The NinthABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention (CADP-2025) will be held from November 25–27 at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo.

Organised by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and hosted by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), it will be the largest international media event in Sri Lanka this year, bringing together delegates from over 35 countries.

Delegates will include high-level representatives from major broadcasters such as NHK (Japan), CMG (China), ABC (Australia), Doordarshan (India), TRT (Turkey), and RTM (Malaysia). They will join Sri Lankan broadcaster experts and other key stakeholders in climate communication and disaster preparedness.

With climate disasters on the rise, the role of the media is shifting from reporters of tragedy to partners in resilience. SLRC believes that hosting CADP-2025 is both an honour and a privilege for Sri Lanka.The Summit logo, website, and the mascot were launched at a ceremony held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on Septmber 30.

The Summit theme, ‘Building Resilience through Media: For a Cleaner, Greener and Safer Tomorrow’, highlights how media can go beyond daily reporting to play a proactive role in safeguarding communities. Key features of the programme include:

• Launch of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (DPRP) Model for Media, supported by UNESCO.
• High-level keynote addresses and thematic panels on disaster communication and climate action.
• Training workshops for journalists to build practical skills in disaster reporting.
• The ABU Climate Change and DRR Awards Ceremony.

Since its inception in 2014 in Jakarta, the CADP Summit has been hosted by countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Fiji, Nepal, and the Maldives. The initiative was born after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which claimed over 227,000 lives across 14 countries, underscoring the urgent need for stronger media engagement in disaster preparedness.

CADP-2025 in Colombo will spotlight Sri Lanka’s commitment to resilience and climate communication, while also promoting the nation as a sustainable tourism destination. A closing declaration will outline a regional roadmap for media cooperation in disaster risk reduction and climate action.