A global issue is a matter of public concern worldwide. This list of global issues presents problems or phenomena affecting people around the world, including but not limited to widespread social issues, economic issues, and environmental issues. Organizations that maintain or have published an official list of global issues include the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum.
Global catastrophic risks
Not all of these risks are independent, because the majority, if not all of them are a result of human activity.
Biodiversity loss
Climate change
Destructive artificial intelligence
Environmental disaster
Nuclear holocaust
Pandemic
Biotechnology risk
Molecular nanotechnology
Societal collapse
United Nations list
The UN has listed issues that it deems to be the most pressing as of 2023:
As part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) were superseded by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2016-2030), which are also known as The Global Goals. There are associated Targets and Indicators for each Global Goal.
World Economic Forum List
In keeping with their economy-centered view, the World Economic Forum formulated a list of 10 most pressing points in 2016:
Food security
Inclusive growth
Future of work/unemployment
Climate change
Financial crisis of 2007–2008
Future of the internet/Fourth Industrial Revolution
Gender equality
Global trade and investment and regulatory frameworks
Long-term investment/Investment strategy
Future healthcare
Global environmental issues
No single issue can be analysed, treated, or isolated from the others. For example, habitat loss and climate change adversely affect biodiversity. Deforestation and pollution are direct consequences of overpopulation and both, in turn, affect biodiversity. While overpopulation locally leads to rural flight, this is more than counterbalanced by accelerating urbanization and urban sprawl. Theories like the world-system theory and the Gaia hypothesis focus on the inter-dependency aspect of environmental and economic issues. Among the most evident environmental problems are:
Overconsumption – situation where resource use has outpaced the sustainable capacity of the ecosystem.
Overpopulation – too many people for the planet to sustain.
Biodiversity loss
Deforestation
Desertification
Global warming/climate change
Habitat destruction
Holocene extinction
Ocean acidification
Ozone depletion
Pollution
Waste and waste disposal
Water pollution
Resource depletion
Urban sprawl
See also
References
Literature
John L. Seitz, Kristen A. Hite (2012). Global Issues (4 ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-470-65564-1.
Richard J. Payne (2012). Global Issues (4th ed.). Pearson. ISBN 978-0205854592.
Michael T. Snarr, D. Neil Snarr, ed. (2012). Introducing Global Issues (5th ed.). Lynne Rienner Pub. ISBN 978-1588268457.
Shirley A. Fedorak (2013). Global Issues: A Cross-Cultural Perspective Paperback. ISBN 978-1442605961.
Global Education Magazine
Global Environmental Politics
External links
The UN's Global Issues page
"Think Global: Learn More About Global Issues". dus.psu.edu. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
"Global issues". TED.com. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
"Global Issues". TakingITGlobal. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
"Global Issues : social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all". Global Issues. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
"Global Issues Network". Global Issues Network. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
"Issues of resilience, interdependence and growth affect global climate change risk". Carbon Brief. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
"A list of the most urgent global issues". 80,000 Hours. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2018.