In recent years, a growing awareness of the profound effects of climate change and the need for immediate action have led to an extraordinary global advance in attempts to prevent it. Like the cooperative attitude we cultivate within our school community, this new attention focus represents a global commitment to protecting our planet for present and future generations.

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, is at the center of global climate action. It intends to restrict the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, with a target of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. 190 nations have accepted the pact, indicating a striking degree of universal consensus over the necessity of fast and precise action. The Paris Agreement's commitments are backed by scientific data that emphasizes how urgent it is to combat climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has also issued a warning, stating that going over the 1.5-degree mark could have catastrophic and irreversible effects, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather, a decline in biodiversity, and disruptions to the supply of food and water. This data highlights how vital it is to cut greenhouse gas emissions and move towards a more sustainable way of living.

Governments and corporations are uniting in response to these obstacles to quicken the shift to renewable energy sources and decrease dependency on fossil fuels. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reports that the capacity for renewable energy worldwide has more than doubled in the last ten years, with 72% of all new power capacity increases expected to come from renewable sources in 2020. Furthermore, well-known organizations like the United Nations are campaigning to inspire universities, corporations, and investors to pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The significance of sustainable finance and investment is becoming more widely acknowledged in propelling the shift towards a low-carbon economy. Additionally, environmental and social considerations are being incorporated by institutions, indicating a rising understanding of the potential provided by sustainable investments and the financial hazards associated with climate change.

But even with these positive developments, there are still big obstacles to overcome. According to World Bank projections, $2.3 trillion in renewable energy alone will need to be invested to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement, a significant increase above present levels of investment. Another upsetting factor is that underprivileged communities are disproportionately affected by climate change, which deepens inequities and emphasizes the need for equitable, empathetic responses that include and consider everyone's situations.

In our school community and beyond, as Lions, we have a vital role to play in furthering climate action. We may support the international effort to address these issues by spreading awareness and incorporating sustainable habits into our everyday lives. Education drives change. We can
participate in the worldwide battle against climate change and build a future that is sustainable and resilient for everyone. In conclusion, combating climate change is a critical issue of our day that calls for decisive action at all societal levels. Through a spirit of joint perseverance and cooperation, we can confront this obstacle and make progress in creating a fairer and more sustainable global community.


Bibliography
UNFCCC. "The Paris Agreement." United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement.
IPCC. "Global Warming of 1.5°C." Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/.
International Renewable Energy Agency. "Renewable Energy Statistics 2022." IRENA, https://www.irena.org/Publications/2022/Jul/Renewable-Energy-Statistics-2022.
World Bank Group. "World Bank Group Launches Renewable Energy Initiative to Enhance Energy Security and Affordability in Europe and Central Asia." World Bank, 28 Mar. 2024, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/03/28/world-bank-group-launches-renewable-energy-initiative-to-enhance-energy-security-and-affordability-in-europe-and-central.

By: B. Schwartzman Lucio

What would you do if you knew you were running out of water? If you knew that one day, one day soon, you could simply run out? This consideration is the scary reality for inhabitants of Mexico City, where water has become a scarce commodity. For months now, water has become a very irregular visitor: most days the tap barely trickles, some days, it doesn't offer anything at all. The worst thing is, there seems to be no solution in sight, or, rather, the most likely end would be one where the water simply... dries up.  
The water scarcity problem has been developing since the city's inauguration, centuries ago. Mexico City was built on a high-altitude lakebed, and since then the city has experienced centuries of major expansion and extreme environmental changes. The original settlers of the region were the Aztecs, who decided to build their Tenochtitlan in this area. They used the region’s ample water to their advantage, building canals and bridges. However, in the early 16th century, all this care became for nought when Spanish conquistadors completely transformed the environment. Wetlands were paved over, rivers diverted, and forests razed, creating the roots of problems modern-day citizens face so harshly today. 
60% of Mexico City’s water is drawn from a belowground aquifer that is depleting at such an alarming rate that the city is actively sinking because of it. What’s worse, due to the city’s high altitude, when it finally rains, the water does not sink into the ground, instead, it runs off the concrete city. Other sources of water must be pumped uphill, and this process is so inefficient nearly half of the water is lost through leaks before reaching the city.  
The prospect of "day zero" - a name given to the imminent possibility of an end to the water supply - is becoming increasingly likely, without many solutions coming to light. A source in local media stated that this fated day could come as soon as June 2024.  
Despite these challenges, possibilities for resilience and adaptation emerge. Some solutions such as enhanced wastewater treatment and rainwater harvesting provide some hope in these dark times. Restoring rivers and wetlands replenishes water sources while also restoring urban ecosystems, addressing many challenges (including air and water pollution, biodiversity restoration) at once.  
 As Mexico City battles its water crisis, the need for a united front grows increasingly essential. Because while day zero is more imminent for Mexico City, the whole world faces a serious climate change issue, that could have drastic consequences beyond just water scarcity for everyone on the planet. ​

Cognitive psychology seeks to understand the complex workings of the human mind and behavior: how we think and why we think it, as well as how our memory, perception, and thought process. Through the lens of cognitive psychology, we gain insight into how the brain absorbs and processes information. This understanding helps us discern which educational methods are effective and which aren’t. Therefore, the intersection between cognitive psychology and education is significant. While the functioning of our brains is subjective and individualized, there are methods that can enhance our absorption rate and facilitate learning, making it more effective in less time. This not only applies to individual study but also to how we engage with material in the classroom setting. 

