The 2025 edition of UNESCO’s World Radio Day is dedicated to the theme of “Radio and Climate Change”, highlighting how indispensable radio is to ensure public safety, keeping communities informed and protected in the face of natural disasters and extreme weather events.
Radios inform, entertain and educate their audience. During natural disasters like devastating floods, deadly wildfires and earthquakes fuelled by the worsening climate crisis, radio is the first, and often the only remaining tool to inform and support the public.
During emergencies and natural disasters, the population can rely on broadcast radio to freely access trustworthy, high-quality information, anytime and anywhere, even via small, inexpensive, battery-powered radio receivers. Radio has proven fast, agile and effective to spread information widely in critical situations.
In their role to deliver trusted and lifesaving information, commercial radios bare burdensome public value obligations and are therefore in no position to compete with other market players for spectrum. Securing spectrum in the future, which is needed for the terrestrial distribution of broadcast content, is of paramount importance.
Luka Đurić, AER Vice-President and Director of the Croatian Radio Forum comments: “Broadcast radio has proven to be one of the most reliable sources of information in times of crisis in Croatia, both during the Homeland War in the ‘90s and after the recent earthquakes. Its accessibility, independence from internet or mobile networks, and its ability to quickly reach a large number of people make it an essential communication tool in emergency situations.
Following the devastating earthquakes, when mobile networks were overloaded or down, people turned to radio in their cars to stay informed. This highlights the continued importance of traditional broadcasting, especially in disaster scenarios where digital infrastructure may fail. The resilience of radio ensures that critical information reaches those in need, reinforcing its role as a vital public service.
Today, on World Radio Day we celebrate how vital radio is in times of climate crisis and environmental disasters, a source of information that you trust and a lifeline that keeps you safe.”
Daniela Beaujean, Vice-president of the AER and Managing Director of VAUNET – Verband Privater Medien adds: “During the severe floodings in Germany in 2021, radio played a vital role in warning and informing the population.
In Germany radio reaches 90% of the population and 75% listen to radio daily. Radio is still a true mass medium with a special approach and proximity to listeners when it comes to information and content with social and public value. That is why it is important that all distribution channels for radio (FM, DAB and IP) stay available for broadcasters – in order to reach their audiences on a daily basis and especially in times of such crisis and catastrophes.”
For more information, please contact aer(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aereurope.org.