Current Affairs 2022: The UNEP Frontiers Report

By Naveen Murugan 

The Frontiers Report is released every year with suggestions for timely action regarding the deteriorating environmental conditions.

Significance of a Frontiers Report

The annual frontiers report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) usually addresses the emerging environmental issues. The objective of the frontiers report is to make a scientific assessment for effective timely action and formulating the controlling measures for environmental issues. It also contains the mounting impacts of already existing environmental problems. These issues may have minimal impact on the environment at present, but they may become a global concern in the future, and this is the purpose of developing the Frontiers Report annually. Many authors and reviewers from different UNEP member nations are involved in developing the report. The UNEP has been developing this frontier report every year since 2016.

Frontiers 2022:

“Frontiers 2022: Noise, Blazes, and Mismatches” is the title of this year’s frontier report. The report comprises three chapters in which it addresses the noise pollution in cities (i.e.) urban soundscapes, wildfires in the forest due to climate change and the impact of the life cycle of plants and animals due to climate change (i.e.) phenological shifts.  

Chapter 1-Listening to Cities: From Noisy Environment to Positive Soundscapes

This chapter signifies the soundscapes, particularly in urban areas. The soundscape is defined as the sound or noise perceived or experienced by people in a place for a period of time. According to UNEP’s frontier report, noise pollution is one of the top environmental risks, which causes an additional burden on human health. Decibel (dB) is the measurement unit used to calculate sound emissions. Here, the decibel range varies from 0 dB (Silence) to 140 dB (Fireworks or Gunshots). According to the report, West Asia, East Asia and Africa etc. are experiencing high decibels of sound. 
 UNEP report suggests following ways to minimise sound emissions in cities:
• Creating tree belts (i.e.) series of trees that shield sounds
• Vegetated rooftops that diffuse sound
• Use of noise barriers such as fibreglass significantly reduces traffic noise.

Chapter 2- Wildfires Under Climate Change: A Burning Issue

Wildfire is a free vegetation fire that is caused naturally or maliciously. It significantly brings risks to environmental habitats, society and the economy. Ground fire, Surface fire and Crown fire are the three types of wildfires.

Approximately 425 million hectares of land was burned annually from 2002 to 2016, the majority of it was from Africa and it lasted for around 4-5 days.

Globally, various controlling measures are being carried out using techniques such as remote sensing satellites, ground radar and data processing facilities for monitoring and predicting wildfire. Latin America, South Africa and Australia are the few countries that have adopted such measures.

Chapter 3- Phenology: Climate Change is Shifting the Rhythm of Nature

Phenology is defined as the study of recurring biological life cycles of various species which are influenced by climatic variations over a period. The UNEP solely focused on bird species that are experiencing phenological shifts due to climate change. Greenhouse emissions are the primary and significant reasons for this shift in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

About UNEP

Established in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a commission that sets environmental standards for all of its affiliations under the United Nations systems. The UNEP creates various awareness programmes through campaigns for environmental sustainability without compromising people’s quality of life. It has 193 member states to which it provides investment plans and technologies to protect the environment. Out of these, 15 member states of the UNEP contribute over 90 per cent of environmental funding. Netherlands, Germany, France, USA and Belgium are the top five countries that contribute to the Environment fund of UNEP.
UNEP is in partnership with various countries’ governments, private communities, civil societies, various international organizations etc. At present, Inger Andersen is the Executive Director of UNEP. 

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