More than 370 experts from governments, statistical agencies, financial institutions and international organizations have come together to strengthen the way countries collect and use data on disasters, climate risks and economic losses.

The discussions focused on turning disaster statistics into practical information that governments and financial institutions can use to prepare for hazards, assess vulnerabilities and improve investment decisions.

The international meeting brought together statisticians, disaster-risk managers, geospatial specialists, meteorological experts, finance ministries, central banks and other organizations working with disaster-related information.

More Than 370 Experts Involved

The participation of more than 370 specialists highlights the growing importance of reliable disaster data in international policymaking.

Disaster statistics are no longer viewed only as information for emergency agencies. Governments and financial institutions increasingly need detailed data showing where risks are concentrated, how communities are exposed and what economic damage disasters can cause.

Such information can help authorities identify vulnerable areas and strengthen prevention measures before disasters occur.

New Global Framework

A major focus of the discussions was the implementation of the Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework, which was endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission earlier in 2026.

The framework is designed to provide countries with a common approach for producing and organizing disaster-related statistics.

Its implementation is now moving from the development stage toward practical application at national and regional levels.

Countries have been encouraged to build on their existing statistical and institutional systems rather than create completely separate data structures.

Measuring More Than Disaster Events

Modern disaster statistics increasingly go beyond simply recording when and where an event occurred.

Authorities need information about the number of people exposed, levels of vulnerability, damage to infrastructure, economic losses and the longer-term effects on communities.

For example, information on damaged housing, transport networks, agricultural production and public infrastructure can help governments calculate the broader consequences of a disaster.

Better information can also help identify where prevention and resilience investments could have the greatest impact.

Growing Role of Financial Institutions

The involvement of finance ministries, central banks and financial regulators was an important part of the international discussions.

Disasters can create substantial fiscal and financial pressures.

Governments may face higher spending requirements for emergency response, reconstruction and social assistance, while businesses and financial institutions can face physical and economic risks.

Reliable disaster statistics can therefore support fiscal planning, investment decisions and assessments of financial stability.

Connecting Climate and Disaster Data

The discussions also highlighted the connection between disaster statistics and climate-related information.

Climate change can influence the frequency, intensity or geographic distribution of some hazards, making reliable statistical systems increasingly important.

Connecting disaster data with climate statistics, environmental accounts, national accounts and infrastructure information can provide a more comprehensive picture of risk.

This integrated approach can help policymakers understand not only individual disasters but also longer-term changes in exposure and vulnerability.

International Cooperation

The development of consistent disaster statistics requires cooperation between countries and international organizations.

Different countries have historically used different definitions, collection methods and reporting systems, making international comparisons difficult.

A common framework can help improve consistency while allowing countries to adapt statistical systems to their own circumstances.

International organizations are also expected to support countries through methodological guidance, technical assistance, capacity building and the exchange of experience.

From Data to Decisions

One of the central themes emerging from the discussions is that collecting data is only the first step.

The information must ultimately be converted into evidence that can support decisions.

Governments can use disaster statistics to improve preparedness, identify infrastructure priorities and assess potential economic consequences.

Financial institutions can use the same information when considering physical risks and investment exposure.

This makes disaster statistics relevant across multiple areas of public policy.

Building More Resilient Systems

The international effort comes as governments face increasingly complex disaster and climate risks.

Accurate information can help countries move from responding to disasters after they occur toward identifying and reducing risks beforehand.

The new global framework provides a common foundation for this work, while national statistical agencies and other institutions will be responsible for putting it into practice.

The Road Ahead

The next phase will focus on implementation, capacity building and further development of methods for producing disaster-related statistics.

International partners will continue working together to help countries strengthen their statistical systems and connect disaster information with wider climate, environmental and economic data.

The latest global discussions underline a simple but increasingly important principle: better disaster data can lead to better risk decisions.

As governments seek to protect communities, infrastructure and economies from future hazards, reliable statistics are becoming an essential part of global disaster-risk management.