Daily News Analysis

World Bank Report: “The Impact of Climate Change on Education”

stylish_lining

The World Bank's report highlights the profound effects of climate change on education, emphasizing how extreme weather events disrupt schooling, lead to learning losses, and increase dropout rates.

Key Findings

  • Neglect of Education in Climate Policy:
  • Education has received minimal attention in climate policies. In 2020, it constituted less than 1.3% of climate assistance and was referenced in fewer than one in three Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) plans.
  • Impact of School Closures:
  • Between 2005 and 2024, schools were closed during at least 75% of extreme weather events, affecting over 5 million people.
  • Over 99% of children globally are exposed to at least one major climate-related hazard.
  • Effects of Rising Temperatures:
  • An increase of just 1°C in outdoor temperature on exam days can significantly reduce test scores. For instance, students in the hottest 10% of Brazilian municipalities experienced a loss of about 1% of learning per year due to heat exposure.
  • Food Insecurity and Economic Fragility:
  • Climate change could put up to 170 million people at risk of hunger by 2080, jeopardizing school enrollment and student learning.
  • Disproportionate Effects on Girls:
  • Climate-related events can prevent at least 4 million girls in low- and lower-middle-income countries from completing their education.

Approaches to Adapt Education Systems

  • Education Management for Climate Resilience:
  • Invest in early warning systems. For example, the InaRISK mobile app in Indonesia enhances disaster preparedness knowledge among students and staff.
  • Climate-Resilient School Infrastructure:
  • Strengthen existing school buildings to withstand climate impacts. Rwanda's project includes equipping schools with retaining walls to prevent flood-related landslides.
  • Manage classroom temperatures through initiatives like Kenya's Green Economy Strategy, which promotes bioclimatic designs for enhanced comfort.
  • Ensuring Learning Continuity During Climate Shocks:
  • Maintain school operations as much as possible and bolster remote learning mechanisms. For example, Ghana's back-to-school campaign led to nearly 100% re-enrollment after COVID-19 disruptions.

Conclusion

The World Bank's report underscores the urgent need to integrate education into climate policy and enhance the resilience of educational systems. By addressing these challenges, we can safeguard learning opportunities and promote sustainable development in the face of climate change.

India’s Import Curbs on Jute Products from Bangladesh

India has imposed immediate restrictions on the import of jute and allied fibre products from Bangladesh. These apply at all Indian land and seaports except Nhava Sheva in Maharash
Share It

GPS Interference

  GPS interference refers to deliberate or unintentional disruption of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, which are crucial for navigation in aircraft, ships, and ground transport sy
Share It

India’s Civil Nuclear Law Reform:

  India is revising its civil nuclear laws—the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010—to: Attract private and forei
Share It

Secondary Pollutants

A recent study has shed light on an important aspect of India's air pollution crisis: secondary pollutants, which now contribute to nearly one-third of PM2.5 pollution in the country. These pollut
Share It

Myogenesis

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s Myogenesis experiments on the ISS represent a major leap forward in India’s space research efforts, focusing on the formation and regulation of muscle fib
Share It

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS)

A scholarship scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) initiative by the Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education. It Provides financial assistance to m
Share It

Khasi People

The Meghalaya High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the tribal certificate issuance for the Khasi community.This PIL challenges a government decision that has halted th
Share It

Similipal Tiger Reserve

Odisha High Court issued a notice to the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) over a ban on Munda tribals from accessing Jayara, a sacred grove inside the tiger reserve.This raised concerns ove
Share It

Begonia nyishiorum

A fascinating new species of flowering plant, Begonia nyishiorum, has been discovered in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, further highlighting the rich but underexplored biodiversity of
Share It

Asiatic Wild Dog

Asiatic Wild Dog A new study by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has confirmed the return of the dhole (Asiatic wild dog) to Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL) in Assam, after being beli
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS