UN-backed report warns of rising wildfire threat |
Research shows that even the Arctic and other areas previously unaffected by wildfires face increased risk.
The authors call for a radical change in government response, with a focus on prevention and preparedness.
Support and investment
They say that nowadays, money is often misplaced.
“Emergency service workers and frontline firefighters who are risking their lives fighting bushfires need support. We must reduce the risk of extreme wildfires by being better prepared: investing more in fire risk reduction, working with local communities and strengthening our global commitment to combating change climate, “ Inger Andersen said, UNEP Managing director.
Report, titled Spread like wildfire: The growing threat of unusual landscape fires, was announced ahead of the continuing session of the United Nations Environment Council in Nairobi, Kenya, next week.
Representatives from 193 countries will attend.
Health and wildlife affected
Wildfires disproportionately affect the world’s poorest countries, with effects that linger long after the flames subside – hindering progress towards sustainable development and deepening social inequalities .
Smoke from wildfires directly affects people’s health, for example, causing respiratory and cardiovascular effects, while rebuilding costs can be beyond the capabilities of low-income countries.
Wildlife, as well as natural habitats, are also rarely spared. Wildfires have even pushed some plant and animal species close to extinction. The 2020 Australian bushfires are estimated to have wiped out billions of wild and domesticated animals.
Climate Link
According to the report, wildfires and climate change are “together exacerbating”.
“Wildfires are made worse by climate change through increased droughts, high air temperatures, low relative humidity, lightning and strong winds leading to hotter, drier fire seasons,” UNEP said. and last longer”.
“At the same time, climate change is made worse by wildfires, primarily by devastating carbon-rich and sensitive ecosystems such as peatlands and rainforests. This turns landscapes into tinder boxes, making it harder to prevent temperatures from rising.”
The report highlights the critical need to better understand the behavior of wildfires. Prevention calls for a combination of science-based data and surveillance systems with indigenous knowledge, and for stronger international and regional cooperation.
‘Fire-ready recipe’
Governments are encouraged to adopt the so-called “Fire Readiness Formula”, which calls for two-thirds of spending to be spent on planning, prevention, preparedness and recovery – and one-third to respond.
Currently, bushfire direct response operations receive more than half of the associated costs, with less than one percent allocated to planning and prevention, according to the report.
The authors go on to call for stronger international standards for the safety and health of firefighters and to reduce the threats they face on the job.
This includes raising awareness of the risks of inhaling secondhand smoke, reducing their exposure to life-threatening substances, and providing them with adequate access to water, nutrition, rest and recovery between shifts.