A wildfire in southern California

Integrated wildfire management was key to adapting to current and future changes in global wildfire risk, the UNEP said in its report released jointly with non-profit GRID-Arendal February 23.

There was a need to invest more in fire risk reduction, work with local communities and strengthen global commitment to fight climate change, the report said.

Achieving and sustaining adaptive land and fire management requires a combination of policies, a legal framework and incentives that encourage appropriate land and fire use, UNEP said.

The report was released ahead of the resumed 5th session of the UN Environment Assembly or UNEA-5.2).

The UNEP has called for strengthening international and regional cooperation on wildfires. Development of an international standard for wildfire management has also been recommended.

This will facilitate international cooperation and help all wildfire-prone countries build capacity for both domestic application and international assistance, it said.

Ocean of flame

The UNEP report also projected that the number of wildfires is likely to increase by up to 14 per cent by 2030. It is projected to spike by 33 per cent by 2050. It would rise by 52 per cent by 2100.

The prevalence and behaviour of wildfires is changing due to numerous factors including, but not limited to, climate change. The UNEP report said this citing the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.

Change in land-use and land management practices are also responsible for the increasing risks of wildfires.

An increase in damaging wildfires may reverse or delay progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Agreement and Sendai targets, the UNEP said.

The changing scale and intensity of wildfires may especially impact achievements in developing countries, across several of the SDGs that impact human health and well-being. These include the SDG goals to end hunger, poverty and the goal on climate action too.

The true cost of wildfires — financial, social, and environmental — extends for days, weeks, and even years after the flames subside, the UNEP said.

Eliminating the risk of wildfires was not possible. But much could be done to manage and reduce risks, it said.

However, the direct responses to wildfires received over half of related expenditures, while planning and prevention received just 0.2 per cent of the total budget for wildfires.

So, the current government responses to wildfires often put money in the wrong place, Inger Andersen, UNEP executive director in a statement, said.

The Fire Ready Formula could help in achieving these goals, according to the UNEP.