Climate plans would allow up to 2.6C of global warming: UN

13 Sept 08:17 Key points summarised by AI

UN warns that current climate pledges from countries put the world on track for a catastrophic 2.6°C global warming this century, significantly exceeding the 1.5-2.0°C Paris Agreement targets.
Despite updated national promises since COP26, global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 would only decrease by less than one percent, far short of the 45 percent reduction needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.
The report highlights 'woefully inadequate' progress in emissions cutting, noting that post-Covid recovery efforts missed opportunities to accelerate a green transition, with 2021 emissions potentially being the highest on record.
The UN emphasizes the urgent need for concrete plans and actions beyond mere commitments, stressing that every fraction of a degree matters to mitigate severe climate damage.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.