best essays on global problems

104 Global Issues Essay Topics

Find a collection of global issues topics for students covering challenges of the entire world. This is a broad spectrum of problems, from environmental concerns and human rights to economic disparities and geopolitical conflicts. Have a look at these world issues to write about and encourage a dialogue on the shared responsibilities we all have.

🗺️ TOP 7 Global Issues Essay Topics

🏆 global issues topics for students, 🎓 interesting world issues to write about, 💡 simple global issues essay topics, ❓ more issues in the world to write about.

• Global Health Issues: Essay Example
• Global and Local Issues Affecting John Deere Firm
• Global Environmental Issue in the 21st Century
• Global and Local Issues Affecting John Deere
• Globalization and National Security Issues
• World Hunger and Food Distribution as Global Issue
• Artificial Intelligence and Global Societal Issues
• Aspects of Global Health Issues The study claims that the new skills brought by science and medicine have failed to attain the mass of the global population.
• The History of Climate Change and Global Warming Issue The paper states that the history of climate change and the solutions communities opted for are critical to tackling the current global warming issue.
• Global Warming and Other Ecology Issues The results of global warming will always remain a topic of controversy. Most scientists will always agree and disagree on the real effects of global warming on human life.
• Global Issues of World Poverty: Reasons and Solutions The term ‘world poverty’ refers to poverty around the world and is not only limited to developing and under-developed nations.
• The Global Water Crisis: Issues and Solutions The water crisis has now been associated with the reduction in food quantity besides the scarcity of safe drinking water.
• Sexual Health and Identity as Global Issues This paper discusses the origins and essential information about the issue of sexual health and identity, the population impacted by the issue, and society’s impact on the issue.
• Food and Water Security as Globalization Issues Globalization has several implications for the business environment, among which are the expanded access to resources, and the interdependence of international companies.
• COVID 19 as a Global Health Issue Today, the global community remains concerned about the state of healthcare as new diseases arise, and the treatment for the widespread illnesses remains undeveloped.
• Chinese Companies and Globalization Issues People are the driving force of a company; to unleash that force, the patrimonial approach should be changed to more liberal and liberating methods.
• Global Nursing Issues: Challenges, Strategies and Advocating for Health Care Every person is entitled to quality health support and care. Unfortunately, many underdeveloped nations find it hard to deliver quality health care to their citizens.
• Global Societal Issue: Food and Water Security According to research, food and water security is a pertinent global problem in the current decade, with access to food and water becoming scarce in certain world regions.
• Violence against Women: A Review of the Global Issue Millions of women continue to suffer from domestic abuse and discrimination. This paper explores the issue of global violence against women in its current state.
• Global Issues in Healthcare: Cultural Competence and Patient Safety Within the framework of domestic issues’ impact on US HCM, the supporting systems are affected to the greatest extent.
• Articles about Global Issues: Reading Summary and Reflective Comments This paper presents reading summary and reflective comments on two articles: “Understanding international law” and “Global issues: Politics, economics, and culture”.
• Global LGBTQ Health and Health Issues Although there has been rapid progress in the inclusion of LGBTQ people, they continue to face many health disparities, hence their poor health outcomes across the world.
• Food Security: Global Health Issue Comparison The paper discusses three initiatives or approaches practiced by international organizations and offers three suggestions from the author on methods of improvement
• Outbreak Investigation: Global Issues Outbreaks may occur frequently but not every case is reported. The investigation is important because it helps to learn more about the cases to put appropriate prevention and control measures.
• Global Health Issues: On the Border Line The main purpose of this paper is to discuss how serving as a public health administrator at a border is a challenge for public health workers.
• Global Health Policy Issue: Africa There is global inequality in terms of health service delivery in Africa. The main problems that make health delivery a problem are poverty, illiteracy, and inequality.
• Global Issues, Advocacy & Caregiving for Patients in India This paper will examine the global issue, advocacy, and caregiving for people who have been infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in India.
• Vaccine Hesitancy as a Global Health Issue This work aims to describe the issue of vaccine hesitancy in the context of one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) offered by the United Nations.
• Globalization and Related Environmental Issues Globalization supports the flow of raw materials, wastes, and pollutants from one region to another. The wave of industrialization does not care much about environmental issues.
• Global Human Rights Progress and the Role of National Cultural Value Systems This paper aims to investigate arguments in favor and against the claim that there has been progressing in developing global human rights over the last twenty years.
• Global Pandemic Issues: Prevention of Infection and Transmission of COVID-19 For the last seven months, the world has been dealing with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
• Global Health Issues, Tuberculosis Tuberculosis is often latent and reveals itself when the immune system is weak. The TB incidence rates in Southeast Asia and Africa remain the highest in the world.
• Education With Regard to Globalization Issues Education is very important for representatives of the modern global community as would-be professionals and labor force.
• Global Warming: Issue Analysis Global warming is a term commonly used to describe the consequences of man- made pollutants overloading the naturally-occurring greenhouse gases causing an increase of the average global temperature.
• Global Warming as Not a New-Fangled Issue Analytical research and an explanatory research have been seen to be helpful in many ways in order to increase the awareness that an audience has about the issues as global warming.
• “Global Issues: Third Edition” by John L. Seitz The third edition of the book “Global issues” by Seitz is an introductory analysis of most of the factors that influence the environment, economy, and society.
• Terrorism as Global Issue and Preventive Laws Terrorism is one of the actions that should be punished the hardest because it takes innocent life each time, no matter the justification of it.
• Global Awareness of Environmental and Moral Issues Global awareness entails the aspect of making people, the society, have an understanding of various life issues that is based on knowledge of global perspectives.
• Global Issues Influencing Compensation in the US Compensation is a systematic approach of providing monetary value and other benefits to employees in exchange for their work and service.
• Compounded Global Issues: Terrorism, Nuclear Proliferation, and Climate Change
• The Global Issues Depicted in “Home”, a Documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
• Global Issues, Local Solutions: Rethinking Wealth and Health Through the Lens of Social Enterprise
• Global Issues of the Present and Ways to Overcome Them
• Understanding Global Issues Is More Important Than Ever
• Environment-Related Global Issues: Global and Regional Conventions and the Role of the Third World
• Teaching for Sustainable Development Through Ethical Global Issues Pedagogy
• Global Crimes Cause Global Issues That Affect the National and International Justice System
• Legal and Global Issues Focused on Treating Undocumented Immigrants
• Global Issues: What We Can Do to Solve the Biggest Problems in the World
• Solving Major Global Issues by Founding a System on Ethical Principles in Simon Blackburn’s Book
• Climate Change and Tourism: Responding to Global Issues
• The Politics of Marriage and Gender: Global Issues in Local Contexts
• Global Issues for Global Citizens: An Introduction to Key Development Challenges
• The Overpopulation of the Earth as a Global Issue: Are There Humane Ways to Prevent It?
• Critical Global Issues: What Are the World’s Biggest Problems and How Can We Help?
• The Secret to Solving Global Issues? Fewer Secrets, More Collaboration
• Global Issues and Challenges Beyond Ottawa: The Way Forward
• Top Ten Global Economic Issues: An Assessment of Global Risks and Priorities
• Science and Technology Cooperation on Global Issues
• Climate Change and Pollution: Serious Global Issues
• The Concept, Content, and Nature of Contemporary Global Issues
• Global Issues of Environment and Health
• Top 20 Current Global Issues That Need to Be Addressed
• How Cigarette Smoking Relates to Global Issues of the Future
• The Gay Marriage Debate: Contemporary Global Issues
• Lack of Fresh Water Is Becoming a Global Issue of Increasing Importance
• Global Issues and Change in Human Resource Management
• Poor News Coverage and Public Opinion on Global Issues
• Global Issues Surrounding the Millennium Development Goals
• Social and Global Issues and Trends in Adult Education
• Global Issues Within the First Civilizations
• Are Caste Systems a Global or a Local Issue?
• S. and India Global Issues Pertaining to Women
• How Global Issues Impact Individual States
• Global Issues in Finance and Accounting
• Environmental Problems Are Becoming a Global Issue
• Three Reasons Why You Should Care About Global Issues
• Global Issues: Violence and Peace in the Modern Age
• Canada’s Efforts to Address Global Issues
• What Global Issues Are Most Threatening?
• Are Gender Rights and Gender Discrimination Global Issues?
• Why Is It Important to Be Aware of the Global Issues in Society?
• How Do Global Issues Affect the Whole World?
• What Are the Top Global Issues in the World?
• Why Is Poverty a Global Issue?
• How Do Global Issues Impact Undeveloped Countries?
• What Is the Biggest Global Issue Today?
• Why Is Understanding Global Issues Important?
• How Do Global Issues Affect Communication?
• What Is an Important Global Issue That Impacts the Future?
• Why Is It Important to Learn About Global Contemporary Issues?
• How Can We Stop Global Issues?
• What Are the Major Contemporary Global Issues Facing the World in the 21st?
• How Can You Help Solve the Different Global Issues?
• What Is the Concept of Global Issues?
• Does Technology Help With Global Issues?
• What Are the Causes of Global Issues?
• Are Global Issues Important in Our Society Today?
• What Is the Most Important Global Issue We Face?
• How Has Technology Become a Solution to Global Issues?
• What Causes Global Issues?
• How Can We Turn Global Issues Into Innovation-Led Opportunities?
• Is Climate Change the Most Important Global Issue?
• What Global Issues Have Emerged Because of Globalization?

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StudyCorgi . "104 Global Issues Essay Topics." June 5, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/global-issues-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "104 Global Issues Essay Topics." June 5, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/global-issues-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Global Issues were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 21, 2024 .

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101 Global Issues Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Global issues are a complex and multifaceted part of our world today. From climate change to poverty, these issues affect people all over the world and require collaborative efforts to address. If you are looking for essay topics on global issues, here are 101 ideas to get you started:

• The impact of climate change on global food security
• The role of the United Nations in addressing global conflicts
• The effects of globalization on developing countries
• The rise of nationalism and its implications for global cooperation
• The ethical implications of genetic engineering
• The challenges of providing clean water to all people
• The impact of social media on global communication
• The role of women in peacebuilding efforts
• The effects of deforestation on biodiversity
• The importance of universal healthcare
• The consequences of income inequality
• The role of technology in addressing global challenges
• The impact of migration on global economies
• The ethics of drone warfare
• The effects of nuclear proliferation
• The challenges of combating infectious diseases
• The role of education in promoting global citizenship
• The consequences of overfishing
• The impact of artificial intelligence on the job market
• The ethics of animal testing
• The effects of urbanization on the environment
• The importance of renewable energy sources
• The challenges of providing education to all children
• The implications of cyber warfare
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion
• The consequences of mass incarceration
• The impact of terrorism on global security
• The ethics of humanitarian intervention
• The effects of child labor on global economies
• The challenges of combating human trafficking
• The role of religion in global conflicts
• The consequences of water scarcity
• The importance of protecting indigenous rights
• The ethics of animal conservation
• The effects of plastic pollution on marine life
• The implications of artificial intelligence on privacy
• The challenges of addressing climate refugees
• The role of diplomacy in resolving international disputes
• The consequences of deforestation on indigenous communities
• The impact of social media on mental health
• The ethics of genetic modification
• The effects of air pollution on public health
• The importance of promoting gender equality
• The challenges of combating drug trafficking
• The implications of autonomous weapons
• The role of international organizations in promoting peace
• The consequences of human rights violations
• The impact of corruption on global economies
• The ethics of animal rights
• The effects of population growth on natural resources
• The challenges of providing healthcare in conflict zones
• The role of the private sector in addressing global challenges
• The consequences of climate change on indigenous cultures
• The importance of preserving cultural heritage
• The ethics of bioengineering
• The effects of soil degradation on agriculture
• The implications of mass surveillance
• The challenges of promoting sustainable tourism
• The role of education in preventing extremism
• The consequences of food insecurity
• The impact of armed conflict on civilian populations
• The ethics of genetic privacy
• The effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems
• The importance of promoting religious tolerance
• The challenges of combating cybercrime
• The implications of mass migration
• The role of international aid in promoting development
• The consequences of wildlife trafficking
• The impact of income inequality on social cohesion
• The ethics of human enhancement
• The effects of urban sprawl on natural habitats
• The importance of promoting intercultural dialogue
• The challenges of addressing mental health stigma
• The implications of water privatization
• The role of social entrepreneurship in addressing global challenges
• The consequences of gender-based violence
• The impact of climate change on indigenous knowledge
• The ethics of biohacking
• The effects of land degradation on food security
• The importance of protecting cultural diversity
• The challenges of combating cyberbullying
• The implications of mass incarceration on communities of color
• The role of education in promoting social justice
• The consequences of wildlife habitat loss
• The impact of human trafficking on vulnerable populations
• The ethics of environmental conservation
• The effects of electronic waste on developing countries
• The importance of promoting mental health awareness
• The challenges of addressing refugee integration
• The implications of artificial intelligence on democracy
• The role of international law in promoting human rights
• The consequences of water pollution on public health
• The impact of climate change on cultural heritage
• The ethics of biofuels
• The effects of deforestation on indigenous rights 96

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8 Global Issue Topics for Essays and Research Papers

10 Global Issue Topics for Essays and Research

• Water Contamination and Shortage:  2.1 billion people in countries undergoing urbanization have inaccessibility to clean drinking water as a result of pollution, poverty and poor management of resources. Water resources are depleted by agriculture and industry energy production. To put into perspective, agriculture accounts for 70 percent of the reduction of water around the world, with 75 percent of a given countries’ water used for this purpose and depleted by contamination . Fortunately, there has been a recent increase in efforts to develop technology to combat contamination and reduce the rate of water depletion.
• The Relationship between Education and Child Labor:  Despite a surge in funding for some countries and increasing attention through social media, education continues to be a luxury around the globe. Reasons include gender preferences and poverty, and child labor — the use of children in industry. According to UNICEF, 150 million children participate in laborious activities dangerous to their health. As one can imagine, this work hinders a child’s ability to fully invest in education. Therefore it’s most challenging to bring education to sub-Saharan Africa, where the rates of children enrolled in primary education continue to stagger. In addition, fewer students successfully complete secondary education here.
• Violence:  Violence is a global issue that exists in all shapes and sizes. Violence can be done towards a particular group like women or LGBTQ+ members, or it is an act that can be a result of a mentally disturbed mind. There is also violence in response to economic stress. All these varying forms of violence lead to attention on the safety and prevention of such acts. However, there isn’t much consideration on how an everyday person can help. In discussions about violence, the biggest questions to answer are: How is this violence used? How is it achieved/accessed? Does the media have a role? How much is the foundation for a particular act of violence is personal? What is the overall goal?
• Poverty:  In 2015, the International Poverty Line was set to $1.90. This number means that a person is living in extreme poverty if they live below this line. According to this set line, more than 1.3 billion people are living in this extreme worldwide. This fact suggests that 1.3 billion people have difficulty obtaining food and shelter, regardless of the availability of homeless shelters and organizations . Current questions or topics to explore in an essay or research would be the cause of variation in wages on the international level, and the nature and initiatives that can be taken to solve this global issue at large.
• Inequality:  On a global scale, the focus on inequality tends to be in terms of the distribution of wealth. According to a Global Wealth Report, 44 percent of global net worth is held by only 0.7 percent of adults. This suggests that there is a significant division between economic classes around the world. Recently, research has shown the effects that this economic divide has on communities particularly in health, social relationships, development and stability . For example, in a society where there’s a large gap between the rich and the poor, life expectancy tends to be shorter and mental illness and obesity rates are 2 to 4 times higher. In terms of social relationships, inequality on a larger level introduces more violence and crime.
• Terrorism:  Terrorism like the bombing incidents of the last few years continue to claim the lives of innocents. It is a threat to the peace, security and stability of the world, so terrorism prevention methods have been implemented to illustrate what is wrong and should be/could be done to uphold justice . However, the basis of the threats, mindsets and the successes/failures of response efforts still need to be evaluated.
• Child Marriages:  Child marriages are defined as the union between one or two individuals under the age of 18. One in five girls are married before the age of 18, and child marriages prevent children from becoming educated, can lead to severe health consequences and increased risk of violence. Legislation and programs were established in order to educate and employ children in these situations as child marriages do not have enough awareness on individual involvement or emphasis on the common causes for these marriages.
• Food:  Poverty, economic inequality and water contamination mean inability to produce sufficient amounts of food to sustain a population. This can, in turn, lead to poorer health and decreased energy to carry out physical and mental functions, leading to more poverty. By 2050, the world would need to find food for approximately nine billion people as cost of production for food will rise in response to the increased amount of individuals. Thus, the United Nations established programs to ensure food security and technology companies make efforts to reduce food production costs.

