10 Global Problems and Ways to Address Them

The world is a huge place packed with diverse communities, environments and cultures, but we all have one thing in common: we have problems to solve. In many cases, we’re dealing with the same issues, like poverty, gender inequality and climate change. While there are differences in severity, what happens in one part of the world often affects people everywhere. The sooner we realize we’re all connected, the more effective we can be. By working together, we can tackle issues and make the world a better place for everyone. This article explores 10 global problems and ways to address them:

#	Issues
1	Poverty
2	Climate change
3	Gender inequality
4	Food insecurity
5	Forced migration
6	Weakening democracy
7	False information
8	War and conflict
9	Health inequality
10	Violations of LGBTQ+ rights

#1. Poverty

According to the UN Global Compact, over 700 million people live in extreme poverty, which is defined as living on less than $1.90 a day. It’s difficult to explain the scale of poverty’s effects, but it touches every aspect of a human’s life, including their health; their lifespan; their ability to access education, decent work and justice; and the lives of their children.

Poverty is multifaceted. To end it, the world needs comprehensive solutions. Expert groups like the World Bank advocate for global solutions like more equitable access to health, education and infrastructure, as well as policies that empower women, expand formal employment and address climate change. Individuals play a role by volunteering at charities, donating money and supporting policies that address poverty’s root causes.

#2. Climate change

Human-caused climate change has severe consequences like extreme weather events and record-breaking heat. 2011-2020 gave us the hottest decade on record. The world will get warmer and the weather will get more dangerous unless the world drastically cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions. Children, women, people experiencing poverty, migrants and people with underlying health conditions are among the most vulnerable, according to the WHO.

The solutions to climate change are not a mystery. Significantly reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, switching to renewable energy, reducing pollution, producing fewer products, and protecting biodiversity are five of the most important steps. Corporations, which release huge amounts of carbon dioxide without taking responsibility, need to face stronger regulations, too. While it’s easy to fall into climate doomerism, negativity does not encourage action. Individuals can participate in the climate movement by staying informed, supporting environmental groups, changing their everyday habits, advocating for climate legislation and staying hopeful.

#3. Gender inequality

Every year, the World Economic Forum analyzes the gender equality of most of the world’s countries. The report uses four metrics: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. In the 2024 report, the WEF estimated it will take 134 years to reach full gender parity. While no country has reached full parity, Europe has closed 75% of its gap. The Middle East and North Africa region has closed 61.7%.

Gender inequality has many causes, so many solutions are needed. UN Women recommends approaches like expanding care services (women perform the vast majority of unpaid care work) and supporting unpaid caregivers. Protecting education for girls, closing the gender pay gap and addressing violence against women are also important steps. Individuals can support gender equality by participating in politics, donating to women’s rights organizations and challenging gender stereotypes.

#4. Food insecurity

Food insecurity is a massive problem. The 2024 Global Report on Food Crises reported that almost 282 million people in 59 countries faced “high levels of acute hunger” in 2023. Women and kids in the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali and Somalia experienced the worst hunger. Hunger leads to severe health issues such as wasting, stunting, heart disease and weakened immunity. Without proper interventions, hunger eventually leads to death.

The World Food Program USA offers six recommendations for solving food insecurity, including reducing poverty and improving gender equality. As the crises in Gaza and South Sudan show, conflict is a huge driver of hunger, so it’s essential to work for peace and make sure people get fed during wartime. Because severe weather events like extreme heat, floods and pest-friendly climates lead to crop shortages, addressing climate change will fight hunger. Individuals can help by donating to food aid organizations, volunteering at food banks, and advocating for policies that support farmers and other agriculture workers.

#5. Forced migration

Forced migration occurs when people have to leave their homes for their own safety. The reasons for leaving vary and can include war, persecution, poverty and climate change. At the end of 2022, of the 108+ million people who were forcibly displaced, 90% were from low and middle-income countries. Migrants are uniquely vulnerable to discrimination and human rights violations, including human trafficking, arbitrary detention, torture and denial of healthcare, education and housing.

