Topic:
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Muskan Rekhani
United Nations Development Programme
Fire Prevention and Response
Federal Republic of Germany
Muskan Rekhani
Forest Hills Eastern
Wildfires and uncontrolled fires are becoming a greater and greater problem and must be managed. First, they cause instant destruction locally. They destroy land, property, and lives and it is only getting worse with global warming. However, it is not just damaged in that one area but fires cause international problems. Fires in one area can send smoke across international borders and ultimately increase greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a non-profit organization that has the purpose of eliminating death, injury, economic, and property loss due to fires. They do this by minimizing the risk and effects of fire by establishing criteria for building, processing, design, service, and installation around the world. Their Fire Sprinkler Initiative encourages the use of fire sprinklers at home by increasing awareness of them and adopting local model or ordinance codes. Their Firewise Communities program is all about local solutions involving homeowners, community leaders, developers, planners, firefighters, and many more.
Fire destruction is an issue in Germany. For example, in 2018 there were 1,708 forest fires which is 4 times as many as there were in 2017. So far in 2021 14,000 square meters of land were burned and the most square meters of land they ever had burned was 150,000 square meters. Germany has a rule that if an area has a population greater than 80,000-100,000 people, they are required to have a professional fire-fighting force. If the area is smaller they must have volunteer forces or a full-time force. This is becoming a problem however because the number of their volunteers is dropping. While this system is effective, these fire forces suffer from labor shortages. Although Germany may have struggles in the future right now in the present they can help others. For example, they helped Greece in times of fire destruction recently by sending 221 rescue workers. The German government has spoken out about Brazil’s fire program before. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Brazil needs to call for international action to protect the Amazon rainforest because it is needed for our whole globe.
Germany proposes the United Nations try their method of a firefighter volunteer force. Although it may be a problem in the future for Germany, it has worked for many years. And as Germany did for Greece, if countries are able to provide help, they must. The United Nations need to realize that when one country is on fire it affects the whole world. To protect our world, people need to volunteer to help their countries and countries need to volunteer to help other countries.
