GCRI · Six programme regions
Cross-border risk systems
The most consequential risks often cross borders through systems no country controls alone: river basins, power grids, trade corridors, marine chokepoints, health surveillance and digital connectivity. The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI) coordinates shared-system missions. They are designed to make evidence compatible across countries while each keeps its data, authority and decisions. Part of Six programme regions.
01Contents
Cross-border risk systems in four parts.
02System types
The dependencies regional work examines.
| System | Examples in the regional programmes |
|---|---|
| River basins | Nile, Niger, Congo and Zambezi; Indus, Ganges-Brahmaputra and Mekong; Danube, Rhine and Central Asian rivers; Amazon and Andean systems; Great Lakes, Colorado and Rio Grande |
| Power grids | Regional power pools in Africa, interconnected power and gas networks in Europe, integrated electricity across North America, island grids in the Caribbean |
| Corridors | Trade and mineral corridors, continental and Middle Corridor logistics, semiconductor networks, the Panama Canal and continental supply chains |
| Marine systems | Maritime chokepoints and hub ports in Asia, strategic straits and canals in the Middle East |
| Health | Cross-border surveillance, laboratory and logistics dependencies; extreme heat and public health |
| Digital | Subsea and terrestrial connectivity, data centres and compute, island connectivity |
03Geography
Hazards and exposure worldwide.
Population density, flood water and active fires across the world, from NASA GIBS. Each layer carries its own date.
The interactive map needs JavaScript; the layer list and sources are below.
Layers 3
Hazards and exposure, for this page
About this layer
- Evidence
- Estimated
- Source
- Gridded Population of the World v4.11 (NASA SEDAC (CIESIN, Columbia University))
- Provider
- NASA SEDAC (CIESIN, Columbia University)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Vintage
- null; Census-based estimate, static (2020)
- Resolution
- about 1 km grid
- Uncertainty
- Census-based estimate of people per square kilometre in 2020, shown as exposure context; not a count of people affected by any hazard.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Observed (clouds leave gaps)
- Source
- VIIRS Global Flood Product (NASA LANCE)
- Provider
- NASA LANCE
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- daily; Satellite detection; clouds leave gaps
- Newest at build
- 2026-10-14
- Resolution
- about 250 m grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite detection; clouds leave gaps. Satellite or model raster as the provider publishes it. Clouds, swath gaps and retrieval error leave gaps and noise; values are indicators, not measurements at a place.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Observed (clouds and overpass timing leave gaps)
- Source
- VIIRS NOAA-20 375 m (FIRMS) (NASA LANCE FIRMS)
- Provider
- NASA LANCE FIRMS
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- daily; Satellite detection; clouds and overpass timing leave gaps
- Newest at build
- 2026-10-13
- Resolution
- about 500 m grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite hot-spot detections for the day shown, including gas flares and industrial heat; not a confirmed fire, an incident report or a warning.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Observed
- Source
- VIIRS NOAA-20 corrected reflectance (NASA LANCE)
- Provider
- NASA LANCE
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- daily; Satellite image
- Newest at build
- 2026-10-14
- Resolution
- about 250 m grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite image. Satellite or model raster as the provider publishes it. Clouds, swath gaps and retrieval error leave gaps and noise; values are indicators, not measurements at a place.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Observed (persistent cloud still leaves gaps)
- Source
- VIIRS NOAA-20 Level 3, 8-day (NASA LANCE)
- Provider
- NASA LANCE
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- 8-day; Satellite 8-day composite; persistent cloud still leaves gaps
- Newest at build
- 2026-09-14
- Resolution
- about 1 km grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite skin temperature of the ground over the 8 days ending on the date shown, a heat exposure indicator; not air temperature, heat index or a heat warning.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Modelled (latest year GIBS publishes)
- Source
- MODIS Terra and Aqua land cover (MCD12Q1) (NASA LP DAAC)
- Provider
- NASA LP DAAC
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- yearly; Satellite classification; latest year GIBS publishes
- Newest at build
- 2024-01-01
- Resolution
- about 500 m grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite land cover classes for the year shown, including croplands; a classification with known errors, not a farm register.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
Keyboard, with the map focused
Hold Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll to zoom
Latest available
NASA GIBS / EOSDIS · ASTER GDEM (METI, NASA) · Blue Marble (NASA) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Natural Earth
Loading the latest NASA imagery.
