UNEA-7: India pushes global framework for wildfire prevention
Nairobi: A draft resolution led by India to strengthen the global response to the escalating threat of wildfires saw broad support at the seventh UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) on Monday.
UNEA, the world’s top decision-making body on the environment, kicked off its seventh session in Nairobi on Monday.
However, early disagreements reportedly emerged, primarily concerning financial support and the required integration of wildfire risk into national climate and biodiversity strategies.
The resolution, which has wide cross-regional backing, aims to formalize international cooperation on wildfire prevention, preparedness, and ecological recovery. This initiative is crucial given the dramatic increase in extreme fire events worldwide.
A joint report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Grid-Arendal, Spreading Like Wildfire, projects that landscape fires could increase by up to 50% by the end of the century, posing major risks to biodiversity, air quality, climate mitigation, and public health.
Key Sticking Points: Finance and National Policy
Despite the general consensus on the need for action, negotiations face two main hurdles. The first is Finance: The section on international financial support remains heavily debated. Delegations are split over how UNEA should reference aid, particularly the specific inclusion of mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund or other international financial institutions.
Disagreements also surround referencing nature credits, green bonds, and climate-linked finance. Furthermore, proposals for UNEP and the Global Fire Management Hub to help countries prepare finance-ready projects are bracketed, with some nations insisting this support must be provided strictly "upon request" and others arguing for specific assistance to developing countries in arid and semi-arid regions.
Developed nations are being urged to "continue and enhance mobilisation of financial resources" to assist developing nations, but this language also remains contentious, reflecting broader debates on differentiated responsibilities (CBDR).
The second is Policy Integration: India emphasized that collective action must be rooted in equity and national circumstances. This set the stage for negotiations where several countries expressed discomfort with prescriptive language that would mandate integrating wildfire risk reduction into existing national climate plans or biodiversity strategies.
Areas of Strong Consensus
Notwithstanding the concerns, there is broad agreement on the operational goals of the resolution, including: strengthened early warning systems, community-centred fire management approaches, regional cooperation on transboundary smoke and fire events, and recognition of Indigenous Peoples' knowledge in landscape stewardship.
A proposal for UNEP to develop a Global Framework for Forest Fire Management—covering risk mapping, satellite monitoring, rapid response, and capacity-building—was particularly well-received.
The Global Context
Wildfires destroy nearly 100 million hectares annually, damaging carbon sinks and threatening livelihoods, especially in developing countries.
The resolution seeks to correct the current imbalance where global spending is heavily skewed toward firefighting rather than prevention and resilience-building.
The issue is acute in countries like India, which recorded over 2.38 lakh fire alerts in 2024–25, including a 56% surge in Maharashtra alone.
Negotiators remain optimistic about the resolution's adoption, provided that compromises can be reached on the specific wording of financial support and the mandate for linking wildfire governance to climate and biodiversity planning.