Questioning Our Assumptions

In the Power for a Better Future Buddies Without Borders Online Forum, participants deepen their knowledge by questioning their assumptions and researching facts from different angles.

Two students demonstrated their excellent abilities in conducting such inquiries during the Kick-off week:

~ Abena Oforiwaa Okoampah (Tema International School, Ghana) on her research about Australia

"Australia has made several commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce its environmental impact. The Australian government pledged to reduce emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. These targets are part of the country's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which outlines how each country plans to contribute to global climate goals. According to the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, these commitments are designed to help transition Australia toward a cleaner economy while supporting global climate efforts (Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, 2022).

Abena Oforiwaa Okoampah and her teammates: Defne Su Kurt (Türkiye), Nina de Barros Barreto Pedalino Costa (France/Brazil), Gabby Louise Wieczorek (Brazil/USA)

However, some researchers and environmental organizations argue that Australia’s commitments may not be strong enough to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Critics state that the country still relies heavily on fossil fuels and continues to approve new coal and gas projects, which could undermine global climate goals. Reports from climate analysts suggest that to remain consistent with the 1.5-degree Celsius target, Australia may need to adopt more ambitious emission-reduction targets and reduce fossil fuel dependence faster (The Guardian, 2025; Associated Press, 2023). These criticisms highlight a wider debate about whether some countries are doing enough to address climate change despite formally participating in international agreements. 

Considering these different perspectives, an important follow-up question emerges: If countries commit to international agreements like the Paris Agreement but are criticized for not doing enough, how effective can global climate agreements truly be in solving climate change?"

~ Mahsa Raeissi Goudoei (Towheed Iranian International School, UAE) on her response to the need of balancing economic development with environmental concerns.

"If we get rid of climate rules to save money today, are we just setting ourselves up for a much bigger bill later when the health crisis and disasters actually hit?

Mahsa Raeissi Goudoei and her teammates: Carolina Queiroz Damo (Brazil/USA), Roxana Victoria Sacasari Ortega (Ecuador), Vedant Nukalapati (USA)

I agree with the point you've made. To answer your question, the recent data from the World Economic Forum shows that climate change could cost the global economy $12.5 TRILLION in health related costs by 2050. as you mentioned, PBS News says that heat-related deaths are hitting record highs and that thousands of studies prove the danger is real. While Administrator Zeldin (2025) argues that cutting these rules will "unleash American energy" and lower the cost of living,he isn't counting the hidden costs like the billions of dollars we’ll have to spend on emergency rooms and fixing damage.

The EPA (2026) in the USA argues that the most important thing right now is "economic freedom" and making sure families can afford gas and electricity. They believe a wealthy country can just "buy" its way out of problems later. But on the other side, health experts like the American Public Health Association (2026) say this is a huge mistake. They argue that by ignoring the endangerment finding, which is the legal proof that carbon is bad for us, the government is basically letting companies pollute for free while regular people pay the price with their health.

If the economy grows in the short term but we end up with a massive public health crisis that costs trillions to fix, was the deregulation actually beneficial or just a temporary fix?" Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but only knowledge can bring about peace and success. We invite you to recognize these young changemakers who are questioning their assumptions in their pursuit of knowledge. #internationaleducation, #globaleducation, #highschool, #internationalstudents, #cleanengery, #SDGs