Metacognition plays a crucial role in problem-solving and overall successful learning, as it involves awareness of one's own thought processes. It enables students to assess their understanding of the material and monitor their progress on tasks. Metacognition empowers individuals to take control of their learning process and determine what works best for them. Teachers can support this by encouraging students to set goals and providing flexible structures for assignments, allowing students to adapt their approach to suit their needs. Effective study methods based on the science behind cognitive psychology are linked to memory and attention. Memory is a fundamental cognitive process that involves the retrieval of information over time. Sensory memory, which involves activation in the cortex, can be strengthened through techniques such as visualizing information and creating visual aids. Spaced repetition is another effective strategy for memory consolidation, involving the review of information at intervals to enhance long-term retention. 

Attention, another key cognitive process, determines what information is selected for further processing. Techniques such as highlighting important information, writing down key concepts, and minimizing distractions help isolate important information and make it more prominent in the brain, facilitating easier recall. 

We often try to reassure ourselves that we have all the necessary information, especially to alleviate anxiety. Yet, when it comes time to demonstrate our knowledge, we often stumble, forgetting important details. The most effective way to build confidence and ensure retention of information is through teaching. When we teach others, we not only reinforce our own understanding but also strengthen our memory by actively engaging with the material. Therefore, teaching serves as both a means of learning and a method of solidifying our knowledge. When we teach someone else the content we need to learn, our brain actively engages with the material, forming stronger neural connections and reinforcing memory retention. Teaching requires us to organize information, explain concepts clearly, and answer questions, all of which deepen our understanding. Additionally, the act of teaching forces us to confront our own gaps in knowledge, motivating us to fill those gaps through further study and practice. Ultimately, by teaching others, we not only solidify our own knowledge but also contribute to the learning and understanding of those around us, creating a mutually beneficial learning environment. ​

In conclusion, insights from cognitive science can inform teaching methods, learning strategies, and educational policies, leading to healthier learning schedules, improved grades, and reduced study time. 

Petrobras is Brazil’s largest oil company, as well as the world’s fourth largest oil producer. Formally known as Petróleo Brasileiro S/A, in 2019, the company was cited by the American organization ‘Climate Accountability Institute’ in a study on the 20 companies that have emitted the most greenhouse gases in the world since 1965. Petrobras is a world player in the oil and gas stage, as well as a key actor in efforts for sustainability, but how is Brazil’s largest state-controlled company dealing with the climate crisis, and does it even care about its role?

The world has been faced with a choice: change or catastrophe. As the world turns hotter every year because of high carbon emissions, one of the main challenges facing Petrobras is the need to reduce its own carbon footprint. As the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Brazil, the company is under pressure from both the public as well as investors to align the company’s actions with the country's climate goals. In its latest plan, released in 2021, the company announced that it intends to inaugurate 15 new oil platforms by 2026, which are expected to increase the company’s oil production from the current 2.2 million barrels per day to 3.2 million; an increase of 45%. This announcement stands in stark contrast to global demands to decrease oil production and consumption, posing as a risky strategy to take as the global energy landscape turns increasingly greener.

Another challenge for Petrobras is the need to adapt its infrastructure to be able to invest more on renewable energy sources. In an ever changing environment, many oil refinery companies have started to invest in cleaner energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydro electricity. Petrobras had taken a different approach, reducing its investments in such projects. In 2019, the then president of the company, Roberto Castello Branco, said that Petrobras would no longer invest in renewables "because it is a business that requires different skills from the oil and gas business". Due to the growing demand for clean energy, Petrobras still had a chance to diversify its energy portfolio and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

Despite the shift in direction, Petrobras has already made some changes to prevent global warming. One of Petrobras' main climate initiatives is the goal of cutting its operational emissions during the refining process by 25% by 2030, based on the year 2015. The company plans on doing this by “the reduction of torch gas burning, increasing energy efficiency and improving the capture, use and geological storage of CO2”.

As the flames of global warming rise with the sun each day, oil production and consumption only help feed the blaze. Brazil finds itself in a position in which it must choose between its economic development and global preservation; will its biggest business survive the green wave for change or sink under the demand for clean energy?


Source: https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/brasil-61075607.amp