What are global issues?

Global issues are the common problems or challenges that the entire world faces. These issues affect the entire world rather than a specific region or human fraternity. These issues involve social, financial, political, climatic, economic, and a variety of other factors that must be addressed. Some problems are simple to solve, while others necessitate concentrated effort. Several issues must be addressed to humanity, while others must be addressed to organizational methods. COVID-19, climate change, gender inequality of all kinds, human rights, resource scarcity, social and patriarchal schools of thought, environmental issues, food security, and economic wars are just a few of the major global issues or concerns addressed in this article.

COVID-19

The term 'COVID-19' or coronavirus disease 2019 raises concerns about the Earth's future. This critical pandemic disease, known as coronavirus, is the modern hailstorm for humanity, the planet, and the global economy. At the start of March 2020, when the world was dealing with a number of other critical global issues, 'COVID-19' broke out across the globe, causing unimaginable situations for all, resulting in a prolonged lockdown. By the end of October 2021, the total number of deaths caused by coronavirus will have reached approximately 49.60 lacs worldwide. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused a slew of financial, medical, and social issues around the world. By the deadline, 6,697,607,393 vaccine doses had been administered.

Climate change

Climate change is caused by an increase in the temperature of the Earth over time. The greenhouse effect has disrupted the world's normal seasonal cycles. Several disasters have occurred over the years, and this does not change the fact that these natural disasters are heavily attributed to man-made lifestyle disasters.

The endangered species are on the verge of extinction and may be known only through photographs in a few years. Polar bears are in a precarious state because the heat of global warming has changed the weather in the Arctic. This is just one example; in 2021, a drought in Turkey killed over 1000 flamingos. Thousands of kangaroos and koalas were killed by wildfires in Australia. Because of climate change, the Amazon forests have lost more than 17% of their wildlife and are expected to lose 30-60% of their wildlife by 2050. These figures may appear insignificant, but the consequences are far-reaching when viewed from a global perspective.

Natural disasters have become more dangerous, and their frequency has increased as a result of global warming. People sitting at home are unaware of the misuse of electronics and vehicles. Humans' attitudes toward their lives must also be environmentally friendly. It is critical to understand that one waste plastic bottle lasts 1000 years, that one ounce of pure waste is never recoverable, that one notebook costs nearly 10% of the cost of a tree, and that one hour of fuel wasted is unreplenishable.

Gender inequality

Gender inequality has resulted in a wide societal imbalance. The importance of this factor in the global economy has become clear, and filling this gap will help in dealing with global issues. After all, 1 and 1 create 11. Instances of violence and crime continue to emerge from time to time, reminding the world that society will never develop until and unless the school of thought in people's minds regarding gender equality catches up with the balance of mother nature. However, it is commendable that some leaders have pushed the boundaries and spoken out frequently. The impact of this global social movement has been felt all over the world, from schools to parliaments, executive positions to armies, and homes to the world stage.

Human rights

Every country has established its citizens' rights and responsibilities. International human rights law establishes guidelines for all governments to follow in order to protect and promote human rights. The United Nations has taken care to define a wide range of civil, secular, economic, and political rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a seminal document on human rights. The office of the UN Secretary-General serves as the focal point for human rights activities.

Resource scarcity and population

The root cause of scarcity becoming an acute problem is rapid population growth, particularly in some countries where necessities are also scarce but population growth knows no bounds. Syria will have the highest population growth rate in 2020. The population has become one of the most serious issues because human beings now over-exploit mother nature to meet their selfish needs. While the population continues to grow, the resources are on the verge of depletion. Many developed countries have taken steps to control population growth; however, every country must manage its population in such a way that it does not harm the rest of the world. It is critical that in the future, organizational methods are used to contain these issues. Many parts of the world are experiencing severe water scarcity. However, it is ironic that others are peacefully wasting their abundance. If this trend continues, the world's freshwater resources may be depleted in the coming decades. The United Nations Organization (UNO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as ASEAN, UNESCO, and many other organizations, are working tirelessly on this issue. Humanity must work together to achieve sustainable development goals.

Context and Applications

This subject is important in undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional exams, particularly for:

• Bachelors in Science (Geography)
• Bachelors in Wildlife Management
• Bachelors in Economics
• Bachelors in Social Work
• Masters in Social Work
• Bachelors in Environmental Science

Practice Problems

Q1. What is the name of the organization which works with all the countries on almost all of the global issues?

1. The United Nations Organization
2. Center for environmental research and conservation
3. Bureau of Counterterrorism
4. None of the above

Answer: Option a

Explanation: The United Nations Organization is an international organization that deals with global issues. The rest of them are only concerned with environmental and terrorism issues in the United States.

Q2. Which among the following gases are the major causes of the greenhouse effect?

1. Oxygen
2. Methane
3. Nitrogen
4. All of the above

Answer: Option b

Explanation: Methane gas is a poisonous gas that melts massive glaciers. Although oxygen and nitrogen are abundant in the atmosphere's air, they are not harmful.

Q3. When does the conflict among patriarchs and millennials cause gender conflicts to widen?

1. Equality
2. Keen observance
3. Unfair laws
4. All of the above

Answer: Option c

Explanation: The conflicts of unfair laws widen the gap between the patriarchs and the millennials.

Q4. Who is the pioneer climate change activist of the US?

1. James Hansen
2. Wangari Maathai
3. Jadav Payeng
4. None of the above

Answer: Option a

Explanation: Dr. Hansen is most known for his testimony before congressional committees on climate change in the 1980s, which helped to raise widespread awareness of global warming.

Q5. Which of the following will help in reducing plastic waste?

1. Using steel water bottles and crockery.
2. Using only ink pens and recyclable pencils to write.
3. Relying on the use of jute bags rather than polythene bags.
4. All of the above

Answer: Option d

Explanation: Plastic waste can be reduced by replacing plastics with alternatives such as steel water bottles and crockery, ink pens and recyclable pencils for writing, and relying on jute bags rather than polythene bags.

Common Mistakes

It is often enlightening to read about global issues, but it is far better not to ignore it once you are aware of the potential for these issues. Students must read global issues as if they were a practical subject rather than studying them for general knowledge.

Related Concepts

While studying the global issues, it is important to read the following topics to get a better knowledge:

• United Nations Organization
• World Health Organization
• World Trade Organization
• UNESCO