Migration itself is not a problem, but forced migration is. No one should be forced to leave their home. Forced migration can be reduced when countries promote stability, employment opportunities and education, according to the International Organization for Migration. As climate change worsens, more people will have to move, so greenhouse gas emissions need to be addressed now. Individuals can help those forced to migrate by donating to organizations, volunteering, advocating for policies that support migrants and sponsoring migrants.

#6. Weakening democracy

In 2024, Freedom House released its annual “Freedom in the World” report. It found that global freedom declined for the 18th year in a row. The blame falls on problems like violence and manipulation in elections, armed conflict, threats of authoritarianism, and the denial of political and civil rights. As global freedom declines, democracy gets weaker, which leads to even more violations of human rights.

Defending democracy is no simple task. Freedom House has a few recommendations, such as preventing election interference, strengthening corruption laws, prioritizing global cooperation, supporting democratic grassroots groups and investing in alliances. Individuals can support democracy by participating in the political process, supporting civic education, joining grassroots groups and engaging with policymakers. For more ideas, check out this booklet from Justseeds on street-legal tactics for fighting fascism.

#7. False information

False information (also known as misinformation/disinformation) has quickly become one the most serious problems facing the world. It has the power to interfere with free and fair elections, exacerbate social conflict and threaten public health and safety. There have always been malicious actors who spread false information, but artificial intelligence has made it incredibly easy. With the click of a button, anyone can create fake political ads, deepfake videos, news stories and much more.

There’s no clear way to solve the problem of false information, but educating the public is important. It can start in schools. With the right resources, teachers can learn about the latest developments in false information and AI, integrate what they learn into the curriculum and teach students how to recognize fake news. The Brookings Institute suggests other approaches, such as encouraging independent, professional journalism, strengthening online accountability and increasing funding for entities that study false information.

#8. War and conflict

War and conflict are behind some of the world’s most serious problems, such as hunger, forced migration, violence against women and children, and poverty. The Global Peace Index 2024, a report produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace, found that 97 countries saw a deterioration in peacefulness in 2023. Only 65 countries became more peaceful. The report named changes in military technology and geopolitical competition as reasons why war looks the way it does today.

Humans have been trying to figure out how to achieve world peace for centuries. Because the causes of war and conflict vary so significantly, there’s no single solution. That said, addressing poverty is one of the big ones. The WHO also advocates for health as a tool to unite competing factions; working together to achieve equitable health services can help reduce conflict. What can individuals do to end war? It can’t be done alone, so consider joining groups that support peace, advocate for human rights protections, support arms control and so on.

#9. Health inequality

Speaking of health, health inequality is a serious problem. Disparities, which refer to preventable differences in health among populations, exist in areas like mortality, burden of disease, exposure to violence, injury and healthcare access. Economic inequality and poverty are closely linked to health inequality; according to research, higher levels of economic inequality could lead to worse health outcomes. Dealing with inequality would significantly help kids, who are more vulnerable to disease and violence.

There are many solutions to health inequality. Reducing poverty and economic inequality is key, as is expanded healthcare coverage. Policies that improve education access, fund environmental justice and public health infrastructure, and enforce inclusive policies could also help, according to the Center for American Progress. Individuals can fight health inequality by raising awareness of the problem, advocating for healthcare expansion and joining groups that support health equality.

#10. Violations of LGBTQ+ rights

LGBTQ+ rights have improved significantly in recent decades, but many countries still criminalize LGBTQ+ people. According to the Human Dignity Trust, 64 jurisdictions criminalize “private, consensual, same-sex activity.” 12 countries have jurisdictions that impose the death penalty. Even in places where LGBTQ+ rights are legally protected, people still experience discrimination in the workplace, in healthcare, in housing and more. The scale of the problem can’t be ignored; the increase in anti-LGBTQ+ laws around the world amounts to what UCLA’s Ari Shaw describes as a “global assault.”

Ensuring LGBTQ+ equality requires action from every part of society, including governments, corporations and individuals. The OHCHR urges all States to remove legislation that criminalizes LGBTQ+ people and instead adopt legal frameworks that protect the LGBTQ+ community in every sector of society. Individuals can work for equality by supporting LGBTQ+ organizations, voting for inclusive policies and raising awareness of issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community.