World's Biggest Problems

Increasing Poverty Population

1. Population growth is a big reality and dealing with it should be a top priority for world leaders. The large poor class in under-derveloped countries will continue to increase due to the fact that these people tend to have large families (4-6 children). This means more food production, more demand for water, more waste, etc. A solution is to industrialize in and develop the economies of those countries as well as lower the chances of child mortality. 

Climate Change

1. Most of the world's scientists agree that climate change is real and partly caused by human activities. If we are to preserve this earth for later generations and continue to live with high standards of life, climate change must be a priority. Leaders and people of the world need to invest in clean energy and adopt more sustainable living techniques.

Ocean Pollution

1. The oceans are polluted every year with tons and tons of solid and liquid waste that can be toxic to the sea life and natural habitats around it. There are even reports of Islands of trash appearing in the middle of the ocean due to currents. A solution could be to pay closer attention to marine life and beaches when traveling or simply visiting. Countries should adopt programs to manage waste and make sure that ocean clean up crews are ready for any disasters that can arise. 

Terrorism

1. Terrorism is one of the biggest problems facing the world today. It can affect the economy, political structure, mindset, and lives of people of all nations. Thousands of lives have fallen to terrorism and something must be done. I dont know of a specific solution to terrorism but better communication amongst nations, more experienced and qualified leaders, and a unification of the world is what comes to mind. 

Dependance on Fossil Fuels

1. Our depedance on fossil fuels is a huge issue. We are constantly looking for more oil, coal, or gas to burn to as automobile sales increase, demand for electricity increase, and manufacturing increases. This dependance affects the ozone layer due to large greenhouse gas emissions and causes confrontation between countries. A solution is to increase clean energy production and consumption and invest in alternative energy research. There are many relatively unknown inventions scattered across the world that provide cleaner energy. For example: Mechanisms that use wave pressure to create energy in the coast of Brazil. 

 

Wave Energy in Brazil

Water Scarcity

1. As the population of the world increases, demand for water increases. Not only are there more thirsty people but industrial production is increasing as well. Manufacturing takes up a large percentage of the worlds water demand. Companies and governments go to aquifers and other freshwater resources and are starting to dry them out creating desertification of land and robbing local people of their water supply. A solution could be to invest in water de-salination and improve existing techniques to make them more efficient. People could also become more conscience of their water usage.

Demand for Food Vs. Food Production

1. Demand for food has increased dramatically over the years and those in agriculture are looking at any technique to cope with this increase. Farmers are using chemical pesticides and fertilizers and genetically modifying crops to increase crop yield. Large cattle and chicken farms have been created that consist of crammed animals with poor living conditions and no space to roam. A solution could be to continue safe usage of genetically modified foods and chemical fertilizers while coming up with alternative ways to grow food like indoor growing facilities. 

Extreme weather events 

1. With climate change and increasing carbon emissions come more extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and typhoons. Cities have been wiped out and economies take huge hits due to intense natural disasters. They can come unexpected and cause major damage. Solutions are similar to those for climate change and include investments in natural disaster detection and rescue relief. 

3 Hurricanes Visible at the Same Time

Cyberterrorism

1. Now that most of the world has become digitized and computerized, cyberterrorism has become a real threat. People have their identity stolen every day and bank, email, social media, and other important accounts are hacked. Information on any level can be hacked into and stolen. Whether it be social security numbers and bank accounts or classified documents and emails, it is available at the click of a button, literally. Solutions are to continue investing in cyber-security and make sure that those using the internet have the proper knowledge of privacy and security. 

Agriculture and Irrigation

1. With increasing population and demand for food comes an increase in agriculture and irrigation. Farmers struggle to meet demands and need to water huge fields. They try to do this in the most efficient way possible so as to save water and money. Irrigation accounts for a huge percentage of the world fresh water use. Therefore efficient irrigation is necessary. Solutions are to come up with more efficient watering techniques and more help from the government to food producers.