The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the annual decision-making meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where states negotiate collective climate commitments. COP31 will take place in 2026, with Turkey as host and Australia playing a leading role in steering negotiations and agenda-setting. Recent COP meetings have included discussions on how directly fossil fuels should be addressed in agreements, particularly in the context of negotiations involving major petrostates.

Across Asia, beauty markets have seen a rapid rise of startups such as Laneige spin-offs and indie K-beauty brands in South Korea, Perfect Diary and Florasis in China, Mamaearth in India, and Happy Skin, Sunnies Face, and GRWM Cosmetics in the Philippines.

Genomic non-alignment refers to a cooperative approach among Global South nations to develop independent systems for collecting, storing, and governing genetic idea – including that of humans, animals, plants, and pathogens. It emphasizes regional control in managing all forms of genomic information, specifically through frameworks that are not aligned with Western institutions.

For the purposes of this debate, high-threshold tourism refers to development models that deliberately restrain the scale of tourist expansion. This includes, but is not limited to, imposing land caps on the total area that may be developed within a province. It also involves stricter bidding or qualification requirements for land developers seeking to invest in tourism projects.

Private equity firms are investment companies that acquire businesses, often using a combination of their own funds and borrowed money. After acquisition, they may restructure operations, sell parts of the company, or distribute dividends to investors.   

“Art is dead” refers to the cultural narrative or theory that contemporary art has lost its relevance, originality, or transformative power in society today.

Sudbury schools are schools that operate on a democratic model where students have complete autonomy over their education and participate in school governance. At Sudbury schools, students of all ages learn together and make decisions about their education and school rules through democratic meetings. 

The Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex consists of 7 hydroelectric power plants along Agus River, from Lake Lanao to Iligan Bay, supplying 50% of the total electricity demands of Mindanao. It has a 1000 MW energy capacity but is only currently generating around 600 MW due to outdated facilities.

Coming-of-age stories are narratives that focus on a character’s transition from childhood or adolescence into adulthood, emphasizing emotional, moral, psychological, or social growth rather than just physical aging. Examples include, but are not limited to, Good Will Hunting, 13 Going on 30, Freaky Friday, Forrest Gump, Lady Bird, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, A Silent Voice, Onward, Hayop Ka!, etc.