Johny George

CRITICAL GLOBAL ISSUES: WHAT ARE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS AND HOW CAN I HELP? Food Security The number of hungry people in the world has increased over the last few years. One in nine people in the world go hungry each day and suffer from nutritional deficiencies as a result. In previous years, food security has been the biggest threat to the overall health of the human population, more so than malaria, tuberculosis or HIV. And, 2020 saw the most severe increase in global food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting vulnerable households almost everywhere. Current estimates show that nearly 690 million people are going hungry – up by 10 million people in just one year and by nearly 60 million in five years. So, what is the problem? How can it be 2021 and people are still going hungry? The problem is not that we aren’t producing enough food, but rather that people lack access to food. Many people do not have enough money to purchase food and cannot grow their own. Health Issues Besides malnutrition, there are many other issues affecting health on a global scale. In the past, the main topic of focus was communicable diseases like hepatitis, cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. Increased access to clean water and improved education around proper sanitation has resulted in an overall decrease in the prevalence of transferable diseases worldwide. But while current strategies to prevent disease are working, efforts to improve sanitation shouldn’t slow down. While teaching good hygiene practices is still beneficial, the importance of good nutritional education and preventing personal harm is now emphasised. For example, explaining the dangers of a sugary diet, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco, using unsafe cooking fuels, driving recklessly, and walking across a busy highway, is imperative. Likewise, many low-income countries lack emergency response resources. This means that providing opportunities for community members to learn first aid skills can help to save lives. How governments can push towards a better tomorrow World leaders face six interconnected challenges, and although approaches and solutions will differ by country, taking key actions will benefit all. Sl.No. Challenges 1. Economy 2. Health Care 3. Education 4. National Safety and Security 5. Climate 6. Trust in Government 0 Addressing discrimination/racism Closing the economic/social divide Protecting individual freedoms Finding ways to combat fake news Addressing climate change Improving our education system Addressing poverty in this country Improving our healthcare system Increased Urgency for Governments to Address Foundational Problems Net Changes (%) 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Organization Charts (Typical) PROJECT MANAGER ENGINEERING MANAGER CONSTRUCTION MANAGER QA/QC & HSE MANAGER DISCIPLINE ENGINEERS CONSTRUCTION TEAM QA/QC & HSE ENGINEERS/ OFFICERS