The Role of Essays and Research

There has been increasing progress towards solving the global issues; however, for some, this progress is too slow due to lack of understanding of preventative methods, diffusion of responsibility and unanswered questions. These global issue topics for essays and research papers can be used as a starting point to give more insight to others into the issues and how to get involved.

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11 Global Debates

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October 5, 2016

In 2006, the Brookings Institution determined that a standalone research program was needed to have the depth and breadth to explore the most pressing issues facing an increasingly globalized world. Ten years later, as Brookings celebrates its centenary , the Global Economy and Development program has become a source of innovative thinking on how to improve global economic cooperation and fight global poverty and sources of social stress.

In celebration of this anniversary, these 11 essays below reflect the Global Economy and Development program’s most recent work and delve into the critical issues facing all those concerned about globalization.

Are technology and globalization destined to drive up inequality?

Authors: Kemal Derviş , Laurence Chandy

Over the past several years, concerns that technology and globalization lead to ever greater inequality have reached fever pitch in the U.S. and beyond. To understand what’s behind this anxiety, three distinctions are useful.

Continue reading

Skills in the digital age—how should education systems evolve?

Authors: Rebecca Winthrop , Timothy P. Williams , Eileen McGivney

At no point in history have more children been enrolled in formal education. Thanks to global commitments and movements such as the Millennium Development Goals and Education For All, more than 90 percent of all primary-age children are now in school.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Land of promise or of peril?

Authors: Amadou Sy

After more than a decade of relatively strong economic progress, sub-Saharan Africa’s aggregate GDP growth is slowing as external shocks threaten recent advances. According to the International Monetary Fund’s April 2016 Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa, between 2000 and 2015, the continent grew at an average rate of 5.5 percent.

Where are Latin American economies headed?

Authors: Ernesto Talvi

For the better part of the past decade, close to 80 percent of countries in Latin America were ruled by center-left and populist governments. However, this hegemony seems to be coming to an end, with center-right parties recently rising to power in Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Peru. Should this come as a surprise? The short answer is no.

Can globalization be rescued from itself?

Authors: Homi Kharas , John W. McArthur

Globalization—the integration among national economies of markets for goods, services, technology, capital flows, and, to some degree, labor—has played an enormous role in advancing global prosperity. Yet a backlash has emerged, manifested in the recent U.K. Brexit vote, strident “local first” demands, and calls to block trade agreements. The issues are not entirely new.

Are certain countries doomed to remain emerging?

Authors: John Page

Incomes in developed and developing countries have been converging, especially since the turn of the century, but the unevenness of that trajectory merits further examination. Beginning in the early the 2000s, the average per capita income of developing countries (adjusted for purchasing power parity) has increased substantially relative to the average per capita income of developed countries.

GDP growth—is it “good-enough”? Or does it distort policy-making?

Authors: Carol Graham

Today, standard benchmarks of progress, productivity, job quality, and democracy are being upended. Income-based measures such as gross domestic product (GDP) served us well for decades, yet when GDP counts pollutant-generating economic activity on the positive side of the balance sheet, or when it fails to measure unpaid labor activity, it falls short. This is especially worrying given that we live in a world wracked by social inequities.

The U.S. and international trade: Why did things go sour?

Authors: Joshua P. Meltzer

Since 1945, the United States has led international efforts to expand trade and integrate markets, helping underpin U.S. as well as global growth. Yet 2016 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is proposing policies that would turn the U.S. away from greater economic integration and likely provoke a trade war. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has backed away from supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement—a 12 nation trade deal signed by President Obama in February 2016.

Can the ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement be met?

Authors: Amar Bhattacharya

The Paris Agreement on climate change overcame the notion of a “horse race” between development and climate responsibility. At its core is a promise to keep global warming to “well below 2 degrees Celsius” and to “pursue efforts for 1.5 Celsius or lower.” The agreement forms the basis of new international, cooperative, long-term climate change action plans with a shared sense of direction and responsibility.

Cities—Is better access key to sustainability?

Authors: Jeffrey Gutman , Nirav Patel

Nine years ago the global urban population surpassed the world’s rural population, making it clear that the fate of cities will determine our future prosperity. As enshrined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, for cities to thrive, action is needed to ensure that urban areas and human settlements are “inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.” With the October 2016 U.N. Conference on Sustainable Housing and Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador set to agree on a new global urbanization agenda for the next two decades, the time to advocate for inclusive, accessible cities is now.

The international monetary system—Is it fit for purpose?

Authors: Eswar Prasad

The key question concerning the international monetary system is whether it can function in a manner that promotes global economic and financial stability rather than become a source of instability in itself or a channel through which such instability becomes more pervasive.

Emerging Markets & Developing Economies Global Trade

Global Economy and Development

Anwar Aridi, Jeong-Dong Lee

May 1, 2024

Haroon Bhorat, Landry Signé

Aloysius Uche Ordu, Landry Signé

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How to Write the Political and Global Issues College Essay

Essays are one of the best parts of the college application process. With your grades in, your test scores decided, and your extracurriculars developed over your years in high school, your essays are the last piece of your college application that you have immediate control over. With them, you get to add a voice to your other stats, a “face” to the name, so to speak. They’re an opportunity to reveal what’s important to you and what sets you apart from other applicants and tell the admissions committee why you’d be an excellent addition to their incoming student class.

Throughout your college applications process, there are many different types of essays you’ll be asked to write. Some of the most popular essay questions you’ll see might include writing about an extracurricular, why you want to matriculate at a school, and what you want to study.

Increasingly, you might also see a supplemental college essay asking you to discuss a political or global issue that you’re passionate about. Asking this type of question helps colleges understand what you care about outside of your personal life and how you will be an active global citizen.

Some examples from the 2019-2020 cycle include:

Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service : Briefly discuss a current global issue, indicating why you consider it important and what you suggest should be done to deal with it.

Yeshiva University Honors Programs : What is one issue about which you are passionate?

Pitzer College : Pitzer College is known for our students’ intellectual and creative activism. If you could work on a cause that is meaningful to you through a project, artistic, academic, or otherwise, what would you do?

Your GPA and SAT don’t tell the full admissions story

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographics, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details.

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Tips for Writing the Political and Global Issues College Essay

Pick an issue close to your life.

When you first see a political and global issues prompt, your gut reaction might be to go with a big-picture topic that’s all over the news, like poverty or racism. The problem with these topics is that you usually have a page or less to talk about the issue and why it matters to you. Students also might not have a direct personal connection to such a broad topic. The goal of this essay is to reveal your critical thinking skills, but the higher-level goal of every college essay is to learn more about who you are.

Rather than go with a broad issue that you’re not personally connected to, see if there’s just one facet of it that you  can  contend with. This is especially important if the prompt simply asks for “an issue,” and not necessarily a “global issue.” While some essay prompts will specifically ask that you address a  global  issue (like Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service), there are still ways to approach it from a more focused perspective.

For example, if you were to talk about world hunger, you could start with the hunger you see in your community, which is a food desert. For your solution, you can discuss your plan to build a community garden, so the town is able to access fresh produce. Food deserts, of course, aren’t the only reason world hunger exists; so, you should also explore some other reasons, and other solutions. Maybe there is a better way to prevent and recuperate produce currently being wasted, for instance. If the prompt doesn’t specifically ask for a global issue, however, you could simply focus on food deserts.

For another example, maybe you want to talk about climate change. A more personal and focused approach would deal with happenings in your community, or a community you’ve had contact with. For instance, perhaps your local river was polluted because of textile industry waste; in this case, it would be fitting to address fast fashion specifically (which is still a global issue).

Remember your audience

As you’re approaching this essay, take care to understand the political ramifications of what you’re suggesting and how the school you’re addressing might react to it. Make sure you understand the school’s political viewpoints, and keep in mind that schools are hoping to see how you might fit on their campus based on your response.

So, if you’re applying to a school known for being progressive, like Oberlin or Amherst, you might not want to write an essay arguing that religious freedom is under threat in America. Or, if you’re applying to Liberty University, you should probably avoid writing an essay with a strong pro-LGBTQ stance. You don’t have to take the opposite position, but try picking a different issue that won’t raise the same concerns.

If you have no political alignment, choose economics

If you find yourself applying to a school with which you share no political viewpoints, you might want to consider if the school would even be a good fit for you. Why do you really want to go there? Are those reasons worth it? If you think so, consider writing about an economic issue, which tend to be less contentious than social issues.

For instance, you could write about the impact of monopolies because your parents own an independent bookstore that has been affected by Amazon. Or you could discuss tax breaks for companies that keep or move their production domestically, after seeing how your town changed when factories were moved abroad. Maybe tax filing is a cause you’re really passionate about, and you think the government should institute a free electronic system for all. No matter what you write about here, the key is to keep it close to home however you can.

Pick the best possible framing

When you’re writing an essay that doesn’t fully align with the political views of the school you’re applying to, you’ll want to minimize the gap between your viewpoint and that of the school. While they still might disagree with your views, this will give your essay (and therefore you) the best possible chance. Let’s say you’re applying to a school with progressive economic views, while you firmly believe in free markets. Consider these two essay options:

Option 1:  You believe in free markets because they have pulled billions out of terrible poverty in the developing world.

Option 2:  “Greed is good,” baby! Nothing wrong with the rich getting richer.

Even if you believe equally in the two reasons above personally, essay option 1 would be more likely to resonate with an admissions committee at a progressive school.

Let’s look at another, more subtle example:

Option 1:  Adding 500 police officers to the New York City public transit system to catch fare evaders allows officers to unfairly and systematically profile individuals based on their race.

Option 2:  The cost of hiring 500 additional police officers in the New York City public transit system is higher than the money that would be recouped by fare evasion.

While you might believe both of these things, a school that places a lower priority on race issues may respond better to the second option’s focus on the fallible economics of the issue.

Structuring the Essay

Depending on how long the essay prompt is, you’ll want to use your time and word count slightly differently. For shorter essays (under 250 words), focus on your personal connection rather than the issue itself. You don’t have much space and you need to make it count. For standard essays (250-500 words), you can spend about half the time on the issue and half the time on your personal connection. This should allow you to get more into the nuance. For longer essays, you can write more on the issue itself. But remember, no matter how long the essay is, they ultimately want to learn about you–don’t spend so much time on the issue that you don’t bring it back to yourself.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Euler and the Seven Bridges of Königsberg Problem

A neurophilosophy of power and constitutionalism, openmind books, scientific anniversaries, present and future in the fight against alzheimer's, featured author, latest book, 15 global challenges for the next decades.

Humanity is facing major global challenges that are transnational in nature and transinstitutional in solution. This essay confronts fifteen of the biggest issues, including how to achieve sustainable development, guarantee access to clean drinking water, foster ethical market economies and fight new as well as re-emerging diseases. While the panorama may appear pessimistic, humanity is winning more than losing – even if where we are losing is very serious. But these challenges cannot be addressed by any single government or institution acting alone. They require collaborative actions among governments, international organizations, universities, NGOs and creative individual. We need a serious focus on green growth, falling water tables, rising food/water/energy prices, population growth, resource depletion, climte change, terrorism, and changing disease patterns, otherwise the results may well be catastrophic.

Although many of the trends and possible future developments explained in this chapter can be quite depressing, based on sixteen years of research on the 15 Global Challenges identified by The Millennium Project, I have come to the conclusion that we have the resources and ideas to address them, and that there is more agreement about how to build a better future than is evident in the media, yet decision-making and institutional capacity — so far — is insufficient to make the decisions fast enough and on the scale large enough to build a better future.

Nevertheless, pessimism is unfounded, and it gives the excuse not to try to make better decisions that improve the future. Humanity is winning more than losing, although where we are losing is very serious. There is no guarantee that all will work out well, but the odds are in our favor — especially if more people and institutions understand that it is possible that we can all succeed, because we are already succeeding in many areas. If, however, more people and institutions do not get more strategic about addressing these challenges, then the negative scenarios are more likely.

When you consider the many wrong decisions and good decisions not taken — day after day and year after year around the world — it is amazing that we are still making as much progress as we are.

Fifty years ago, people argued that poverty elimination was an idealistic fantasy and a waste of money to try and eliminate; however, extreme poverty has fallen from 52 percent of the world in 1981 to about 20 percent in 2010. Extraordinary! The majority of the world was in extreme poverty just thirty-one years ago and now less than 20 percent?! Pessimists are just not doing their homework. And today people argue about the best ways to achieve that goal, not whether or not it is worthwhile to try.

Twenty-five years ago, people thought that civilization would end in a thermo-nuclear world war III between the USSR and the USA; today people think everyone should have access to the world’s knowledge via the Internet, regardless of income, nationality, or ideology. Extraordinary change! Within one lifetime. And now, an even more amazing thing: Google is making the phrase “I don’t know” obsolete.

It is possible within twenty-five years that anyone who wants it could have computational power many times beyond their individual brain’s capacity — and have that capacity available twenty-four hours a day, and seven days a week while walking down a street with just voice recognition from imbedded intelligent computer chips in buildings. You won’t need your own computer to access all that.

But we all know the future is not necessarily rosy. If current trends in population growth, resource depletion, climate change, terrorism, organized crime, and disease continue and converge over the next 50–100 years, it is easy to imagine a continually unstable world with a series of catastrophic results. At the same time, if current trends in self-organization via future Internets, transnational cooperation, materials science, 3-D printing, alternative energy, cognitive science, inter-religious dialogues, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology continue and converge over the next 50–100 years, it is easy to imagine a world that works for all.

Computational biophysics can simulate the physical forces among atoms, making medical diagnostics and treatment more individually accurate. Computational biology can create computer matching programs to quickly reduce the number of possible cures for specific diseases, with millions of people donating their unused computer capacity to run the matching programs (grid computing). Computational media allows extraordinary pixel and voxel detail when zooming in and out of 3-D images — making it seem more real than reality. Computational engineering brings together the world’s available information and computer models to rapidly accelerate efficiencies in design. All these are changing the nature of science, medicine, and engineering, and their acceleration is attached to Moore’s law; hence, computational everything will continue to accelerate the knowledge explosion. Tele-medicine, tele-education, and tele-everything will connect humanity, the built environment, and computational everything to address our global challenges.

The world is getting richer, healthier, better educated, more peaceful, and better connected and people are living longer, yet half the world is potentially unstable. Protesters around the world show a growing unwillingness to tolerate unethical decision-making by power elites. An increasingly educated and Internet-connected generation is rising up against the abuse of power. Food prices are rising, water tables are falling, corruption and organized crime are increasing, environmental viability for our life support is diminishing, debt and economic insecurity are increasing, climate change continues, and the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen dangerously.

Information and communications systems from simple mobile phones to supercomputers are augmenting human decision-making. It is reasonable to assume that the accelerating rates of these changes will eventually connect humanity and technology into new kinds of decision-making with global real-time feedback.

We have the resources and ideas to address them, and […] there is more agreement about how to build a better future than is evident in the media, yet decision-making and institutional capacity — so far — is insufficient to make the decisions fast enough and on the scale large enough to build a better future.

But history has taught us that good ideas and technologies can have unintended and negative consequences. These capabilities will eventually make it possible for a single individual acting alone to make and deploy a bioweapon of mass destruction and for organized crime to become far more powerful than today — when its combined income is already twice that of the total of the world’s military budgets. These and other dangerous future possibilities are not inevitable; there are many excellent solutions being pursued and making great progress, unbeknownst to the general public. Every year, The Millennium Project updates data about the global situation and prospects for the future, with most of the data updates going slowly but surely in a positive direction. Nevertheless, the world is in a race between implementing ever-increasing ways to improve the human condition and the seemingly ever-increasing complexity and scale of global problems.