Drag to move. Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll, pinch or the buttons to zoom; hover for the values under the pointer; reset returns to the region.
Hazards and exposure, framed on the world.Satellite and model products as NASA publishes them, each with its own date. They are indicators, not assessments of any place.
Data: NASA GIBS · ASTER GDEM · Blue Marble · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Natural Earth · NASA EONET · U.S. Geological Survey · NASA JPL OPERA DIST-ALERTSources and licences
- We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA’s Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA’s Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University. 2018. Gridded Population of the World, Version 4 (GPWv4): Population Density, Revision 11. NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). doi:10.7927/H49C6VHW. CC BY 4.0
- VIIRS near-real-time products (flood, land surface temperature, snow cover, corrected reflectance), NASA LANCE; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), VIIRS 375 m active fire product, NASA LANCE; vector tiles via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- MODIS land products (vegetation indices, gross primary production, land cover), NASA LP DAAC and LANCE; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- ASTER GDEM is a product of METI and NASA (ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003, NASA LP DAAC); imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). Cite as: NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Spacesystems and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team (2019). ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003. doi:10.5067/ASTER/ASTGTM.003. NASA open data
- Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com. Public domain
- © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via NASA GIBS (coastlines, boundaries, roads and place names). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). ODbL
- Blue Marble, NASA Earth Observatory; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into hexagonal cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- Context on the globe and flat map: coastlines, boundaries, roads and place names from NASA GIBS reference layers (OpenStreetMap data, ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors); Blue Marble imagery as an optional base; 3D terrain and the elevation read-out from the ASTER GDEM elevation colour index (5 m to 200 m classes, exaggerated for legibility). Boundaries are drawn as published and imply no position on any territory.
- Live events: NASA Earth Observatory Natural Event Tracker (EONET); events are indicative and keep their original source links.
- Live: NASA EONET Events are indicative, not authority warnings.
- Live: U.S. Geological Survey Events are indicative, not authority warnings.
- Observed (EO): NASA JPL OPERA DIST-ALERT (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2026). We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA’s Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS).
- NASA GIBS: We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA’s Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS).
- River discharge forecast, 30 days with range (GloFAS via Open-Meteo): Contains modified Copernicus Emergency Management Service information 2026; not a flood warning.
- Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (https://open-meteo.com/), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Optional layers (11 sources in the layer list: live, forecast, observed and context) print their provider credit on the map and here when switched on; forecasts are model output and derived indices are estimates.
Layers and dates
- Population density, 2020: Population: CIESIN, Columbia University, Gridded Population of the World v4.11 (2018), NASA SEDAC, CC BY 4.0 · static
- Flood water, 3-day composite: VIIRS Global Flood Product, NASA LANCE · 14 Oct 2026
- Active fires and thermal anomalies: VIIRS NOAA-20 375 m (FIRMS), NASA LANCE FIRMS · 13 Oct 2026
- True colour: VIIRS NOAA-20 corrected reflectance, NASA LANCE · 13 Oct 2026
- Land surface temperature, day, 8-day composite: VIIRS NOAA-20 Level 3, 8-day, NASA LANCE · 14 Sep 2026
- Land cover type (IGBP), yearly: MODIS Terra and Aqua land cover (MCD12Q1), NASA LP DAAC · 2024
04Method
How a shared-system mission works.
- 01
Qualify scopes
Partner scopes and data agreements are qualified before any work starts.
- 02
Map dependencies
Basin, energy, logistics, health, digital or trade dependencies are mapped with stated assumptions.
- 03
Analyse locally
Where data cannot move, analysis runs where the data sits and only governed outputs are compared.
- 04
Compare and preserve dissent
Findings are compared across parties, and disagreements are kept in the record.
- 05
Separate decisions
Each recipient takes its own decision; a joint evidence brief never binds a party.
05Governance and structure
How the institution is governed.
