UNEP Frontiers Report 2025

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

In News

• The seventh edition, Frontiers 2025: The Weight of Time – Facing a New Age of Challenges for People and Ecosystems, highlights emerging environmental threats and potential solutions.

Key Highlights

• Heatwaves and Vulnerable Populations: Extreme heat events are increasing in frequency and severity, with older persons (65+) facing heightened mortality and health risks; heat-related deaths in this group have surged by 85% since the 1990s.
  • Acute and prolonged exposure to extreme heat or cold raises the risk of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory conditions.
• Cryosphere Decline and Zombie Microbes: Melting glaciers and permafrost (“cryosphere collapse”) threaten water security for 670 million people and risk reactivating ancient dormant pathogens causing AMR.
• Aging Dams: The report flags the risk of unsafe, obsolete dams, which threaten ecosystems and communities, and suggests dam removals can restore rivers and biodiversity.
• India-Specific Impact: Between 1986-2005 and 2013-2022, older adults in India experienced an increase of 2.1–4 additional heatwave days per person per year. This has led to higher rates of illness and mortality among the elderly during heatwaves.

Recommendations

• Transform Cities for Age-Friendly Resilience: Develop pollution-free, resilient, and accessible urban spaces with abundant vegetation.
  • Improve urban planning to address the needs of an ageing population, especially during extreme weather events.
• Invest in Early Warning and Adaptation: Expand weather station networks to monitor and forecast extreme heat.
  • Promote community-based disaster risk management and ensure timely access to information for older adults.
• Adopt the ’15-Minute City’ Approach: Design neighbourhoods where essential services—homes, workplaces, schools, shops, and green spaces—are within a 15-minute walk or cycle.
  • This compact, accessible model supports independent living for older adults, reduces car dependency, and improves air quality.

Source: DTE