So, how is the world doing in this race? What’s the score so far? A review of the trends of the twenty-eight variables used in The Millennium Project’s global State of the Future Index (SOFI) provides a score card on humanity’s performance in addressing the most important challenges.

An international Delphi panel selected over a hundred indicators of progress or regress for the 15 Global Challenges described later in this chapter. Variables were then chosen that had at least twenty years of reliable historical data. The resulting twenty-eight variables were submitted to an international panel selected by The Millennium Project Nodes to forecast the best and worst value for each variable in ten years. The results were integrated into the 2012 SOFI (Glenn, Gordon and Florescu 2012).

Where are we winning?

• Increasing access to water
• Increasing literacy rates
• Extending life expectancy at birth
• Reducing poverty (living on $1.25 a day)
• Reducing infant mortality
• Reducing war
• Reducing HIV prevalence
• Increasing the number of Internet users
• Increasing GDP per capita
• Increasing the number of women in parliaments
• Increasing secondary school enrollment
• Improving energy efficiency
• Reducing population growth
• Reducing the prevalence of undernourishment
• Reducing nuclear proliferation

Where are we losing?

• Increasing total debt
• Increasing unemployment
• Increasing income inequality
• Increasing the human ecological footprint/reducing biocapacity ratio
• Increasing greenhouse gas emissions
• Increasing terrorist attacks
• Reducing voter turnout

Where is there either no significant change or change is not clear?

• Freedom rights
• Electricity from renewables compared to non-renewables
• Forest lands
• R&D expenditures
• Physicians per capita

Evolution of the 15 Global challenges

In 1996, The Millennium Project3 asked several hundred futurists around the world what was going on now that could become very significant to the future in twenty-five years’ time and that is either not know or misunderstood. A total of 182 developments were collected by the Delphi survey. Another set of Delphi surveys and interviews collected and rated 131 actions to address these developments. These were all distilled into fifteen global issues with overviews and strategies.

These global issues identified by the Delphi surveys and interviews in 1996–1997 were:

• World population is growing; food, water, education, housing, and medical care must grow apace.
• Fresh water is becoming scarce in localized areas of the world.
• The gap in living standards between the rich and poor promises to become more extreme and divisive.
• The threat of new and re-emerging diseases and immune micro-organisms is growing.
• Capacity to decide is diminishing (as issues become more global and complex under conditions of increasing uncertainty and risk).
• Terrorism is increasingly destructive, proliferating, and difficult to prevent.
• Population growth and economic growth are interacting adversely with environmental quality and natural resources.
• The status of women is changing.
• Religious, ethnic, and racial conflicts are increasingly severe.
• Information technology offers both promise and peril.
• Organized crime groups are becoming sophisticated global enterprises.
• Economic growth is bringing both promising and threatening consequences.
• Nuclear power plants around the world are aging.
• The HIV epidemic will continue to spread.
• Work, unemployment, leisure, and underemployment are changing.

With sixteen years of hindsight, these issues are still indeed critical to the future. However, The Millennium Project’s Planning Committee at that time felt these issues stressed the problems more than the opportunities, giving an unbalanced view of the future. To correct this, the same process of collecting judgments and research conclusions of futurists via Delphi surveys and interviews was conducted in 1997–1998. This time, the international panel of futurists was asked what positive developments could evolve over the foreseeable future to significantly improve the human condition. A total of 180 developments were identified with 213 actions to increase the likelihood that they will improve the human condition; the results were then distilled to 15 Global Opportunities with overviews and strategies.

The global opportunities identified in 1997–1998 were:

• Achieving sustainable development
• Increasing the acceptance of global long-term perspectives in policymaking
• Expanding the potential for scientific and technological breakthroughs
• Transforming authoritarian regimes to democracies
• Encouraging diversity and shared ethical values
• Reducing the rate of population growth
• Evolving strategies for world peace and security
• Developing alternative sources of energy
• Globalizing the convergence of information and communications technologies (ICT)
• Increasing advances in biotechnology
• Encouraging economic development through ethical market economies
• Increasing the economic autonomy of women and other groups
• Promoting inquiry into new and sometimes counter-intuitive ideas
• Pursuing promising space projects
• Improving institutions

The following year we combined the two lists into 15 Global Challenges through a series of Delphi surveys and interviews, and we identified 213 actions. At this point the representatives for Finland on The Millennium Project Planning Committee said, “Stop! Don’t keep changing. This is a good list. Keep it; we want to use it to evaluate progress in our country. If you keep changing, it will be difficult for us to compare progress from one year to the next.” So the Global Challenges have remained the same.

The 15 global challenges in 2012

The 15 Global Challenges from 1999 to 2012 are:

How can sustainable development be achieved for all while addressing global climate change?

How can everyone have sufficient clean water without conflict, how can population growth and resources be brought into balance, how can genuine democracy emerge from authoritarian regimes, how can policymaking be made more sensitive to global long-term perspectives, how can the global convergence of ict work for everyone, how can ethical market economies be encouraged to help reduce the gap between rich and poor, how can the threat of new and re-emerging diseases and immune micro-organisms be reduced, how can the capacity to decide be improved as the nature of work and institutions changes, how can shared values and new security strategies reduce ethnic conflicts, terrorism, and the use of weapons of mass destruction, how can the changing status of women help improve the human condition, how can transnational organized crime networks be stopped from becoming more powerful and sophisticated global enterprises, how can growing energy demands be met safely and efficiently, how can scientific and technological breakthroughs be accelerated to improve the human condition, how can ethical considerations become more routinely incorporated into global decisions.

The order of each of the issues, opportunities, and challenges are not prioritized by any definition of importance. Challenge 1 is not more or less important than Challenge 15. The volume of responses from the international panel was used to order the items in each list. The challenges are interdependent: an improvement in one makes it easier to address others; deterioration in one makes it harder to address others. Arguing whether one is more important than another is like arguing that the human nervous system is more important than the respiratory system. These challenges are transnational in nature and transinstitutional in solution. They cannot be addressed by any government or institution acting alone. They require collaborative action among governments, international organizations, corporations, universities, NGOs, and creative individuals.

Total human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are about 49.5 gigatons of CO2 equivalent per year.5 Nature absorbs about half of this annually, but its ability to do that is diminishing. Global ecosystem services are being depleted faster than nature can resupply. The world is warming faster than the latest IPCC projections.6 According to NOAA, the first six months of 2012 were the hottest in the US since record-keeping began in 1895. Glaciers are melting, polar ice caps are thinning, and coral reefs are dying. Rapid population and economic growth over the past hundred years has reduced environmental viability for life support; the impact over the next hundred years could be far greater. It is time for a US–China Apollo-like ten-year goal and global R&D program to address climate change. These two countries are the greatest emitters of GHGs and have the largest economies. Such a joint program — with other countries joining in — could focus on accelerating the development of new technologies like electric cars, saltwater agriculture, carbon capture and reuse, solar power satellites, pure meat without growing animals, maglev trains, urban systems ecology, and a global climate change collective intelligence to support better decisions and keep track of it all. These technologies would have to supplement other key policy measures, including carbon taxes, cap and trade schemes, reduced deforestation, industrial efficiencies, cogeneration, conservation, recycling, and a switch of government subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Over two billion people have gained access to improved drinking water since 1990, but 783 million people still do not have such access. Water tables are falling around the world, 40 percent of humanity gets its water from sources controlled by two or more countries, and global water demand could be 40 percent more than the current supply by 2030 (2030 Water Resources Group 2009). The slow but steady Himalayan meltdown is one of the greatest environmental security threats in Asia. Its mountains contain 40 percent of the world’s freshwater, which feeds 40 percent of humanity via seven great Asian rivers. Breakthroughs in desalination — such as the pressurization of seawater to produce vapor jets, filtration via carbon nanotubes, and reverse osmosis — are needed along with less costly pollution treatment and better water catchments. Future demand for freshwater could be reduced by saltwater agriculture on coastlines, hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical urban agriculture installations in buildings, the production of pure meat without growing animals, increased vegetarianism, fixes for leaking pipes, and the reuse of treated water.

The UN mid-range forecast estimates that world population is expected to grow by another two billion in just thirty-eight years, creating an unprecedented demand for resources. Most of that growth will be in low-income urban Asia. Today Asia has 4.2 billion people and is expected to grow to 5.9 billion by 2050. By 2030, the global middle class is expected to grow by 66 percent — about 3 billion more consumers with increased purchasing power and expectations (McKinsey Global Institute 2011). Population dynamics are changing from high mortality and high fertility to low mortality and low fertility. The world’s fertility rate has fallen from 6 children in 1900 to 2.5 today.7 If fertility rates continue to fall, world population could actually shrink to 6.2 billion by 2100, creating an elderly world difficult to support. Today life expectancy at birth is 68 years, which is projected to grow to 81 by 2100.8 By 2050 there could be as many people over 65 as there are under 15,9 requiring new concepts of retirement. Scientific and medical breakthroughs are likely over the next 20–30 years that could give many people longer and more productive lives than most would believe possible today. People will work longer and create many forms of self-employed tele-work, part-time work, and job rotation to reduce the economic burden on younger generations and to maintain living standards. If new concepts of employment are not invented, increased political instability seems inevitable.

Current demographic shifts and improved education, compounded by economic volatility, are increasing demands for more transparent democratic systems. Although democracy has been growing for over twenty years, Freedom House reports that political and civil liberties declined in 2011 for the sixth consecutive year. New democracies must address previous abuses of power to earn citizens’ loyalties without increasing social discord, slowing the reconciliation process, and reducing human rights. An educated and correctly informed public is critical to democracy; hence, it is important to learn how to counter and prevent various ideological disinformation campaigns, information warfare, politically motivated government censorship, reporters’ self-censorship, and interest-group control over the Internet and other media, while reinforcing the pursuit of truth.

Old ideological, political, ethnic, and nationalistic legacies also have to be addressed to maintain the long-range trend toward democracy. Since democracies tend not to fight each other and since humanitarian crises are far more likely under authoritarian than democratic regimes, expanding democracy is sine qua non for building a peaceful and just future for all. Meanwhile, international procedures are needed to assist failed states or regions within states, and intervention strategies need to be designed for when a state constitutes a significant threat to its citizens or others.

Humanity needs a global, multifaceted, general long-term view of the future with long-range goals to help it make better decisions today to build a brighter future. Attaining such long-range goals as landing on the moon or eradicating smallpox that were considered impossible inspired many people to go beyond selfish, short-term economic interests to great achievements. Short-term, selfish economic decision-making has led to many problems, ranging from the Euro crisis to the political stalemate in Washington and insufficient actions from Rio+20. The options to create and update national, global, and corporate strategic foresight are so complex and are changing so rapidly that it is almost impossible for decision-makers to gather and understand the information required to make and implement coherent policy. At the same time, the consequences of incoherent policies are so serious that new systems for collective intelligence are needed to improve resilience.

National legislatures could establish standing “Committees for the Future,” as Finland has done. National foresight studies should be continually updated, improved, and conducted interactively with issue networks of policymakers and futurists and with other national long-range efforts. Decision-makers and their advisors should be trained in futures research (Glenn and Gordon 2009) for optimal use of these systems. Governments could add foresight as a performance evaluation criterion, add foresight to their training institutions, and require a “future considerations” section be added to policy reporting requirements. Government budgets should consider five-to-ten-year allocations attached to rolling five-to-ten-year SOFIs, scenarios, and strategies. Governments with short-term election cycles should consider longer, more stable terms and funds for the staff of parliamentarians. A successful Global Future Collective Intelligence System should help policymaking become more sensitive to global long-term perspectives. Participatory policymaking processes augmented by e-government services can be created, informed by futures research. Universities should fund the convergence of disciplines, teach futures research and synthesis as well as analysis, and produce generalists in addition to specialists.

These challenges are transnational in nature and transinstitutional in solution. They cannot be addressed by any government or institution acting alone. They require collaborative action among governments, international organizations, corporations, universities, NGOs, and creative individuals.

Over two billion Internet users, over six billion mobile phone subscriptions,10 and uncountable billions of hardware devices are intercommunicating in a vast real-time multi-network, supporting every facet of human activity. It is reasonable to assume that most of the world will experience ubiquitous computing and eventually spend most of its time in some form of technologically augmented reality. The race is on to complete the global nervous system of civilization. Ericsson forecasts that 85 percent of the world’s population will be covered by high-speed mobile Internet in 2017. Humanity, the built environment, and ubiquitous computing are becoming a continuum of consciousness and technology reflecting the full range of human behavior, from individual philanthropy to organized crime. New forms of civilization will emerge from this convergence of minds, information, and technology worldwide.

One of the next “big things” could be the emergence of collective intelligences for issues, businesses, and countries, forming new kinds of organizations able to address problems and opportunities without conventional management. Collective intelligence can be thought of as a continually emerging property that we create (hands on) from synergies among people, software, and information that continually learns from feedback to produce just-in-time knowledge for better decisions than any one of these elements acting alone. Real-time streamed communications shorten the time it takes from situational awareness to decisions. The Web is evolving from the present user-generated and participatory system (Web 2.0) into Web 3.0, a more intelligent partner that has knowledge about the meaning of the information it stores and has the ability to reason with that knowledge, using conceptual descendants of today’s Jeopardy-beating Watson from IBM and Apple’s affectionate Siri.

Low-cost computers are replacing high-cost weapons as an instrument of power in asymmetrical warfare. Cyberspace is also a new medium for disinformation among competing commercial interests, ideological adversaries, governments, and extremists, and it is a battleground between cybercriminals and law enforcement. Fundamental rethinking will be required to ensure that people will be able to have reasonable faith in information. We have to learn how to counter future forms of information warfare that could otherwise lead to the distrust of all forms of information in cyberspace. Nevertheless, the value of ICT for reducing the divisions among people outweighs its divisiveness. It is hard to imagine how the world can work for all without reliable tele-education, tele-medicine, and tele-everything. Universal broadband access should become a national priority for developing countries to make it easier to use the Internet to connect developing-country professionals overseas with the development processes back home, improve educational and business usage, and make e-government and other forms of development more available.

Assuming no new European crisis and that Europe’s recession will only shrink their economy by –0.3 percent, the IMF estimates that the world economy will grow at 3.5 percent in 2012. With world population growth at 1 percent, humanity will get about 2.5 percent wealthier by traditional standards. According to the World Bank, extreme poverty ($1.25/day) has fallen from 1.94 billion people (52 percent of the world) in 1981 to 1.29 billion (about 20 percent) in 2010, while world population increased from 4.5 billion to nearly 7 billion during the same time. At this rate, however, about one billion people might still be living in extreme poverty in 2015.11 World unemployment grew to 9 percent in 2011 from 8.3 percent in 2010.12 The landscape of geo-economic power is changing rapidly as the influence of BRIC and other emerging economies as well as of multinational enterprises is rising. Lower- and middle-income countries with surplus labor will be needed in higher-income countries with labor shortages. This could continue the brain drain problem, yet online computer matching systems can connect those overseas to the development process back home.

The 2012 State of the Microcredit reports that the number of very poor families receiving a microloan rose from 7.6 million in 1997 to 137.5 million in 2010, affecting more than 687 million people. The rapid increase of entrepreneurship, self-employment and SMEs, plus global communications and an international division of labor that develop new forms of business governance and relationships, all have the potential to raise living standards and reduce income disparities among nations.

Ethical market economies require improved fair trade, increased economic freedom, a “level playing field” guaranteed by an honest judicial system with adherence to the rule of law, and by governments that provide political stability, a chance to participate in local development decisions, reduced corruption, insured property rights, business incentives to comply with social and environmental goals, a healthy investment climate, and access to land, capital, and information. Approximately one billion people in ninety-six countries now belong to a cooperative, according to the International Co-operative Alliance. Since half of the world’s major economies are multinationals, these businesses play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and in building a sustainable economic system. Direction from central government with relatively free markets is competing with the decentralized, individualized private enterprise for lifting people out of poverty. The world needs a long-term strategic plan for a global partnership between rich and poor. Such a plan should use the strength of free markets and rules based on global ethics.

Humanity, the built environment, and ubiquitous computing are becoming a continuum of consciousness and technology reflecting the full range of human behavior, from individual philanthropy to organized crime. New forms of civilization will emerge from this convergence of minds, information, and technology worldwide.

