Global Issues
Our world is at a cross road. Climate change, mass extinctions, deforestation, depletion of fisheries, soil erosion, pollution, poverty, armed conflicts, inequality, global health challenges, water crisis, famine, nuclear proliferation, ocean acidification.
The statistics are staggering and speak volumes about the need for collective global action. 670 million people live in extreme poverty, 14,500 children die every single day from preventable diseases and conditions, the world's tropical forests have decreased by 50 percent in the last half century threatening the entire ecosystem, and the world's oceans are under extreme pressure from human activity, facing acidification, pollution, depletion of fisheries, destruction of habitats and ecological breakdown.
The statistics are staggering and speak volumes about the need for collective global action. 670 million people live in extreme poverty, 14,500 children die every single day from preventable diseases and conditions, the world's tropical forests have decreased by 50 percent in the last half century threatening the entire ecosystem, and the world's oceans are under extreme pressure from human activity, facing acidification, pollution, depletion of fisheries, destruction of habitats and ecological breakdown.
Learn About the Issues*
Climate ChangeClimate change threatens all corners of the globe. Pollution and global warming are having adverse effects on ecosystems, habitats, water resources, agriculture, health and living conditions for all earth's inhabitants.
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Poverty670 million people live in extreme poverty. 40% of the world's population, over 3 billion, live on under $2.50 a day. 1 billion people live in slums. Eliminating poverty is one of humanities top priorities.
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Pixabay
Armed ConflictsThere are currently over 120 ongoing armed conflicts around the world according to ICRC, the most since the end of World War 2, with devastating effects on people, communities, societies and the natural world.
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Hunger and Famine733 million people around the world suffer from chronic undernourishment. That is 1 in 11 people. Famine is further currently threatening 1.33 million, and 9 million die from hunger related deaths each year.
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InequalityGlobal inequality is stark around the world and is not improving, The world's richest 10 percent own 76 percent of all resources, with the poorest half of the population only owning 2 percent.
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Life for Children333 million children live in households under the poverty line. Another 150 million children around the world live in the streets, with no home, no parents, no food, no water and no shelter.
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Extinction of SpeciesAccording to the World Wildlife Fund the earth has lost 73 percent of its wildlife in the last 50 years and over 1 million species are facing extinction, due to deforestation, over fishing, loss of habitats, illegal pouching, pollution and climate change., among others.
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Ocean Depletion & AcidificationThe world's oceans have in many areas been completely depleted of fish, coral reefs and safe habitats. Ocean acidification and pollution is leading to ecosystem breakdown and adverse consequences on wildlife, food supplies and human health.
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Water Crisis2.2 billion people around the world lack access safely managed water. 1.5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation, and 1..4 million deaths occur each year due to inadequate drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.
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Deforestation60 percent of the world's tropical forests have been lost in the last 75 years. Some scientists have projected that only 10% of the world's forests will remain by 2030, with another 10 % degraded, affecting the entire global ecosystem.
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DiseaseEach and every single day on earth, 14,500 children die from preventable diseases and illness including malnutrition, malaria, measles, diarrhea and pneumonia. That is 5.3 million children around the world, each and every year.
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US Navy
Natural DisastersWith climate change an increasing number of natural disasters affect all corners of the globe, resulting in millions affected and hundreds of billions in damage. Relief and recovery efforts in disasters of this scale are a monumental challenge.
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Department of Defense
Nuclear Weapons
The world continues to be under the threat of nuclear war, Today there is an increased risk due to the rise in armed conflicts, global and regional tensions, a new global arms race, and threats to multilateralism, among others
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TerrorismTerrorism has reached all corners of the globe. Extremists threaten peace and security of civilian populations, killing countless of innocent children, women and men.
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IntoleranceIntolerance, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, violence and hate are on the rise around the world, threatening the safety and well being of populations, destabilizing societies, and undermining democracies.
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Gender InequalityGender equality still prevails around the world. and 54 percent of countries lack laws in key areas of gender equality. According to the UN it could take 3oo years to achieve full equality.
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DemocracyThere is has been a significant democratic decline across the world, with a rise of authoritarian regimes, Only 7 percent of global population currently lives in full democracies
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Civic Engagement72 percent of the global population live in countries with highly restrictive civic space, and only 2.1 percent live in countries rated as open, according to CIVICUS.
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Investing in Change
No actor can solve these problems by themselves and it requires collaboration and collective action from governments, civil society and the private sector to address the issues. Global collaboration requires commitment, engagement and infrastructure investment.
The United Institutions is a global coordination mechanism and permanent world forum for international cooperation that will allow organizations world-wide to collaborate on a continuous basis, develop and implement comprehensive solutions, and work in concert with international organizations, nation states, the United Nations, development agencies, multi-stakeholder partnerships, global policy networks, and local communities.
The United Institutions is a global coordination mechanism and permanent world forum for international cooperation that will allow organizations world-wide to collaborate on a continuous basis, develop and implement comprehensive solutions, and work in concert with international organizations, nation states, the United Nations, development agencies, multi-stakeholder partnerships, global policy networks, and local communities.
* For a complete list of issues to be addressed at the United Institutions, please see global forum thematic areas.
Top Banner Image Credit: Meena Kadri | CC BY ND 2.0
