The Silk Road, tracing back from the Han Dynasty (207 BC ‐ 220 AD), traverses more than 70 countries and affects some 4.4 billion people (63% of the world). For centuries, the Silk Road has played an essential role in connecting the East and the West, through the exchange of trade, science, technology, culture and civilization. However, this area also suffers natural hazards that are being exacerbated by climate change. This presents challenges for implementing disaster risk reduction and achieving sustainable development. These challenges include the lack of baseline data and capacity and tools for data collection, sharing and analysis, as well as the absence of science‐based risk assessments and mitigation countermeasures, among others. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established in 2015, and emphasize the need to understand the underlying factors causing disaster risk. They also promote international cooperation in disaster risk reduction and sustainable development globally including high-risk areas such as along the Silk Road. Resilience against disasters must be enhanced and international platforms for joint research and information sharing within the field are imperative.
To support the role of science and technology, the International Conference on Silk‐road Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development with the theme: “Towards Safe, Green,  and Resilient Silk Road” was held in Beijing on 11‐12 May 2019. It was co‐hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the Alliance of International Science Organization (ANSO). The conference brought together about 700 senior researchers and academics, policy  ‐makers, practitioners, universities and institution leaders, organizations and private sectors from over 40 countries to discuss means of strengthening science‐based disaster risk reduction and SDGs.