The health of humanity continues to improve. The incidence of infectious diseases is falling, as is mortality from such diseases as malaria, measles, and even HIV/AIDS.13 New HIV infections have declined 21 percent over the past 12 years, and AIDS-related deaths dropped by 19 percent between 2004 and 2010.14 The US Food and Drug Administration have approved Truvada, the first drug approved to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals.15 However, a new infectious disease has been discovered each year over the past forty years, twenty diseases are now drug-resistant, and old diseases have reappeared, such as cholera, yellow fever, plague, diphtheria, and several others. In the last six years, more than 1 100 epidemics have been verified. International collaboration to reduce HIV, SARS, and H1N1 (swine flu) has built better global health systems. The dramatic improvements in health and medical services over the past twenty years could be reduced by the ongoing economic problems that are cutting health budgets around the world. The global public debt is about $40 trillion, while the world’s GDP in 2012 is about $80 trillion (PPP). Bill Gates and others supporting health programs are pleading with G20 governments to keep their pledges of $80 billion annually from 2015 onward to create a healthier world.16 Because the world is aging and is increasingly sedentary, cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of death in the developing as well as the industrial world. However, infectious diseases are the second largest killer and cause about 67 percent of all preventable deaths of children under five (pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and measles). Nevertheless, the last twenty years have seen a 30-percent drop in deaths of children under five. Mortality from infectious disease fell from 25 percent in 1998 to less than 16 percent in 2010.17

High-density population growth and slow progress in sanitation in poorer areas keep many preventable diseases active. Some of the largest health impacts remain schistosomiasis (200 million cases), dengue fever (50 million new cases a year), measles (30 million cases a year), onchocerciasis (18 million cases in Africa), typhoid and leishmaniasis (approximately a million each globally), rotavirus (600 000 child deaths per year), and shigella childhood diarrhea (600 000 deaths per year).18 The best ways to address epidemic disease remain early detection, accurate reporting, prompt isolation, and transparent information and communications infrastructure, with increased investment in clean drinking water, sanitation, and handwashing. WHO’s eHealth systems, smartphone technology, international health regulations, immunization programs, and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network are other essentials of the needed infrastructure.

The acceleration of change and interdependence, plus the proliferation of choices and the growing number of people and cultures involved in decisions, increases uncertainty, unpredictability, ambiguity, and surprise. This increasing complexity is forcing humans to rely more and more on expert advice and computers. Just as the autonomic nervous system runs most biological decision-making, so too are computer systems increasingly making the day-to-day decisions of civilization. The acceleration of change reduces the time from the recognition of the need to make a decision to completion of all the steps to make the right decision. As a result, many of the world’s institutions and decision-making processes are inefficient, slow, and ill informed. Institutional structures are not anticipating and responding quickly enough to the acceleration of change; hence, social unrest is likely to continue until new structures provide better management. This may also trigger a return to the city and subregional cooperation as the locus of policy leadership and management. Today’s challenges cannot be addressed by governments, corporations, NGOs, universities, and intergovernmental bodies acting alone; hence, transinstitutional decision-making has to be developed, and common platforms have to be created for transinstitutional strategic decision-making and implementation.

Although the vast majority of the world is living in peace, half the world continues to be vulnerable to social instability and violence due to growing global and local inequalities, falling water tables, increasing energy demands, outdated institutional structures, inadequate legal systems, and increasing costs of food, water, and energy. In local areas of worsening political, environmental, and economic conditions, increasing migrations can be expected, which in turn can create new conflict.19 Add in the future effects of climate change, and there could be up to 400 million migrants by 2050,20 further increasing conditions for conflict. Yet the probability of a more peaceful world is increasing due to the growth of democracy, international trade, global news media, the Internet, NGOs, satellite surveillance, better access to resources, and the evolution of the UN and other international and regional organizations.

Ethical market economies require improved fair trade, increased economic freedom, a “level playing field” guaranteed by an honest judicial system with adherence to the rule of law, and by governments that provide political stability and business incentives.

The number of nuclear weapons has fallen from 65 000 in 1985 to 11 540 in 2011.21 Wars — as defined by 1 000 or more battle-related deaths — have been steadily decreasing over the past two decades, although the past two years have seen an increase, mainly due to the Arab Spring/Awakening.22 Terrorism is changing from transnationally organized attacks to attacks by small groups and single individuals.23 Mail-order DNA and future desktop molecular and pharmaceutical manufacturing could one day give single individuals the ability to make and use weapons of mass destruction from biological weapons. Ubiquitous sensor systems in public spaces plus better mental health and education systems will be needed to reduce such future threats. Governments and industrial complexes find themselves under multiple daily cyberattacks (espionage or sabotage) from other governments, competitors, hackers, and organized crime. It seems intellectual software arms races will be inevitable. Backcasted peace scenarios should be created through participatory processes to show plausible alternatives to the full range of conflict possibilities.

The empowerment of women has been one of the strongest drivers of social evolution over the past century and is acknowledged as essential for addressing the global challenges facing humanity. Women are increasingly engaged in decision-making, promoting their own views and demanding accountability. Women account for 19.8 percent of the membership of national legislative bodies worldwide, and in thirty-two countries the figure is over 30 percent. Women represent 14.3 percent of the total 273 presiding officers in parliaments.24 There are twenty women heads of state or government. Patriarchal structures are increasingly challenged around the world. Women hold 41 percent of the world’s paid employment, but hold 20 percent of senior manager positions.25 The process toward gender political-economic equality seems irreversible. Meanwhile, violence against women is the largest war today, as measured by deaths and casualties per year. In some areas, violence against women at one point in their lives can be as high as 70 percent.26 About 70 percent of people living in poverty are women, who also account for 64 percent of the 775 million adult illiterates.27

The world is slowly waking up to the enormity of the threat of transnational organized crime (TOC), but it has not adopted a global strategy to counter it. In the absence of such a strategy, TOC income has grown to more than $3 trillion a year. Its potential ability to buy and sell government decisions could make democracy an illusion. Havocscope.com estimates the total black market in only 91 of 196 countries in the world to be valued at $1.93 trillion. There is a degree of double accounting in some of these numbers, but to share the scope of Havocsope’s estimates: corruption and bribery represent $1.6 trillion; money laundering, $1.4 trillion; counterfeiting and intellectual property piracy, $654 billion; global drug trade, $411 billion; financial crimes, $194 billion; environmental crimes, $138 billion; and human trafficking and prostitution, $240 billion. These figures do not include extortion and data from 105 countries; hence, the total organized crime income could be over $3 trillion — about twice as big as all the military budgets in the world.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has called on all states to develop national strategies to counter TOC as a whole. This could provide input to the development and implementation of global strategy and coordination. It is time for an international campaign by all sectors of society to develop a global consensus for action against TOC. OECD’s Financial Action Task Force has made forty good recommendations to counter money laundering, but these crimes continue unabated. Two conventions help bring some coherence to addressing TOC: the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which came into force in 2003; and the Council of Europe’s Convention on Laundering, which came into force in May 2008. Possibly through an addition to one of these conventions or the International Criminal Court, a financial prosecution system could be established as a new body to complement the related organizations addressing various parts of TOC. In cooperation with these organizations, the new system would identify and establish priorities on top criminals (defined by the amount of money laundered) to be prosecuted one at a time. It would prepare legal cases, identify suspects’ assets that can be frozen, establish the current location of the suspect, assess the local authorities’ ability to make an arrest, and send the case to one of a number of preselected courts. Such courts, like UN peacekeeping forces, could be identified and trained before being called into action, so as to be ready for instant duty. Once all these conditions were met, then all the orders would be executed at the same time to apprehend the criminal, freeze access to the assets, open the court case, and then proceed to the next TOC leader on the priority list. Prosecution would be outside the accused’s country. Although extradition is accepted by the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, a new protocol would be necessary for courts to be deputized like military forces for UN peacekeeping, via a lottery system among volunteer countries. After initial government funding, the system would receive its financial support from the frozen assets of convicted criminals rather than depending on government contributions.

In just thirty-eight years, the world should create enough electrical production capacity for an additional 3.3 billion people. There are 1.3 billion people (20 percent of the world) without electricity today,28 and an additional 2 billion people will be added to the world’s population between now and 2050. Compounding this is the requirement to decommission aging nuclear power plants and to replace or retrofit fossil fuel plants. About 3 billion people still rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating.29 If the long-term trends toward a wealthier and more sophisticated world continue, our energy demands by 2050 could be more than expected. However, the convergences of technologies are accelerating to make energy efficiencies far greater by 2050 than most would believe possible today. So the world is in a race between making a fundamental transition to safer energy fast enough, and the growing needs of an expanding and wealthier population.

About half of the new energy generation capacity comes from renewable sources today.30 IPCC’s best-case scenario31 estimates that renewable sources could meet 77 percent of global energy demand by 2050, while the World Wildlife Fund claims 100 percent is possible.32 The costs of geothermal, wind, solar, and biomass are falling. Setting a price for carbon emissions could increase investments. If the full financial and environmental costs for fossil fuels were considered — mining, transportation, protecting supply lines, water for cooling, cleanups, waste storage, and so on — then renewables will be seen as far more cost-effective than they are today. Without major breakthroughs in technologies and behavioral changes, however, the majority of the world’s energy in 2050 will still come from fossil fuels. In 2010, the world spent $409 billion on fossil fuel subsidies,33 about $110 billion more than in 2009, encouraging inefficient and unsustainable use.

The continued acceleration of science and technology (S&T) is fundamentally changing what is possible, and access to the S&T knowledge that is changing prospects for the future is becoming universal. Computational chemistry, computational biology, and computational physics are changing the nature of science, the acceleration of which is attached to Moore’s law. R&D on 3-D printers is merging the industrial, information, and biological revolutions. Synthetic biology is assembling DNA from different species in new combinations to create lower-cost biofuels, more precise medicine, healthier food, new ways to clean up pollution, and future capabilities beyond current belief. Swarms of nanorobots are being developed that should be able to manage nano-scale building blocks for novel material synthesis and structures, component assembly, and self-replication and repair. Although synthetic biology and nanotech promise to make the extraordinary gains in efficiencies needed for sustainable development, their environmental health impacts are in question. CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, announced that it has discovered a Higgs-like boson particle that might explain the fundamental ability of particles to acquire mass, giving rise to future applications of energy and matter unimaginable today. We need a global collective intelligence system to track S&T advances, forecast consequences, and document a range of views so that all can understand the potential consequences of new S&T.

The acceleration of S&T change seems to grow beyond conventional means of ethical evaluation. Is it ethical to clone ourselves or bring dinosaurs back to life or to invent thousands of new life forms from synthetic biology? Public morality based on religious metaphysics is challenged daily by growing secularism, leaving many unsure about the moral basis for decision-making. Many turn back to old traditions for guidance, giving rise to the fundamentalist movements in many religions today. Unfortunately, religions and ideologies that claim moral superiority give rise to “we–they” splits that are being played out in conflicts around the world. The moral will to act in collaboration across national, institutional, religious, and ideological boundaries that is necessary to address today’s global challenges requires global ethics.

Collective responsibility for global ethics in decision-making is embryonic but growing. Corporate social responsibility programs, ethical marketing, and social investing are increasing. New technologies make it easier for more people to do more good at a faster pace than ever before. Single individuals initiate groups on the Internet, organizing actions worldwide around specific ethical issues. News media, blogs, mobile phone cameras, ethics commissions, and NGOs are increasingly exposing unethical decisions and corrupt practices. Advance software experts in the self-organizing international group called Anonymous have become a new force increasing world attention to help the Arab Spring, Wikileaks, the Occupy movement, and opposition to police brutality.

Global ethics are emerging around the world through the evolution of ISO standards and international treaties that are defining the norms of civilization. They may also be evolving from protests around the world that show a growing unwillingness to tolerate unethical decision-making by power elites. The proliferation and scope of unethical decisions that led to the 2008 financial crisis seem not to have been addressed sufficiently to prevent future crises. We need to create better incentives for ethics in global decisions, promote parental guidance to establish a sense of values, encourage respect for legitimate authority, support the identification and success of the influence of role models, implement cost-effective strategies for global education for a more enlightened world, and make behavior match the values people say they believe in. Entertainment media could promote memes like “make decisions that are good for me, you, and the world.”

Collective responsibility for global ethics in decision-making is embryonic but growing. Corporate social responsibility programs, ethical marketing, and social investing are increasing. New technologies make it easier for more people to do more good at a faster pace than ever before.

Some conclusions distilled from sixteen years of research on the global challenges

Without a serious focus on green growth, falling water tables, rising food/water/energy prices, population growth, resource depletion, climate change, terrorism, and changing disease patterns, catastrophic results around the world are likely and will force migrations over the next few decades to make much of the world increasingly unstable. To prevent this, fortunes will be made in areas such as green nanotech manufacturing, synthetic biology for medicine and energy, methods to increase human intelligence, retrofitting energy plants to produce construction material and buildings to produce energy, transferring agriculture from freshwater to saltwater on coastal regions of the word, electric vehicles, growing pure meat without growing animals, and using the principles of urban systems ecology to make cities become conscious technologies.

The global challenges facing humanity are transnational in nature and transinstitutional in solution. No government, international organization, or other form of institution acting alone can solve the problems described in this report: climate change, cybersecurity threats, organized crime, rich–poor gaps, environmental pollution, international finance, gender discrimination, changing disease situations, and the need for sustainable development. The world may have to move from governance by a mosaic of sometimes conflicting national government policies to a world increasingly governed by coordinated and mutually supporting global policies implemented at national and local levels.

Although many people criticize globalization’s potential cultural impacts, it is increasingly clear that cultural change is necessary to address global challenges. The development of genuine democracy requires cultural change, preventing the transmission of AIDS requires cultural change, sustainable development requires cultural change, ending discrimination against women requires cultural change, and ending ethnic violence requires cultural change.

Economic growth and technological innovation have led to better health and living conditions than ever before for more than half the people in the world, but unless our financial, economic, environmental, and social behaviors are improved along with our industrial technologies, the long-term future is in jeopardy.

Many see the world as a fixed-pie, zero-sum game, with someone’s gain becoming another’s loss. Others see an expanding pie, grown by new efficiencies and innovations, “a rising tide lifting all boats.” And a few others see the world as an exponential growth of pies — with the Internet redistributing the means of production in the knowledge economy, cutting through old hierarchical controls in politics, economics, and finance. They expect a world of unlimited possibilities and think that synergetic analysis will create a better world than decisions based solely on competitive analysis. Countering the “me-first, short-term profits” mindset may be essential to engaging the world in more serious consideration of long-term strategies.

Economic growth and technological innovation have led to better health and living conditions than ever before for more than half the people in the world, but unless our financial, economic, environmental, and social behaviors are improved along with our industrial technologies, the long-term future is in jeopardy. The world needs a long-term strategic plan for improving the human condition for all.

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Glenn, Jerome, and Theodore Gordon. 2009. Futures Research Methodology, Version 3.0. Washington, DC: The Millennium Project. Available at www.millennium-project.org/millennium/FRM-V3.html

Glenn, Jerome, Theodore Gordon and Elizabeth Florescu. 2012. “Chapter 2: State of the Future Index.” State of the Future. Washington, DC: The Millennium Project.

