings for all: what works, and who gets left behind 

Panel discussion: what the World Risk Poll and a new systematic review tell us about the coverage and effectiveness of disaster early warning systems in the countdown to the UN’s 2027 deadline.

Moderator: Professor Carina Fearnley, Director, UCL Warning Research Centre.

Speakers
  • Dr Elizabeth Adjoa Kumah, Reviews and Synthesis Lead, Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Safety Evidence Centre
  • Dr Andrew Tupper, Chief, Early Warning Services Section, World Meteorological Organization
  • Caroline Zastiral, Acting Global Lead for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience, IFRC
  • Loretta Hieber Girardet, Chief of Risk Knowledge, Monitoring and Capacity Development, UNDRR (TBC)
  • Vanessa Gray, Head of Climate and Emergency Telecommunications, International Telecommunication Union (TBC)

Session 3: Understanding Risk: advances in technology and expertise to underpin resilience

Panel discussion: Exploring current activities to develop and scale capability in understanding climate and disaster risk, which underpins evidence-based design and investment in physical, social and financial resilience.

Speakers

TBC

Speakers

Drinks reception, including disaster risk game ‘Busy Mayors’

The panel sessions will be followed by a networking drinks reception, which will feature an exclusive preview of what to expect at the Understanding Risk Global Forum in Abu Dhabi in May 2027, as well as an interactive disaster risk game session – ‘Busy Mayors’ – led by designer and risk consultant David Finnigan. 

On a quiet peninsula in south-east Asia, a small town is about to hold elections. The local mayor is busy on the campaign trail, doing everything possible to win voters. But out in the ocean, a tropical depression is strengthening into a historic storm, headed straight for the coast and due to arrive on election day… 
 
Busy Mayors is a fast-paced game exploring climate risk and decision-making under uncertainty. Playing as the local government of a small town, participants must make tough decisions in a fast-changing context to keep their community from erupting into chaos. 
 
Developed with the Earth Observatory Singapore and presented by game designer David Finnigan, Busy Mayors is a flight simulator for policymakers, training the muscles needed for leadership in uncertain times.

Agenda

12:00

Registration & welcome lunch 

13:00

Session 1: Emerging trends in global resilience 

14:00

Tea/coffee break 

14:15

Session 2: Early warnings for all: what works, and who gets left behind 

15:15

Tea/coffee break 

15:30

Session 3: Understanding Risk: advances in technology and expertise to underpin resilience

16:30

Drinks reception, including disaster risk game ‘Busy Mayors’

18:00

Event closes 

Related Content