India pushes for Global Collaboration for Wildfire Prevention

India’s resolution on ‘Strengthening the Global Management of Wildfires’ was today adopted at the 7th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya. The resolution, moved by India, received broad support from Member States, reaffirming global recognition of the urgent need to address the rising threat of wildfires worldwide.

India emphasised that wildfires are among the most pressing environmental challenges globally, and the resolution aimed to strengthen international cooperation and coordinated action in wildfire prevention and management.

The resolution highlighted that regions worldwide are seeing a steady rise in the number, scale, and intensity of wildfires, which were once limited to seasonal occurrences. Wildfires have become more frequent and prolonged, driven by climate change, rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and human activities.

Each year, millions of hectares of land are affected by fires, causing enormous destruction to forests, biodiversity, water resources, soil health, air quality, and livelihoods. Wildfires also release significant greenhouse gases, weaken carbon sinks, and heavily impact forest-dependent communities and national economies.

India highlighted UNEP’s global report ‘Spreading Like Wildfire’, which warns that wildfires could increase by 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by 2100 if current trends continue.

These projections, India stressed, make it clear that wildfires are a long-term, climate-driven global risk that requires urgent, coordinated international action. India emphasised the need to shift from a reactive response to proactive prevention through better planning, early warning, and timely risk-reduction measures.

The global approach, India stated, is now moving toward Integrated Fire Management, anchored in early warning systems, risk mapping, and satellite-based monitoring, through the collective efforts of local communities and frontline personnel.

India underscored the critical role of UNEP in helping countries strengthen wildfire prevention and adaptation, develop integrated fire management strategies, and undertake ecosystem restoration.

The Global Fire Management Hub, established in 2023 by FAO and UNEP, was recognised as a key mechanism to support international efforts.

Key Provisions of India’s Resolution

The resolution aims to reinforce ongoing global activities under the Global Fire Management Hub and calls for:

• Strengthened International Cooperation: Development of early warning systems, risk assessment tools, and satellite- and ground-based ecosystem monitoring, besides promotion of community-based alert mechanisms.
• Enhanced Regional and Global Collaboration: Mechanisms supporting prevention, post-response recovery, and ecosystem restoration.
• Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: Creation of platforms for best practices, along with training and capacity-building programmes for stakeholders.
• Support for National and Regional Action Plans: Assistance to Member States in developing and implementing integrated fire management and wildfire resilience strategies.
• Facilitating Access to International Finance: Support to Member States in preparation of project proposals to access funding through multilateral mechanisms and results-based schemes.

India reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with UNEP, Member States, and international partners to strengthen global preparedness, prevention, and resilience amid escalating wildfire risks.