McKinsey Global Institute. 2011. Resource revolution: Meeting the world’s energy, materials, food, and water needs. November. Available at http://www.mckinsey.com/App_Media/Reports/Water/Charting_Our_Water_Future_Exec%20Summary_001.pdf

• Much of this material is based on research and analysis from previous State of the Future reports and is used with the permission of the authors and The Millennium Project. See www.millennium-project.org
• Jerome C. Glenn is the lead author of the annual State of the Future report from 1997 to 2013 and CEO of The Millennium Project.
• The Millennium Project is a global participatory think tank created in 1996 under the American Council for the United Nations University that is now an independent organization with forty-six nodes around the world. It identifies thought leaders and scholars to participate in research, connecting global and local perspectives.
• The complete text of the 15 Global Challenges totals 1 900 pages. It is available at http://www.millennium-project.org/millennium/2012SOF.html
• US Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency, http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/pdf/industry_mecs.pdf
• Distillation of multiple sources: http://www.global-warming-forecasts.com/underestimates.php
• See United Nations World Population Trends at http://www.un.org/popin/wdtrends.htm
• See World Health Organization figures at http://www.who.int/gho/mortality_burden_disease/life_tables/situation_trends/en/index.html
• See UN Population Division report, World Population Ageing: 1950-2050 at http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/
• World Bank report, Maximizing Mobile: 2012 Information and Communications for Development, at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTINFORMATIONANDCOMMUNICATIONANDTECHNOLOGIES/Resources/IC4D-2012-Report.pdf
• United Nations. 2010. Rethinking Poverty. New York: Department of Economic & Social Affairs, ST/ESA/324. Available at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/rwss/docs/2010/fullreport.pdf
• International Labor Organization, Global Unemployment Trends 2012. Available at http://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/global-employment-trends/WCMS_171571/lang—nl/index.htm
• World Health Organization, “MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases.” Available at http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/diseases/en/index.html
• UNAIDS. World AIDS Day Report 2011. Available at http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/ documents/unaidspublication/2011/JC2216_WorldAIDSday_ report_2011_en.pdf
• US Food and Drug Administration. “FDA Approves First Drug for Reducing the Risk of Sexually Acquired HIV Infection.” Press Release: July 16, 2012. Available at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm312210.htm
• Innovative vision from Bill Gates at the G20 Summit. Realizing a ‘Green Economy’ http://southgreeneconomy.blogspot.com/2011/11/innovative-vision-from-bill-gates-at.html
• World Health Organization. Millennium Development Goals: progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals (May 2011). Available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs290/en/index.html
• World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Available at http://apps.who.int/ghodata/
• International Organization of Migration. Migration, Climate Change, and the Environment. Available at http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/activities/by-theme/migration-climate-change-and-environment
• International Organization of Migration. Report of the Ninety-Ninth Session of the Council. Available at http://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/about_iom/en/council/99/MC_2310_Rev1.pdf
• Correspondence with International Atomic Energy Agency Staff.
•  Department of Peace and Conflict, Uppsala University, http://www.pcr.uu.se/research/ucdp/datasets/
• RAND Corporation, http://smapp.rand.org/rwtid/search.php
• Women in National Parliaments, http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm
• Women in Senior Positions in the European Union, www.ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=4746&langId=en
• UN Secretary-General’s Campaign, Violence Against Women, https://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/pdf/UNiTE_TheSituation_EN.pdf
• United Nations statistics and indicators on women and men, http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/indwm/
• International Energy Agency. World Energy Outlook 2011. Available at http://www.iea.org/Papers/2011/weo2011_energy_for_all.pdf
• UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate. Energy for a Sustainable Future. Available at http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/AGECCsummaryreport[1].pdf
• UN Environment Programme, “Global Renewable Energy Investment Powers to Record $257 Billion.” Available at http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=2688&ArticleID=9163&l=en
• Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation Special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Available at http://srren.ipcc-wg3.de/report/IPCC_SRREN_Full_Report.pdf
• The Energy Report: 100% Renewable Energy by 2050. Available at http://wwf.panda.org/ what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon _energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_ report/
• International Energy Agency. World Energy Outlook 2011. Available at http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/media/weowebsite/energysubsidies/ff_subsidies_slides.pdf

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World Studies Extended Essay: Global Themes

• Introduction
• Getting Started
• Global Themes
• Interdisciplinary Research
• What Makes Up a "Discipline"?
• Evaluating the Insights of Academic Disciplines
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• Examples of Globally Conscious Students

World Studies Global Themes

Conflict, peace, and security Culture, language, and identity Environmental and/or economic sustainability Equality and inequality Health and development Science, technology and society

Conflict, peace, and security

Culture, language, and identity, environmental and/or economic sustainability, equality and inequality, health and development, science, technology and society, wsee documents.

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• IB EE Subject Guide - World Studies, 2018
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• Sample Prompts for the WSEE RRS What should you write in your RRS? Use these questions and prompts to help you think through the various stages of the research for your WSEE: your initial ideas, your thoughts and reflections during the process, and your conclusions.
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Top 20 Current Global Issues We Must Address

What are the most pressing issues in the world today? What will demand the most attention in the next 5, 10, and 20+ years? In this article, which frequently refers to the World Economic Forum’s 17th Edition of the Global Risks Report, we’ll highlight 20 current global issues we must address, including issues related to climate change, COVID-19, social rights, and more. While it’s hardly a comprehensive discussion, it’s a solid introduction to the kinds of concerns facing our world today.

#1. Poverty

In fall 2022, the World Bank will update the International Poverty Line from $1.90 to $2.15. This means anyone living on less than $2.15 is in “extreme poverty.” Why the change? Increases in the costs of food, clothing, and shelter between 2011-2017 make the “real value of $2.15 in 2017 prices equal to $1.90 in 2011 prices. As for the World Bank’s goal to reduce extreme poverty to 3% or less by 2030, the pandemic has made it even harder. Extreme poverty isn’t the only poverty we have to contend with. 62% of the global population lives on less than $10/day. While there’s been progress over the years, the end of poverty is still far off.

Learn more about tackling poverty with an online course: Poverty & Population: How Demographics Shape Policy (Columbia University)

#2. Climate change

The IPCC released its sixth report in 2022. In its summary for policy-makers, the report’s authors outlined a series of near-term, mid-term, and long-term risks. If global warming reaches 1.5°C in the near term (2021-2040), it would cause “unavoidable increases in multiple climate hazards,” as well as “multiple risks to ecosystems and humans.” In the long term, climate change will present major health issues, premature deaths, risks to cities and settlements , and other dangers. Mitigation is desperately needed – and fast. Because of climate change ’s connection to other issues on this list, it’s one of the most serious challenges facing humanity.

Learn more about climate change with an online course: Science and Engineering of Climate Change (EDHEC Business School)

#3. Food insecurity

According to the 2022 Global Report on Food Crises , which is produced by the Global Network against Food Crises, the number of people in crisis or worse is the highest it’s been in the six years since the report has existed. Close to 193 million people were experiencing acute food insecurity in 2021, which is an increase of almost 40 million since 2020. This represents a staggering 80% increase since 2016. Causes include “economic shocks,” like an increase in global food prices. Domestic food price inflation in low-income countries also rose a lot. “Weather-related disasters” are also a big driver. For 15.7 million people in 15 countries, it was the primary driver of acute food insecurity.

Learn more about food insecurity with an online course: Feeding the World (University of Pennsylvania)

#4. Refugee rights

According to UNHCR, the war in Ukraine sparked the fastest-growing refugee crisis since WWII. Almost 6 million (as of May 10, 2022) people have fled. The UNCHR’s Refugee Brief , which compiles the week’s biggest refugee stories, has recently described situations in places like Somalia, where thousands of people were displaced due to severe drought. Between January and mid-April, more than 36,000 refugees from Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso arrived in Niger. These are only a few examples of the refugee crises, which endangers already marginalized groups – like women and children – and puts them at an increased risk of trafficking , violence, and death.

Learn more about refugee rights with an online course: Refugees in the 21st Century (University of London)

#5. COVID-19

The WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2022. It will continue to be a major issue for the world. The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2022 discusses COVID’s effects at length , including major economic recovery disparities and social erosion. According to a January 2022 article from NPR , there are also issues with vaccinations as many countries continue to have trouble getting doses. Distribution, vaccine hesitancy, healthcare systems, and other problems also factor into low vaccination rates. While we may never know the exact impact, the WHO estimates that between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021, there were around 14.9 million excess deaths linked to COVID-19.

Learn more about the impact of COVID-19 with an online course: Life After COVID-19: Get Ready for our Post-Pandemic Future (Institute for the Future)

#6. Future pandemic preparation and response

COVID-19 taught the world the importance of prepardeness. In a Harvard blog , Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, outlined the lessons the world should take to heart. The first: science has to guide policy. The politicization of the pandemic led to a lot of unnecessary damage. Another lesson is that science must pair with equity or it can actually make inequalities worse. This is obvious when looking at how low-income countries struggled to get the vaccines while wealthier countries stocked up. More resilient healthcare systems are also a must, as well as more coherent, global plans on how to respond. The world must also invest in research on contagious diseases, zoonotic diseases, the effectiveness of outbreak responses, and more.

Learn more about future pandemic response with an online course: Pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response (Politecnico di Milano)

#7. Healthcare

The healthcare industry has experienced major shifts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Economic Forum, there’s been new investments and innovations, especially from the technology and telehealth sectors. In 2021, $44 billion was spent on health innovation. The world will be seeing the effects of these innovations for years to come, though equity will no doubt be a major issue. In places like the United States, the pandemic also reaffirmed how broken healthcare systems can be. In an MIT News blog , Andrea Campbell, a professor of political science, says the pandemic revealed a “dire need” for investments in public-health infrastructure, as well as a need to expand healthcare access and insurance coverage.

Learn more about health inequity issues with an online course: Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare (University of Michigan)

#8. Mental health

Globally, almost 1 billion people have some form of mental disorder. The pandemic made the world’s mental health worse. According to a scientific brief from the WHO , there’s been a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide. Causes include social isolation, fear of sickness, grief, and financial anxieties. Health workers were also severely impacted, as well as young women and girls. The brief also highlights how the pandemic disrupted many mental health services, including services for substance abuse. Countries need to ensure access to mental health services as part of their COVID-19 recovery plans and beyond. It’s an economic decision, as well. The Lancet states that anxiety and depression alone cost the global economy around $1 trillion a year.

Learn more about mental health with an online course: The Science of Well-Being (Yale University)

#9. Disability rights

According to the WHO , over 1 billion people have some form of disability. Half can’t afford healthcare. They’re also more likely to live in poverty than those without a disability, have poorer health outcomes, and have less access to work and education opportunities. Human Rights Watch lists other discriminations disabled people face, such as an increased risk of violence. There’s been progress regarding disability rights, but many countries lack strong protections. The world still has a long way to go to ensure equality for those with disabilities.

Learn more about disability rights with an online courses: Disability Awareness and Support (University of Pittsburgh)

#10. LGBTQ+ rights

Members of the LGBTQ+ community face discrimination in many forms. According to Amnesty International , discrimination can target sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics. Even in more progressive countries like the United States, people face violence and discrimination. According to the Human Rights Campaign, more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were proposed in 2022. At least a dozen states are considering legislation that forbids schools from discussing or using a curriculum that covers sexual orientation and gender identity. Considering the United States’ influence in the world, this attack on LGBTQ+ rights will likely have consequences that need to be addressed.

Learn more about LGBTQ+ issues with an online courses .

#11. Reproductive justice

Reproductive justice – which encompasses more than just abortion rights – is threatened by legislation, lack of funding, lack of education, and restricted healthcare access. In most places, wealth is a big determinant of whether a person can access reproductive services. It’s better in some places than others, but as we’ve seen with other issues on this list, even “progressive” countries like the United States are experiencing major shifts. In June 2022, the Supreme Court is expected to overrule Roe v. Wade , a milestone court case that protected a pregnant woman’s right to abortion. The impact would be immediate and will likely influence other countries.

Learn more about reproductive justice and women’s rights: International Women’s Health and Human Rights (Stanford University)

#12. Children’s rights

Children are a very vulnerable group. In 2019, around 5.2 million children under five from mostly preventable and treatable causes. 2.4 million were newborns under 28 days old. Leading causes include preterm birth complications, pneumonia, and malaria. According to UNICEF, the climate crisis also represents a severe threat to kids. Around 1 billion kids live in “extremely high-risk countries” that are hit by the worst effects of climate change. 920 kids have trouble accessing clean water and 600 million are exposed to vector-borne diseases like malaria. Child labor also remains an issue. At the beginning of 2020, around 160 million were forced into labor while COVID-19 put 9 million more kids at risk. That’s almost 1 in 10 children globally. Almost half are in dangerous environments. As is often the case, the other issues on this list – climate change, poverty, COVID, gender equality, etc – factor into children’s rights.

Learn more about children’s rights: Children’s Human Rights – An Interdisciplinary Introduction (University of Geneva)

#13. Gender equality

Global gender equality has gradually improved over the years, but data from the 2021 Global Gender Report shows that the end of the global gender gap is still 135 years away. The pandemic played a huge role in reversing positive trends as women were hit harder financially. According to Oxfam , women experienced a 5% job loss while men experienced 3.9%. That means women lost about $800 million in 2020. This is a low estimate since it doesn’t count the informal economy, which includes millions of women. Women are also more likely to live in poverty, more affected by gender-based violence, and more affected by climate change.

Learn more about gender equality: Gender Analytics: Gender Equity through Inclusive Design (University of Toronto)

#14. Cybersecurity

The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2022 (page 9) listed cybersecurity vulnerabilities as a concern. The reason is rapid digitalization, which was triggered in part by COVID-19. Many “advanced economies” are now at a higher risk for cyberattacks. GRPS respondents identified cybersecurity failure as a critical short-term risk. In 2020, malware and ransomware attacks went up by 358% and 435%. There are a few reasons for this, including better (and easier) attack methods and poor governance. Cyberattacks have a swath of serious consequences and erode public trust. As countries become more dependent on digitalization, their cybersecurity needs to keep up.

Learn more about cybersecurity: IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate (IBM)

#15. Disinformation

Rapid digitalization comes with many issues, including the lightning-fast spread of disinformation. The WEF report describes deepfakes, an accessible AI technology, and its potential to sway elections and other political outcomes. Disinformation doesn’t need to be sophisticated to be successful, however. Through social media posts and videos, twelve anti-vax activists were responsible for almost ⅔ of all anti-vaccine content on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Their content flooded the internet with the type of harmful, fear-mongering disinformation that played a significant role in vaccine hesitancy and political radicalization. Because disinformation travels faster online than the truth, it’s a global issue that should be addressed.

Learn more about tackling disinformation: Communicating Trustworthy Information in the Digital World (University of Rotterdam)

#16. Freedom of the press

According to the Varieties of Democracy Institute (as reported in The Economist ), about 85% of people live in a country where press freedom has gone down in the past 5 years. After peaking at .65 in the early 2000s and 2011, the global average dropped to .49 in 2021. Major countries like China, India, Russia, Brazil, and Turkey saw significant declines. Journalists and news organizations face threats like violence, imprisonment, lack of funding, and coordinated online attacks and harassment. A free press is essential to a functioning democracy. Without press freedom, all human rights are at risk.

Learn more about freedom of expression: Human Rights for Open Societies (Utrecht University)

#17. Debt crises

In the WEF Global Risks Report (page 7), respondents named debt crises as one of the most pressing issues over the next decade, though respondents believe they will become most serious in just 3-5 years. COVID-19 is a big reason why. Government stimulus was necessary, but many countries are now left with debt burdens. For corporate and public finances in large economies, debt burdens can lead to defaults, bankruptcies, insolvency, and more. This is a far-reaching issue as it affects budgets for areas like healthcare and green energy.

Learn more about the debt: Finance for everyone – Debt (McMaster University)

#18. Corruption

Corruption encompasses a host of actions such as bribery, election manipulation, fraud, and state capture. The World Bank Group names corruption as a barrier to ending extreme poverty and “boosting shared prosperity” for the poorest populations. When it comes to addressing poverty, climate change, healthcare, gender equality, and more, corruption gets in the way. Because corruption is a global problem, global solutions are necessary. Reform, better accountability systems, and open processes will all help.

Learn more about tackling corruption: What is Corruption: Anti-Corruption and Compliance (University of Pennsylvania)

#19. Authoritarianism

According to Freedom House, global democracy is eroding. That includes countries with long-established democracies. In their 2022 report, the organization reveals that global freedom has been declining for the past 16 years. 60 countries faced declines in the last year. Only 25 saw improvements. Only 20% of the global population lives in Free countries. China, Russia, and other authoritarian countries have gained more power in the international system, while countries with established democracies – like the United States – are losing their freedoms. What can be done? Freedom House says success “requires a bold, sustained response that establishes support for democracy and countering authoritarianism.” Governments and citizens engage and stand for democracy.

