Climate and land use change will make fires ever more frequent and intense, with global wildfires increasing by up to 14% by 2030, 30% by the end of 2050 and even 50% by the end of century.
This is what emerges from a new report by the United Nations Environment Program (Unep) and the Norwegian partner Grid-Arendal in view of the UN assembly on the environment.
This analysis, the report reads, suggests "a radical change in public spending on fires, shifting investments to prevention, but governments are unprepared".
The report also notes a high risk for the Arctic and other regions not affected by fires so far. (Unioneonline / L)
