Wildfires To Rise 14 Pc By 2030: UN

New York, Feb 23: The UN Environment Programme on Wednesday said the number of wildfires globally may grow by 14 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2100. It called on the international community to focus on preventative rather than response measures. The report was prepared jointly with the GRID-Arendal climate non-profit ahead of the UN Environment Assembly later this month.

“Climate change and land-use change are projected to make wildfires more frequent and intense, with a global increase of extreme fires of up to 14 per cent by 2030, 30 per cent by the end of 2050 and 50 per cent by the end of the century,” the UN agency said. It called on governments to shift their investments from “reaction and response to prevention and preparedness”.