Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host Edward McBride, standing in for Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

China's leaders have been trying to force their subjects to speak a standard form of Mandarin for centuries.

But almost a third of the population can't.

The authorities tend to see that as a problem, but many businesses spy a commercial opportunity.

Uber may seem like a wonderful convenience to some and an emblem of exploitation to others.

But one thing's for sure, it's driving people to drink.

An academic study finds that when Uber starts operating in a new city,

people's alcohol consumption increases.

First up though.

Yesterday, the United Nations released its annual report on progress towards globally agreed climate goals.

The outlook is bleak and getting bleaker.

The emissions gap report compares where greenhouse gas emissions are headed versus where they need to be.

As of today, concentrations of the gases in the atmosphere are at record highs.

Not only have they failed to decline, they are even slowing down.

The news comes in the wake of a year of devastating hurricanes, wildfires and heatwaves.

You're not allowed to play the slide!

I've been changing it's not a lie!

You're not allowed!

Millions of protesters around the world have called attention to the climate crisis.

But as this report shows, its catastrophic effects are closer than ever before.

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