Context:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called on global governments to adopt a new ‘Fire Ready Formula,’ as it warned that incidences of wildfires would rise in the future.
Relevance:
GS III- Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Fire Ready Formula
- Need of such Formula
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
About Fire Ready Formula
The new formula envisages that 66 per cent of spending be devoted to planning, prevention, preparedness and recovery. The remaining 34 per cent can be spent on response.
New “Fire Ready Formula” focuses on planning and prevention
| Serial No | Budget item | Percentage share of the total on wildfire management recommended |
| 1 | Planning | 1 % |
| 2 | Prevention | 32 % |
| 3 | Preparedness | 13 % |
| 4 | Response | 34 % |
| 5 | Recovery | 20 % |
Source: UNEP report
Need of such Formula:
- 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 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 Fire Ready Formula could help in achieving these goals, according to the UNEP.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a leading global environmental authority established in 1972 and Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
- It sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for global environment protection.
The UNEP Publishes:
- Emission Gap Report,
- Global Environment Outlook,
- Frontiers,
- Invest into Healthy Planet.
-Source: Down to Earth