Governance
Technical office and Secretariat
Consortium · Governance · Research · Platforms · Programme year · Foundry · Standards · Reports · Take part · Foundry year · Reports year · Handoffs · Contributed capacity · Programme states · Records · Report streams · The programme year · A national mission · Mission admission · Data and resources qualified · Build accepted for exercise · Action Week live operation · Stand-down and evidence sealed · Publication authorised · Correction and renewal · The Nexus cycle · National Nexus · Regional programmes · Working groups · Competence Cells and CERT · Joining as institution · Governance dialogues · Platform onboarding · Foundry builds · Labs · Reports · Standards adoption · Risk Academy · Index data intake · Finance readiness dossier · The Nexus Consortium · Twenty-seven phase cycle · Executable annual cycle · Complaint and appeal · Engineering change · Incident response and forensics · Provider exit and decommissioning · De-risking case handoff · Founding and institutional establishment · Consortium formation lifecycle · National Nexus formation · Constitutional amendment · Independent review and appeal · Correction and contestability · Body charter and council · Succession · Public interest and anti-capture · External authority hand-off · Funding · Ethics · Public transparency · Data stewardship and trust · Gates G0 to G7 · Forming the annual agenda · Adopting a Nexus Standard · NNC membership · Year-One leadership pathway · Working-group assignment by competence · National company and SPV · Public-authority interface and delegation · Annual Universe operating cycle · Provider qualification
GCRI is one institution working through two organisations, with GCRI Canada as Lead Institution, Consortium Secretariat and lead contracting organisation.
01 Two organisations
- 01GCRI CanadaStart · Canadian not-for-profit, OntarioLead Institution, Consortium Secretariat and lead contracting organisation.
- 02GCRI USStart · A separate organisationGCRI’s United States institution, with its own legal identity and responsibilities.
02 Secretariat and office
- 03Consortium SecretariatStep · GCRI CanadaCoordinates the programme and routes correspondence to the regional and country desks.
- 04Universe technical officeStep · GCRIScoping, qualification, the Core build, exercise control, evidence capture and closeout.
03 Roles of record
- 05Standards SecretariatRecord · GCRI CanadaGCRI Canada is Secretariat and publisher of record of the Nexus Standards.
- 06Academy issuer of recordRecord · GCRI CanadaNo credential is issued until the method, signing key and revocation path are on record.
- 07Reports publisherRecord · GCRIGCRI publishes Reports. The Global Risks Forum (GRF) authorises publication at G6.
04 Limit
- 08Never regulates, certifies, licenses or approvesGate · GCRIFindings carry their methods and uncertainty. GCRI decides for no one.
- 09Authority decidesOutcome · The competent authorityDecisions and execution stay with the government, operator or licensed institution.
GCRI · GCRI Canada · GCRI USAn outline of how the work is designed to run; it does not report the status of any decision or record.
06Outputs
What a mission is designed to deliver.
- A shared-system profile
- A compatible data and method interface
- A cross-border scenario
- A joint evidence brief
- Separate, attributable recipient decisions
07Boundaries
Federation without transfer of authority.
Shared-system work creates no treaty, customs arrangement, sovereignty transfer or right to move data. No regional body binds a country. Withdrawal never erases other parties’ lawful work. Regional organisations, basin and corridor bodies and United Nations regional commissions take part under their own instruments. The governance view: The Global Risks Forum (GRF), Shared risks across borders. The financial view: The Global Risks Alliance (GRA), Regional programmes. See also Systemic and cascading risks.
08Questions
Questions and answers.
Does a shared-system mission require data to leave a country?
No. Where data cannot move, analysis runs locally and only governed outputs are compared.
Who can propose a mission?
Regional organisations, basin or corridor bodies, or several national programmes together. Write to the contact form.
Are any shared-system missions running now?
No mission is recorded as active. Information and enquiries are open today.
The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation
Bring a method, a dataset or a question.
Information and enquiries are open today. An enquiry receives a reference and names the next step; applications, payments, compute allocations and registrations open only when their team, terms and review capacity exist.
Legal
Legal documents.
Maps, data and figures on this site are shown for context and general information. They are not advice, forecasts or warnings; the limits of the information are set out in the Disclaimers and Data Notices.