Learn more about tackling authoritarianism: Citizenship and the Rule of Law (University of London)

#20. Global cooperation

Addressing the issues in this article is not an easy task. True progress is only possible through global cooperation, a fact which is woven through the WEF report. Everything from addressing cybersecurity threats to humanitarian emergencies to protecting democracy depends on strong cooperation between countries. As the report says in its preface: “Restoring trust and fostering cooperation within and between countries will be crucial to addressing these challenges and preventing the world from drifting further apart.” The challenges threatening global cooperation are just as clear as the need, however, which makes it one of the most serious issues of the day.

Learn more about global cooperation: Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

• Social Issues

Essay Sample on Global Issues Facing The World

It’s 2050, the teens of 2022 have just inherited the world but it’s in flames, unlivable, we don’t have enough resources to get into space, poverty has reached its peak. Earth, earth’s life, and the human race are doomed.

Now more than ever, we need to be more engaged with the things happening around them today. Issues such as racism,climate change, gender and sexuality equality, animal welfare, displaced people, war, identity security, and so much more are getting worse. We, the present day teens, must engage in these issues because they aren’t going away, we will inherit the mess adults leave behind, and we need to fix these issues now because we cannot afford to wait.

First of all, these issues are not going away. Adults in power are too lazy to do anything about these issues because it could cause them to not get as much money, or in some cases popularity. Politicians are too worried about themselves and the number of votes they get to focus on the real issues that won’t necessarily affect them but will affect younger and future generations. This selfishness and ignorance is causing important and valuable money to go towards the things that are affected- for example the Great Barrier Reef, but not solving the actual problem. They also forget that investing $1.8 trillion for these issues could generate $7.1 trillion in the future. The Selfishness and ignorance of people in power is causing these issues to not go away.

Furthermore, we will inherit this mess. When we, the present day teens, take the world into our hands the world will have fallen apart and the dreams we have now will be crushed. We won’t be able to live our lives and we won’t be able to make our own choices. The mental health of our generation and future generations will become even worse. Therefore future generations won’t be able to live without war and poverty at every corner and will not have a chance to see the beauty of the world at its highest point of joy and prosperity. When we inherit this mess of a world there will be nothing left unless we engage in these issues now.

Ultimately, we need to fix these issues now because we can’t afford to wait any longer. By 2030 the impacts and path of climate change will be irreversible and the Earth will go on a downward spiral to lifeless oblivion.  Additionally, 359 million people will be living in extreme poverty in today’s fragile states (63% of the world's poor) by 2030. The UN’s 2030 agenda is: people, prosperity, planet, partnership and peace - also known as the 5 ps, but the UN’s recent $100 billion promise to stop climate change was broken. The world will be nothing but ashes and rubble by the time we take it into our hands because of the lack of initiative and the slothfulness of those in power and influential people. We must fix these issues now or it will be too late.

To get involved you can educate yourself and others, voice your opinions and concerns to today’s decision-makers and people of influence- for example open letters. You can also help develop trusted sources of information and make a change now to influence those around you.

In conclusion, we must engage in critical issues because they aren’t going away, we will inherit this mess, and we need to fix these issues now because we can’t afford to wait. So get out there, educate yourself, make yourself heard, make a change yourself and save the world!

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• A Research Guide
• Research Paper Topics

35 Global Issues Research Paper Topics for Students

Read also: Research writing process: peculiarities and techniques.

35 Global Issues Topics for an A+ Grade

• The presidency of Trump and its impact on world politics
• Kidnapping and human trafficking: will it increase afterthe legalization of prostitution worldwide?
• The Doomsday Clock: its meaning and importance
• The global warming: what are its advantages and disadvantages?
• What the first piloted flight to Marswill change?
• Does violence at the border between USA and Mexico have global consequences?
• Holy wars: isthere any risk of them now?
• The raise of China: what are the possibilities for the country in the next ten years?
• Digital piracy as global phenomenon
• The global hunger: what can be done to eliminate it?
• The pollution problem: who or what contributes the most?
• Social media and their global influence
• Global flashmobs: what can they change?
• The phenomenon of petitions
• The overpopulation of the Earth: are there humane ways to prevent it?
• Shall we fight extinction of every endangered specie, or let the nature decide?
• Deforestation and its global impact
• The global impact of the third world countries
• The consequences of Brexit
• Space missions as a global uniting factor
• The secret societies: are they a real force?
• The Third World War: is the danger real?
• Mother Teresa and her influence on the world
• Gender problems worldwide
• Shall class segregation be eliminated completely?
• Ethnic conflicts: is there a global solution?
• Is the universal religion possible?
• The global poverty: what can be done?
• Recycling: what can we do on global scale?
• Are caste systems a global or a local problem?
• Does the power over the globe now belongs to corporations, not to the governments?
• Civil wars: are they internal affairs or the symptoms of global events?
• How do closed countries like People’s Republic of Korea influence the world?
• Humanitarian aid: how to help without harm?
• Is the world ready for global catastrophes?

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Contemporary Global Issues

How it works

Globalization has had an effect on just about every state in the world. The effects vary from social, political, and economic, all aspects of everyday life. By definition, globalization is “the process of increasing interconnectedness among societies such that events in one part of the world more and more have effects on peoples and societies far away” (Lamy, 2015). Many people have argued that this causes more harm than good, as it can create worldwide consequences from the mistakes or failures of one or few states.

However, globalization has been defended with claims that it encourages prosperity throughout the globe, and has created stronger relations between states. By looking at major world events, as well as the growth of the world’s economy, it can easily be argued that globalization has had a positive effect on the world.

One of the most prominent parts of globalization is its effects on trade and economic growth. Many point to trade as the start of globalization, when ancient civilizations would exchange resources with each other. Though initially the trade would include food, tools, and animals, it eventually evolved into a trade of ideas, methods, and beliefs. Today, we still see positive effects of global trade and business. Because of businesses have widen their market, we have seen more efficient markets, as well as a higher wealth equality around the world (Rao, 2013). The broader markets have helped many states see an increase in their way of life. A strong example of this is South Korea, which currently stands as the 15th largest economy in the world (Dixon, 2011). The global success of Korean-based companies such as Samsung, Hyundai, and Kia have helped the state to increase its wealth and quality of life for its people (Dixon, 2011). When compared to its bordering state, North Korea, which is much more closed off from the rest of the world, it is clear how much more of a positive effect globalization can have on states. The tensions between North and South Korea compared to other neighboring states also show how globalization can create better world security.

Many credit globalization as having truly come into effect after World War II, and with the formation of the United Nations. The consensus between European nations was that fascists like Hitler would look to those society had abandoned to fuel their cause (Lamy, 2015). To help prevent this, the United Nations was formed, to help establish basic rights worldwide, and to prevent more global conflicts from happening. This cooperation among nations also supported trade and relief to each other. The embrace of globalization helped states to work with each other, and establish closer connections. However, the strength of the United Nations was put to the test with the Suez Crisis in 1956. When Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, the state of Egypt saw an invasion by Israel, France, and Great Britain. Many point to this as Britain’s last attempt to hold control as a once-powerful empire (Brown, 2001). With the threat of war starting to loom, the United Nations had to show how they can help resolve conflict and prevent war. From pressure by the UN, the US, and the USSR, troops were eventually withdrawn. Though France and Great Britain felt humiliated from the crisis, war was successfully avoided, and many felt confident in the ability of the UN, which still remains today, and continues to work together on world issues.

Because of globalization, states worldwide are able to come together to combat issues that affect the globe. This is best shown when, in September of 2000, the UN came together and formed the “United Nations Millennium Declaration.” Here, eight goals were established to improve worldwide health, equality, way of life, and environment. This was a fifteen year endeavor, with its deadline in 2015. Though many of these issues still remain today, there has been vast improvement worldwide. The UN has credited the MDGs as being the “most successful anti-poverty movement in history” (Galatsidas, 2015). Because of the UN and their goals of the MDGs, we have see large improvements in the world. This includes child mortality being reduced by half, a rise in net enrollment, and a decrease in HIV infections by nearly 40% (Galatsidas, 2015). If it weren’t for the united efforts of the UN, it is unlikely that conditions in the world would have improved as much. Globalization has shown that states working together and cooperating more have helped shaped the world to be in much better condition. Though some of the MDG targets weren’t met, it has still accomplished much in combating diseases, spread of education, and improving world health.

One of the most prominent parts of globalization, that people experience the most, is the spread of culture and knowledge. Because of international business and trade, states have been able to share aspects of their culture with the world. As mentioned before, South Korea has been able to spread itself around the world with companies such as Samsung and Hyundai (Dixon, 2011). Entertainment industries have also seen worldwide spread, through video games, film, animation, and literature. Food and clothing have also been spread around the world for centuries, beginning with the earliest trade between ancient states. The US, credited as the “melting pot” of the world has seen a wide array of cultures from around the world. In many eastern countries, “westernization” has been a subject of debate, as many states have started to adapt western culture and lifestyle, including fashion, entertainment, and beliefs. Though many believe it to be a sign of western dominance, it can be compared to how many common parts of lifestyle in the west have been taken from eastern ideas and developments (Sen, 2002). Many ideas, creations, and beliefs have been passed on from both sides of the world.

Since some of the earliest days of civilization, the spread and exchange of technology, ideas, and culture has been prominent. In more modern times, states continue to trade and exchange, but the relationship between states around the world has evolved. Now, through globalization, many states have come together to improve life around the world. Businesses have spread to be international, creating improved markets worldwide, and many states are more interconnected through technology. States have now been able to come together to resolve conflicts, preventing devastation, as well as improving conditions for states around the world. Through combined efforts, poverty has been reduced, general health has improved, and education continues to spread. From this, many states have been able to grow and strengthened, and people all over are seeing improved lifestyles and health. Through globalization, the world as a whole has seen lots of growth and progress. Though there is still war, poverty, and disease, globalization has helped to see a general improvement in how people live. Ultimately, the world has seen positive changes and effects through globalization, and the world continues to improve through globalization.

• Lamy, S. L., Masker, J. S., Baylis, J., Smith, S., & Owens, P. (2015). Introduction to Global Politics. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Rao, A. (2013). 4 positive impacts of globalization on world economy. thecollegian. www.kstatecollegian.com
• Dixon, J. (2011). Korea’s embrace of globalization. The Korea Times. www.koreatimes.co.kr
• Brown, D. (2001). 1956: Suez and the end of empire. The Guardian. www.theguardian.com
• Galatsidas, A. (2015). What have the millenium development goals achieved? The Guardian. www.theguardian.com
• Sen, A. (2002). Does Globalization Equal Westernization? The Globalist. www.theglobalist.com

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Natural Disasters and Global Social Issues Essay

Introduction, hurricane katrina and its effects.

Throughout history, there has been instances of natural disasters that have led to wide spread effects across the globe. Most of them have caused a significant shift in the social life of specific or multiple population groups. This paper seeks to identify a global social issue; determine the affected population groups; determine how the social issue/natural disaster has affected global social change; explain if there is any resistance to change; offer details of how various affected social groups have dealt with the issue; and finally identify the sociological theory of social change that best applies to the social issue for future research, and offer an explanation why the theory is appropriate.

Hurricane Katrina belonged to the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season (Jamie, 2006). The hurricane has been identified as one of the most expensive natural disasters, causing loss of 1836 lives and damage to property worth about $81 billion as of 2005 (Jamie, 2005).

The Hurricane mainly affected populations in some cities and states located on the South of the United States. The states that were mostly affected include Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana and Kentucky. The most devastating effects of the Hurricane were witnessed in Louisiana and particularly in New Orleans. Several other States, parts of Canada, Mexico and Cuba experienced some effects associated with the Hurricane(Jamie, 2006).

The hurricane led to a global response to try and offer relief assistance to the affected populations, particularly in Louisiana. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and therefore could not access basic needs. Severe damage to infrastructure was witnessed in the severely affected areas leading to complete loss of transport and communication(Jamie, 2006).

Most of the affected people were relocated to other areas but there was some resistance with some of the people preferring to stay back and wait for the effects to subside.

The hurricane led to a major shift in the social arrangement of the populations in the worst affected areas. Several measures have been undertaken to try and mitigate effects of future hurricanes. Such measures include: Redesigning of the existing levees, identification of locations for the construction of new levees and creation of inundaction zones(Jamie, 2006). Most of the reconstruction work in the severely affected areas was undertaken by the Corps of Engineers.

Several other disaster preparedness measures have been undertaken by other countries and states to try and avoid the effects should they be faced with a similar situation.

Economic effects were widespread especially in regard to infrastructure damage. This led to a significant loss of jobs in the affected areas.

Functionalism and how it applies to Hurricane Katrina

Functionalism is a sociological theory of change that stipulates the measures required to maintain the stability of a system, either by adaption or restoring a previous state (Turner, 1995). As in the case of Hurricane Katrina, functionalism applies in the quest to restore or mitigate the effects of the Hurricane. In regard to the maintenance of the stability of the system, functionalism can be used to conduct future research on how the effects of such an occurrence will be prevented or reduced to the minimum in the affected areas or elsewhere (Turner, 1995).

This paper sought to identify a social issue (Hurricane Katrina) and its effects on the populations and identify a sociological theory of change that can best apply to that situation. It has been seen that hurricane Katrina caused devastating effects on social life of the people mainly in the southern part of United States. The sociological theory that applies to the situation is functionalism as it explains how system stability and maintenance has been achieved following the hurricane.

Jamie, R. (2006). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Katrina: 23 -30 August 2005 . Miami: National Hurricane Center (NHC). Web.

Turner, J. (1995). Macrodynamics: Toward a Theory of the Organization of Human Populations . New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2024, January 9). Natural Disasters and Global Social Issues. https://ivypanda.com/essays/global-issues-of-the-natural-disasters/

"Natural Disasters and Global Social Issues." IvyPanda , 9 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/global-issues-of-the-natural-disasters/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Natural Disasters and Global Social Issues'. 9 January.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Natural Disasters and Global Social Issues." January 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/global-issues-of-the-natural-disasters/.

1. IvyPanda . "Natural Disasters and Global Social Issues." January 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/global-issues-of-the-natural-disasters/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Natural Disasters and Global Social Issues." January 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/global-issues-of-the-natural-disasters/.

• Power and Change in Louisiana
• Al Gore and Global Warming: Hurricane Katrina Was Avoidable
• The Hurricane Katrina Disaster
• Earthquake Statistics Understanding
• Hurricane Katrina Stats: Path and Intensity
• Doomsday Volcanoes: Eruptions in Iceland
• Flooding, Landslides and Mudflows in Florida
• Tsunami Geological Origin

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• Member States

Main Bodies

• Secretary-General
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• Humanitarian Aid
• Sustainable Development and Climate
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• Get Involved
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As the world’s only truly universal global organization, the United Nations has become the foremost forum to address issues that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone.

To its initial goals of safeguarding peace, protecting human rights, establishing the framework for international justice and promoting economic and social progress, in the seven decades since its creation the United Nations has added on new challenges, such as AIDS, big data and climate change.

While conflict resolution and peacekeeping continue to be among its most visible efforts, the UN, along with its specialized agencies, is also engaged in a wide array of activities to improve people’s lives around the world – from disaster relief, through education and advancement of women, to peaceful uses of atomic energy.

This section offers an overview of some of these issues, and links to other resources, where you can get additional information.

The UN system plays a crucial role in coordinating assistance of all kinds — to help Africa help itself.  From promoting the development of democratic institutions, to the establishment of peace between warring nations, the UN is present on the ground supporting economic and social development and the promotion and protection of human rights.

The world’s population is ageing: virtually every country in the world is experiencing growth in the number and proportion of older persons in their population. The number of older persons, those aged 60 years or over, has increased substantially in recent years in most countries and regions, and that growth is projected to accelerate in the coming decades.

HIV infections have been reduced by 59% since the peak in 1995, (by 58% among children since 2010) and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 69% since the peak in 2004 and by 51% since 2010. Globally 46% of all new HIV infections were among women and girls in 2022. The UN family has been in the vanguard of this progress.

Atomic Energy

More than 30 countries worldwide are operating 413 nuclear reactors for electricity generation and 58 new nuclear plants are under construction. By the end of 2022, 12 countries relied on nuclear energy to supply at least one-quarter of their total electricity.

Big Data for Sustainable Development

The volume of data in the world is increasing exponentially. New sources of data, new technologies, and new analytical approaches, if applied responsibly, can allow to better monitor progress toward achievement of the SDGs in a way that is both inclusive and fair.

