India’s proposal to strengthen global wildfire management gained overwhelming support at the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Member nations endorsed the initiative and confirmed the urgent need to tackle the growing threat of wildfires worldwide.
India emphasised that wildfires have become one of the most serious environmental challenges. The proposal reinforces international cooperation and promotes coordinated action for wildfire management. At the same time, India highlighted that the frequency, scale, and intensity of wildfires have increased across regions due to climate change, rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and human activities.
Each year, fires damage millions of hectares of land and cause severe losses to forests, biodiversity, water resources, soil health, air quality, and livelihoods. Wildfires release massive amounts of greenhouse gases, weaken carbon sinks, and disrupt communities and national economies.
India drew attention to UNEP’s global report Spreading Like Wildfire, which warns that wildfire incidents could rise by 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by 2100 if current trends continue. Therefore, India urged immediate international action and stressed the need to shift from reactive responses to proactive prevention through better planning, early warning, and timely risk reduction.
Furthermore, India underscored the importance of integrated fire management, combining early warning systems, risk mapping, satellite-based monitoring, and community participation. The country also highlighted UNEP’s role in helping nations strengthen wildfire response capacity, develop strategies, and restore ecosystems.
The proposal calls for stronger global collaboration under the Global Fire Management Hub, established by FAO and UNEP in 2023. Specifically, it seeks to enhance early warning systems, promote regional cooperation, facilitate knowledge exchange, support national action plans, and improve access to international financing.
Finally, India reaffirmed its commitment to work with UNEP, member states, and international partners to strengthen preparedness, prevention, and global strategies against the rising threat of wildfires.
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