Many of today’s risks have already reached crisis levels, according to the inaugural report published by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). In a global survey conducted across 136 countries, 80 percent of respondents identified misinformation and disinformation as the most pressing threats. Inequality and geopolitical tensions followed as the second and third most cited risks.

“The report clearly highlights the critical role of communication,” said Prof. Dr. Thierry Girard, Vice President of the European Institute for Safe Communication (EISCOM), based in Switzerland. “Now more than ever, communication must be globally recognized as a safety factor and a fundamental prerequisite for societal resilience.”

In addition to highlighting the importance of safe communication, the EISCOM emphasizes the need for cross-border collaboration. The UN report underscores this point as well, noted Girard, who also serves as Deputy Head of Anesthesiology at the University Hospital Basel.

“If misinformation and disinformation are the greatest risks of our time, then cooperation is our strongest defense,” said EISC Founding President Prof. Dr. Annegret Hannawa.

The UN report was released just weeks before the Crisis Resilience Summit, where the EISCOM will bring together several dozen international experts from science, technology, politics, healthcare, and the media in Altdorf, Switzerland. From September 8 to 10, 2025, these professionals will develop actionable recommendations, guidelines, and frameworks to counter the threats posed by disinformation and polarization. Immediate pilot projects are planned to ensure the rapid implementation of these outcomes in real-world settings.