Child and Youth Safety Online

Rising Internet connectivity has the potential to transform children and young people’s lives for the better, but also makes them vulnerable to sexual abuse, cyberbullying, and other risks. The UN is actively working to protect children and youth online through various programmes and initiatives.

Every child has the right to health, education and protection, and every society has a stake in expanding children’s opportunities in life. Yet, around the world, millions of children are denied a fair chance for no reason other than the country, gender or circumstances into which they are born.

Climate Change

Climate change is one of the major challenges of our time. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. 

• Decolonization

The wave of decolonization, which changed the face of the planet, was born with the UN and represents the world body’s first great success. As a result of decolonization many countries became independent and joined the UN.

Democracy is a universally recognized ideal and is one of the core values and principles of the United Nations. Democracy provides an environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights.

Disarmament

Since the birth of the United Nations, the goals of multilateral disarmament and arms limitation have been central to the Organization’s efforts to maintain international peace and security.

Ending Poverty

At current rates of progress, the world is unlikely to meet the global goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, with estimates suggesting that nearly 600 million people will still be living in extreme poverty.

The world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, Zero Hunger by 2030. The food security and nutritional status of the most vulnerable population groups is likely to deteriorate further due to the health and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gender Equality

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development.

The United Nations, since its inception, has been actively involved in promoting and protecting good health worldwide. Leading that effort within the UN system is the World Health Organization (WHO), whose constitution came into force on 7 April 1948.

Promoting respect for human rights is a core purpose of the United Nations and defines its identity as an organization for people around the world. Member States have mandated the Secretary-General and the UN System to help them achieve the standards set out in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights .

International Law and Justice

The UN continues to promote justice and international law across its three pillars of work: international peace and security, economic and social progress and development, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

International migration

Since the earliest times, humanity has been on the move. Today, more people than ever before live in a country other than the one in which they were born.

Oceans and the Law of the Sea

Life itself arose from the oceans. The ocean is vast, some 72 per cent of the earth's surface. Not only has the oceans always been a prime source of nourishment for the life it helped generate, but from earliest recorded history it has served for trade and commerce, adventure and discovery.

Saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war was the main motivation for creating the United Nations, whose founders lived through the devastation of two world wars.

In 1950, five years after the founding of the United Nations, world population was estimated at around 2.6 billion people. It reached 5 billion in 1987 and 6 in 1999. In October 2011, the global population was estimated to be 7 billion.

There were 110 million people forcibly displaced world-wide at the end of June 2023. Among those were 36.4 million refugees, (30.5 million refugees under UNHCR's mandate, and 5.94 million Palestine refugees under UNRWA's mandate). ;

Fresh water sustains human life and is vital for human health. There is enough fresh water for everyone on Earth. However, due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, millions of people (most of them children) die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.

As youth are increasingly demanding more just, equitable and progressive opportunities and solutions in their societies, the need to address the multifaceted challenges faced by young people (such as access to education, health, employment and gender equality) have become more pressing than ever.

• General Assembly
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Essay on Global Problems

Introduction.

Ideally, global problems are serious issues that the contemporary international community is experiencing. The global problems transcend the regional and national boundaries and affect the survival and development of the whole human race. In the current century, the world has developed, and with the integration of the international community, global problems are more produced. With globalization, individuals can live in any part of the world. As a result, global problems such as ecological imbalance, environmental pollution, shortage of resources, war, among others, exist. Therefore, global problems are natural consequences of unrestrained economic growth and modern globalization. One of the most severe global problems countries are facing is international terrorism. The international community has tried to solve global problems. However, the problem has been alleviated, not eradicated. Some reasons have contributed to the international community’s failure to solve global problems. This paper will discuss why the international community finds it difficult to solve global problems.

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Essay on Global Warming

• Updated on  
• Apr 27, 2024

Being able to write an essay is an integral part of mastering any language. Essays form an integral part of many academic and scholastic exams like the SAT , and UPSC amongst many others. It is a crucial evaluative part of English proficiency tests as well like IELTS , TOEFL , etc. Major essays are meant to emphasize public issues of concern that can have significant consequences on the world. To understand the concept of Global Warming and its causes and effects, we must first examine the many factors that influence the planet’s temperature and what this implies for the world’s future. Here’s an unbiased look at the essay on Global Warming and other essential related topics.

Short Essay on Global Warming and Climate Change?

Since the industrial and scientific revolutions, Earth’s resources have been gradually depleted. Furthermore, the start of the world’s population’s exponential expansion is particularly hard on the environment. Simply put, as the population’s need for consumption grows, so does the use of natural resources , as well as the waste generated by that consumption.

Climate change has been one of the most significant long-term consequences of this. Climate change is more than just the rise or fall of global temperatures; it also affects rain cycles, wind patterns, cyclone frequencies, sea levels, and other factors. It has an impact on all major life groupings on the planet.

Also Read: World Population Day

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earth’s average surface temperature over the past century, primarily due to the greenhouse gases released by people burning fossil fuels . The greenhouse gases consist of methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and chlorofluorocarbons. The weather prediction has been becoming more complex with every passing year, with seasons more indistinguishable, and the general temperatures hotter.

The number of hurricanes, cyclones, droughts, floods, etc., has risen steadily since the onset of the 21st century. The supervillain behind all these changes is Global Warming. The name is quite self-explanatory; it means the rise in the temperature of the Earth.

Also Read: What is a Natural Disaster?

What are the Causes of Global Warming?

According to recent studies, many scientists believe the following are the primary four causes of global warming:

• Deforestation 
• Greenhouse emissions
• Carbon emissions per capita

Extreme global warming is causing natural disasters , which can be seen all around us. One of the causes of global warming is the extreme release of greenhouse gases that become trapped on the earth’s surface, causing the temperature to rise. Similarly, volcanoes contribute to global warming by spewing excessive CO2 into the atmosphere.

The increase in population is one of the major causes of Global Warming. This increase in population also leads to increased air pollution . Automobiles emit a lot of CO2, which remains in the atmosphere. This increase in population is also causing deforestation, which contributes to global warming.

The earth’s surface emits energy into the atmosphere in the form of heat, keeping the balance with the incoming energy. Global warming depletes the ozone layer, bringing about the end of the world. There is a clear indication that increased global warming will result in the extinction of all life on Earth’s surface.

Also Read: Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation, and Wildlife Resources

Solutions for Global Warming

Of course, industries and multinational conglomerates emit more carbon than the average citizen. Nonetheless, activism and community effort are the only viable ways to slow the worsening effects of global warming. Furthermore, at the state or government level, world leaders must develop concrete plans and step-by-step programmes to ensure that no further harm is done to the environment in general.

Although we are almost too late to slow the rate of global warming, finding the right solution is critical. Everyone, from individuals to governments, must work together to find a solution to Global Warming. Some of the factors to consider are pollution control, population growth, and the use of natural resources.

One very important contribution you can make is to reduce your use of plastic. Plastic is the primary cause of global warming, and recycling it takes years. Another factor to consider is deforestation, which will aid in the control of global warming. More tree planting should be encouraged to green the environment. Certain rules should also govern industrialization. Building industries in green zones that affect plants and species should be prohibited.

Also Read: Essay on Pollution

Effects of Global Warming

Global warming is a real problem that many people want to disprove to gain political advantage. However, as global citizens, we must ensure that only the truth is presented in the media.

This decade has seen a significant impact from global warming. The two most common phenomena observed are glacier retreat and arctic shrinkage. Glaciers are rapidly melting. These are clear manifestations of climate change.

Another significant effect of global warming is the rise in sea level. Flooding is occurring in low-lying areas as a result of sea-level rise. Many countries have experienced extreme weather conditions. Every year, we have unusually heavy rain, extreme heat and cold, wildfires, and other natural disasters.

Similarly, as global warming continues, marine life is being severely impacted. This is causing the extinction of marine species as well as other problems. Furthermore, changes are expected in coral reefs, which will face extinction in the coming years. These effects will intensify in the coming years, effectively halting species expansion. Furthermore, humans will eventually feel the negative effects of Global Warming.

Also Read: Concept of Sustainable Development

Sample Essays on Global Warming

Here are some sample essays on Global Warming:

Essay on Global Warming Paragraph in 100 – 150 words

Global Warming is caused by the increase of carbon dioxide levels in the earth’s atmosphere and is a result of human activities that have been causing harm to our environment for the past few centuries now. Global Warming is something that can’t be ignored and steps have to be taken to tackle the situation globally. The average temperature is constantly rising by 1.5 degrees Celsius over the last few years.

The best method to prevent future damage to the earth, cutting down more forests should be banned and Afforestation should be encouraged. Start by planting trees near your homes and offices, participate in events, and teach the importance of planting trees. It is impossible to undo the damage but it is possible to stop further harm.

Also Read: Social Forestry

Essay on Global Warming in 250 Words

Over a long period, it is observed that the temperature of the earth is increasing. This affected wildlife, animals, humans, and every living organism on earth. Glaciers have been melting, and many countries have started water shortages, flooding, and erosion and all this is because of global warming. 

No one can be blamed for global warming except for humans. Human activities such as gases released from power plants, transportation, and deforestation have increased gases such as carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants in the earth’s atmosphere.                                              The main question is how can we control the current situation and build a better world for future generations. It starts with little steps by every individual. 

Start using cloth bags made from sustainable materials for all shopping purposes, instead of using high-watt lights use energy-efficient bulbs, switch off the electricity, don’t waste water, abolish deforestation and encourage planting more trees. Shift the use of energy from petroleum or other fossil fuels to wind and solar energy. Instead of throwing out the old clothes donate them to someone so that it is recycled. 

Donate old books, don’t waste paper.  Above all, spread awareness about global warming. Every little thing a person does towards saving the earth will contribute in big or small amounts. We must learn that 1% effort is better than no effort. Pledge to take care of Mother Nature and speak up about global warming.

Also Read: Types of Water Pollution

Essay on Global Warming in 500 Words

Global warming isn’t a prediction, it is happening! A person denying it or unaware of it is in the most simple terms complicit. Do we have another planet to live on? Unfortunately, we have been bestowed with this one planet only that can sustain life yet over the years we have turned a blind eye to the plight it is in. Global warming is not an abstract concept but a global phenomenon occurring ever so slowly even at this moment. Global Warming is a phenomenon that is occurring every minute resulting in a gradual increase in the Earth’s overall climate. Brought about by greenhouse gases that trap the solar radiation in the atmosphere, global warming can change the entire map of the earth, displacing areas, flooding many countries, and destroying multiple lifeforms. Extreme weather is a direct consequence of global warming but it is not an exhaustive consequence. There are virtually limitless effects of global warming which are all harmful to life on earth. The sea level is increasing by 0.12 inches per year worldwide. This is happening because of the melting of polar ice caps because of global warming. This has increased the frequency of floods in many lowland areas and has caused damage to coral reefs. The Arctic is one of the worst-hit areas affected by global warming. Air quality has been adversely affected and the acidity of the seawater has also increased causing severe damage to marine life forms. Severe natural disasters are brought about by global warming which has had dire effects on life and property. As long as mankind produces greenhouse gases, global warming will continue to accelerate. The consequences are felt at a much smaller scale which will increase to become drastic shortly. The power to save the day lies in the hands of humans, the need is to seize the day. Energy consumption should be reduced on an individual basis. Fuel-efficient cars and other electronics should be encouraged to reduce the wastage of energy sources. This will also improve air quality and reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is an evil that can only be defeated when fought together. It is better late than never. If we all take steps today, we will have a much brighter future tomorrow. Global warming is the bane of our existence and various policies have come up worldwide to fight it but that is not enough. The actual difference is made when we work at an individual level to fight it. Understanding its import now is crucial before it becomes an irrevocable mistake. Exterminating global warming is of utmost importance and each one of us is as responsible for it as the next.  

Also Read: Essay on Library: 100, 200 and 250 Words

Essay on Global Warming UPSC

Always hear about global warming everywhere, but do we know what it is? The evil of the worst form, global warming is a phenomenon that can affect life more fatally. Global warming refers to the increase in the earth’s temperature as a result of various human activities. The planet is gradually getting hotter and threatening the existence of lifeforms on it. Despite being relentlessly studied and researched, global warming for the majority of the population remains an abstract concept of science. It is this concept that over the years has culminated in making global warming a stark reality and not a concept covered in books. Global warming is not caused by one sole reason that can be curbed. Multifarious factors cause global warming most of which are a part of an individual’s daily existence. Burning of fuels for cooking, in vehicles, and for other conventional uses, a large amount of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, and methane amongst many others is produced which accelerates global warming. Rampant deforestation also results in global warming as lesser green cover results in an increased presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which is a greenhouse gas.  Finding a solution to global warming is of immediate importance. Global warming is a phenomenon that has to be fought unitedly. Planting more trees can be the first step that can be taken toward warding off the severe consequences of global warming. Increasing the green cover will result in regulating the carbon cycle. There should be a shift from using nonrenewable energy to renewable energy such as wind or solar energy which causes less pollution and thereby hinder the acceleration of global warming. Reducing energy needs at an individual level and not wasting energy in any form is the most important step to be taken against global warming. The warning bells are tolling to awaken us from the deep slumber of complacency we have slipped into. Humans can fight against nature and it is high time we acknowledged that. With all our scientific progress and technological inventions, fighting off the negative effects of global warming is implausible. We have to remember that we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors but borrow it from our future generations and the responsibility lies on our shoulders to bequeath them a healthy planet for life to exist. 

Also Read: Essay on Disaster Management

Climate Change and Global Warming Essay

Global Warming and Climate Change are two sides of the same coin. Both are interrelated with each other and are two issues of major concern worldwide. Greenhouse gases released such as carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants in the earth’s atmosphere cause Global Warming which leads to climate change. Black holes have started to form in the ozone layer that protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. 

Human activities have created climate change and global warming. Industrial waste and fumes are the major contributors to global warming. 

Another factor affecting is the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and also one of the reasons for climate change.  Global warming has resulted in shrinking mountain glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic and causing climate change. Switching from the use of fossil fuels to energy sources like wind and solar. 

When buying any electronic appliance buy the best quality with energy savings stars. Don’t waste water and encourage rainwater harvesting in your community. 

Also Read: Essay on Air Pollution

Tips to Write an Essay

Writing an effective essay needs skills that few people possess and even fewer know how to implement. While writing an essay can be an assiduous task that can be unnerving at times, some key pointers can be inculcated to draft a successful essay. These involve focusing on the structure of the essay, planning it out well, and emphasizing crucial details.

Mentioned below are some pointers that can help you write better structure and more thoughtful essays that will get across to your readers:

• Prepare an outline for the essay to ensure continuity and relevance and no break in the structure of the essay
• Decide on a thesis statement that will form the basis of your essay. It will be the point of your essay and help readers understand your contention
• Follow the structure of an introduction, a detailed body followed by a conclusion so that the readers can comprehend the essay in a particular manner without any dissonance.
• Make your beginning catchy and include solutions in your conclusion to make the essay insightful and lucrative to read
• Reread before putting it out and add your flair to the essay to make it more personal and thereby unique and intriguing for readers  

Also Read: I Love My India Essay: 100 and 500+ Words in English for School Students

Ans. Both natural and man-made factors contribute to global warming. The natural one also contains methane gas, volcanic eruptions, and greenhouse gases. Deforestation, mining, livestock raising, burning fossil fuels, and other man-made causes are next.

Ans. The government and the general public can work together to stop global warming. Trees must be planted more often, and deforestation must be prohibited. Auto usage needs to be curbed, and recycling needs to be promoted.

Ans. Switching to renewable energy sources , adopting sustainable farming, transportation, and energy methods, and conserving water and other natural resources.

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Digvijay Singh

Having 2+ years of experience in educational content writing, withholding a Bachelor's in Physical Education and Sports Science and a strong interest in writing educational content for students enrolled in domestic and foreign study abroad programmes. I believe in offering a distinct viewpoint to the table, to help students deal with the complexities of both domestic and foreign educational systems. Through engaging storytelling and insightful analysis, I aim to inspire my readers to embark on their educational journeys, whether abroad or at home, and to make the most of every learning opportunity that comes their way.

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This was really a good essay on global warming… There has been used many unic words..and I really liked it!!!Seriously I had been looking for a essay about Global warming just like this…

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I want to learn how to write essay writing so I joined this page.This page is very useful for everyone.

Hi, we are glad that we could help you to write essays. We have a beginner’s guide to write essays ( https://leverageedu.com/blog/essay-writing/ ) and we think this might help you.

It is not good , to have global warming in our earth .So we all have to afforestation program on all the world.

thank you so much

Very educative , helpful and it is really going to strength my English knowledge to structure my essay in future

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Global warming is the increase in 𝓽𝓱𝓮 ᴀᴠᴇʀᴀɢᴇ ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴏғ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ🌎 ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ

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Environmental Problems are becoming a Global Issue - IELTS Essay

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Model Essay 1

In an era where environmental degradation transcends borders, the proposition that these challenges necessitate a global response is gaining traction. I staunchly advocate for international cooperation to address these concerns, particularly focusing on the pivotal roles of technological innovation and global policy reform.

The crux of the matter firmly resides in the universal nature of environmental problems; pollution, climate change, and the alarming loss of biodiversity do not recognize national boundaries. This inescapable global interconnectivity necessitates a unified approach to fervently foster technological innovation and cross-border collaborations. For instance, the development, widespread dissemination, and adoption of renewable energy technologies from one nation can significantly reduce carbon footprints globally. The success stories of solar energy advancements in Germany and wind energy in Denmark serve as beacons, exemplifying how collective technological strides can benefit the global community immensely. This synergy not only accelerates the transition to green energy but also vividly demonstrates the power of shared knowledge, resources, and collective determination in combating environmental issues.

Moreover, the steadfast implementation of comprehensive, robust global policies is indispensable and urgently required. International agreements like the Paris Accord not only exemplify the potential of collective action in mitigating climate change but also highlight the vital importance of unity and shared goals. However, the effectiveness of such agreements critically hinges on their stringent enforcement and the unwavering commitment of all parties to adhere to agreed-upon standards and objectives. The introduction of global carbon pricing, for instance, could serve as a tangible, impactful measure to encourage countries and corporations alike to pivot towards more sustainable practices, making environmental responsibility a cornerstone of their operations. Such forward-thinking policies underscore the necessity of a cohesive, integrated strategy, emphasizing that isolated efforts, while commendable, are patently insufficient in the face of a looming global environmental crisis.

In conclusion, the argument for a global approach to solving environmental problems is compelling and, in my view, non-negotiable. The symbiosis of technological innovation and comprehensive policy reform on a worldwide scale stands as our best hope for a sustainable future.

Model Essay 2

As our planet faces escalating environmental crises, the contention that these challenges demand a global solution is increasingly pertinent. I firmly concur, emphasizing the crucial roles of international environmental stewardship and educational initiatives.

Firstly, global stewardship, through collective governance and international cooperation, is imperative for managing and mitigating environmental issues effectively. The catastrophic deforestation in the Amazon, for instance, is not a solitary concern for Brazil but a pressing global one, affecting biodiversity and climate worldwide, necessitating immediate global attention and action. International collaboration can lead to the adoption of sustainable management practices that respect both local and global needs comprehensively. The establishment of transnational conservation areas and the provision of international funding for innovative sustainable development projects can serve as illustrative examples of how unified efforts yield substantial environmental benefits. These actions not only mitigate local issues but also contribute significantly to global environmental health, showcasing the efficacy and necessity of a united, concerted approach.

Additionally, global educational initiatives play an indispensable and pivotal role in solving environmental problems by promoting global consciousness. Knowledge and awareness about environmental conservation need to transcend borders to foster a universally eco-conscious populace, ready to take action. Initiatives like UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development program illustrate the unparalleled potential of education to equip individuals worldwide with the understanding and skills to live more sustainably, fostering a culture of care for the environment. By embedding comprehensive environmental education in global curricula, we can cultivate a generation capable of making informed decisions that benefit the planet, instilling a deep-rooted sense of environmental stewardship across diverse communities.

In conclusion, the argument for addressing environmental issues through a global lens is not only logical but necessary. The synergistic impact of international environmental stewardship and educational initiatives underscores the potential of collective action in ushering a sustainable future.

Model Essay 3

In the face of escalating environmental challenges, the debate over whether these issues require a global or localized approach has intensified. I wholeheartedly endorse the view that only through a concerted global effort can we effectively tackle these crises, underscoring the necessity for global environmental governance and shared technological innovation.

Central to this discourse is the imperative for establishing a global environmental governance framework. Such a framework would enable countries to collaboratively address issues that transcend national boundaries, such as climate change and ocean pollution. For example, the depletion of the ozone layer was effectively countered through the global cooperation mandated by the Montreal Protocol. This success story illustrates the potential of collective action in resolving environmental threats that no single nation can combat independently. By pooling resources and expertise, nations can implement large-scale conservation projects and enforce regulations that have far-reaching positive impacts on the planet’s ecological balance.

Equally critical is the role of shared technological innovation in mitigating environmental problems effectively and sustainably. The rapid dissemination and adoption of clean energy technologies across borders are absolutely essential for significantly reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, spearheaded by India and France, underscore how collaborative efforts in technology transfer, financial investment, and knowledge sharing can facilitate the widespread adoption of sustainable energy solutions worldwide. Such innovative partnerships not only expedite the crucial transition to renewable energy sources but also bolster economic development and resilience in regions that are most vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change, promoting global sustainability.

In conclusion, the resolution of environmental issues necessitates a global strategy that combines effective governance with technological collaboration. By uniting in our efforts, we harness the collective power necessary to safeguard our planet for future generations.

• Task 2 Essays

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Global Growth Forecast Is Lifted but Risks Loom, O.E.C.D. Says

The global economy has proved resilient and inflation has declined, but any widening of the conflict in the Middle East could increase price pressures and dampen growth.

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By Liz Alderman

Liz Alderman, who covers European economic issues, reported from Paris.

Global inflation is starting to cool after aggressive campaigns by central banks to bring high prices under control, and the economic outlook is brightening after a turbulent period, but clouds loom over the recovery, according to a forecast released on Thursday.

The rebound is unfolding at an uneven speed around the world, and geopolitical tensions could pose a major risk to growth and inflation — especially if the conflict in the Middle East and attacks in the Red Sea , a critical shipping zone for trade, were to widen, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development , a think tank in Paris, said in its latest economic survey.

“The global economy has proved resilient, inflation has declined within sight of central bank targets and risks to the outlook are becoming more balanced,” the organization’s secretary-general, Mathias Cormann, said during a news conference Thursday in Paris. “But uncertainty remains.”

Inflation among the 38 O.E.C.D. member countries is expected to fall to 4.8 percent this year and 3.5 percent in 2025, after hitting 9.4 percent in 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine helped set off an energy crisis. Inflation in the United States and in the euro area is expected to fall this year and next toward a 2 percent target that policymakers say is essential for maintaining the stability of prices.

“We’ve been through an inflation shock of a generation,” the organization’s chief economist, Clare Lombardelli, said during the briefing. The biggest price increases have been for essential items like food and energy, she said, adding, “Those on the lowest incomes have been squeezed.”

High interest rates have helped bring prices down, but there is still a risk that inflation may stay higher for longer than expected, Ms. Lombardelli said.

In the United States, the Federal Reserve left interest rates steady on Wednesday, citing wariness about how stubborn inflation was proving. Even so, the United States is expected to remain an engine of global growth this year, expanding at a 2.6 percent pace, the O.E.C.D. forecast. But the economy will start to cool next year, slowing to 1.8 percent growth, as businesses and households adapt to high borrowing costs and begin to curb spending, the report said.

Europe is badly lagging by comparison, as soaring energy prices curbed manufacturing and a cost-of-living crisis kept consumers from spending. Both the euro currency bloc and Britain ended 2023 in recession, deepened by record-high interest rates deployed by the European Central Bank and the Bank of England to help fight inflation.

Germany was hit especially hard by the energy shock, although the downturn in the eurozone was offset to some extent by stronger growth in southern European countries like Greece and Spain. The outlook should improve next year, as high interest rates come down, unleashing more spending by businesses and households. The O.E.C.D. forecast the eurozone economy to expand at 1.5 percent in 2025, more than double the expected growth rate this year.

In Britain, however, growth will remain sluggish at 0.4 percent in 2024 before improving to just 1 percent in 2025 as interest rates there remain high, making it the weakest economy among the Group of 7 nations.

In China, a boom in exports, from solar panels to electric vehicles, has powered the manufacturing sector and is helping to offset a devastating slump in the housing market, which makes up about a quarter of the economy. A fast-unfolding real estate crisis has sapped the wealth of millions of Chinese people and has not touched bottom, leading the government to deploy stimulus spending. China’s growth is expected to slow moderately, to 4.9 percent in 2024 and 4.5 percent next year, the O.E.C.D. said.

The organization pointed to other risks, including the possibility that interest rates in the biggest economies may need to stay high if inflation does not cool as much as expected. That could give rise to new financial vulnerabilities, especially in emerging countries where large amounts of debt coming due in the next three years might have to be rolled over at higher costs.

Against an uncertain backdrop, the organization admonished governments to do a better job of managing a general worldwide increase in debt — a problem that is expected to worsen especially in countries that will soon face additional spending pressures from aging populations.

Liz Alderman is the chief European business correspondent, writing about economic, social and policy developments around Europe. More about Liz Alderman

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Why Companies Must Recommit to the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights

• Sylvia Ann Hewlett

Despite dramatic progress in LGBTQ+ rights over the last 20 years, many of these new-won freedoms are now at risk.

Over the last 20 years, there have been dramatic gains for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S.: gay, queer, and trans individuals fought for and won equal treatment at work, legal marriage, the freedom to raise children, and the ability to openly serve in the military, and more. But now, many of these new-won rights are at risk. Many countries (mostly in the Middle East and Africa) continue to brutally repress LGBTQ+ individuals. In the U.S., a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in State capitols in 2023. With governments and international blocs in retreat, where can LGBTQ+ employees turn to for support? Global companies. It’s in companies’ best interest for them to continue to stay committed to LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms.

When it comes to equity and inclusion, progress is rarely cumulative. LGBTQ+ rights are a case in point.

• Sylvia Ann Hewlett is an economist, the CEO of Hewlett Consulting Partners, and an award-winning author whose books include Executive Presence 2.0: Leadership in an Age of Inclusion and The Sponsor Effect: How to Be a Better Leader by Investing in Others . Hewlett is also the founder and chair emeritus of the think tank Coqual, and she has taught at Columbia and Princeton universities.
• Todd Sears is the founder and CEO of Out Leadership. Previously, he was a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he created the first team of financial advisors on Wall Street focused on the LGBTQ+ community, and then led diversity efforts for both Merrill Lynch & Credit Suisse.

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Sober tourism: where to go for an active alcohol-free vacation.

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Hiking on the famous Tour du Mont Blanc near Chamonix, France is a bucket list adventure.

It’s not uncommon for many folks to start their vacation with a celebratory cocktail or glass of wine: at the airport lounge, on board the flight, or as a welcome nip at the hotel check-in counter. This ritual can also flow throughout the day with meals and as a night cap before bed. Many sober-curious travelers are thinking about holidays in a newfangled way, eschewing alcohol for a “dry tripping” experience, which enables them to revel on a getaway without the inevitable dreaded hangover, fully lucid for the next day’s activities.

Sober tourism can definitely transform how you think about a vacation. While pub crawls and brewery tours can be fun, there’s a whole world out there to explore that doesn’t revolve around drinking. Hotels are taking note of this promising trend as well—many offer a mocktail menu with fun and fizzy alcohol-free drinks, so you don’t have to sit at the table with just a water with lemon.

Well beyond a “Dry January” or a “Sober October”, here are wild vacations that will help you thrive and feel good in your body, from start to finish whether you’ve given up alcohol for good or you just prefer to travel with less of it. From seaside hiking trips to paddling expeditions to exciting road races to romps around European mountain tops, these exciting adventures will leave you recharged with plenty of stories to tell when you return home. Here, sober travel is synonymous to power travel.

Go Hiking in Greece

Santorini, with its traditional houses and blue-domed churches, stretching out of the Caldera in the ... [+] Aegean sea, is worth seeing on foot.

If the timeless terrain of Greece has always been on your bucket list, then now is the time to lock in an exciting adventure. Explore the footsteps of Gods and important philosophers in Athens, visit gem-colored islands in the Mediterranean, and soak up the sun on an easy-going hiking adventure to usurp all others.

For a week-long outdoor journey that goes at a leisurely pace, Exodus Adventure Travels offers a guided trip called Walking on the Greek Islands , which includes visits to Santorini, Naxos, and Paros islands. You’ll discover the natural beauty of the local villages, leafy valleys, and distinct beaches while learning about Greek history, culture, and archeology along the way.

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How to watch real martha baby reindeer interview with piers morgan, drake kendrick lamar feud timeline attempted intruder arrested at drake s toronto home police say, experience a multi-adventure trip in argentina.

The landscapes of Patagonia are breathtakingly beautiful.

If you’re someone who wants a little bit of everything on your active vacation, then look no further than the Ultimate Argentina small group trip with Flash Pack, an experience designed specifically for solo travelers between the ages of 30—49.

For this inimitable adventure, you’ll explore Buenos Aires on a bicycle tour, go hiking in Patagonia, kayak down Rio de las Vueltas, dine inside a cave with new friends, and go hiking on the Perito Merino Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. And, while alcohol is available along the way, including on a wine tour in Mendoza, this 10-day trip focuses on active outdoor adventures that inspire relationship building with fellow travelers.

Raft on an Expedition in the Canadian Wilderness

Virginia Falls at South Nahanni River in Canada's Northwest Territories is a sight to see.

If you’ve gone rafting before and truly loved it, and you wished that it was lengthier and more hands-on to give you that “I’m alive!” feeling, then give a seven-day rafting trip on the Nahanni River in Canada’s Northwest Territories a try.

Located in one of the world’s most beloved national parks, the Nahanni National Park Reserve , guests can expect to witness spectacular sights on this once-in-a-lifetime wonder-filled adventure like thundering waterfalls, colossal multi-hued canyons, and natural hot springs. Love wildlife? If you’re lucky, you’ll spot Yukon moose, mountain goats, beavers, caribou, Dall sheep, black and brown bears, and numerous varieties of songbirds along the way as you travel over 150 miles from Virginia Falls to Nahanni Butte. Hikers will have plenty of opportunities to revel in the natural landscapes once at camp. Bonus: someone else does the cooking!

Nahanni River Adventures and Canadian River Expeditions have led guided wilderness trips since 1972. If you’re looking for a big bucket list adventure, this is it!

Run to the Finish Line

Despite all the deep dish pizza, Chicago is a runner's paradise.

When you sign up for a 10K or half marathon, you’ll likely have to physically, mentally, and emotionally prepare in order to have an enjoyable experience. The challenge of training, building a consistent workout routine, and paying attention to your health and wellbeing is a gift that pays off in more ways than one.

If you’ve always wanted to explore the Windy City, then consider adding the Life Time Chicago Spring Half Marathon or 10K to your upcoming travel plans (now or in the future). You’ll start in Maggie Daley Park and continue south on this looped course that ends with you getting a medal placed around your neck.

Pro tip: book accommodations at Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park , which is within walking distance to the start of the race. Plus, you can book a spa treatment for post-race bliss at Leaf Spa .

Visit Three Countries on Foot

Wildlife viewing in a hiking highlight on the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Western Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, is one of the most beautiful and accessible mountains for hikers. Wilderness Travel offers a spectacular natural sightseeing adventure where travelers will flow through diverse ecosystems and local villages on the well-planned Tour du Mont Blanc tour. Consistently named as one of the greatest hikes in the world, this journey, led by an expert guide, begins and ends in Chamonix, France.

Wilderness Travel has been in the shining limelight, leading tours all over the globe, since 1978. When you read the reviews, you’ll see that the proof is in the pudding. Hikers will see flower-dotted valleys, massive snow-capped peaks, and charming villages on this challenging hiking adventure where, on average, nine miles and 3,000 feet of elevation gain and loss are crushed each day. Now, what could be more dialed in than that?

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