Congratulations! The United Nations Has Hired You As A Consu

Congratulations The United Nations Has Hired You As A Consultant On G

Congratulations! The United Nations has hired you as a consultant on global issues. Many of the UN members are not satisfied with the progress of the Millennium Development Goals. They believe that the goals focus on the wrong issues. There is a disconnect between the types of issues the developed countries in the UN believe are priorities versus the issues that developing countries of the UN want to prioritize.

For example, the country of Burundi has requested that one of the goals be focused on food security. However, Austria is adamant that the major current global issue is to mediate ceasefires within countries experiencing a civil war. You have been asked to provide an unbiased perspective and identify the four issues that have the biggest impact on the global environment. Of the eight major threats listed below, choose the four that you consider the most critical. Energy sources, civil war, globalization, poor health of entire populations, lack of educational opportunities, cultural taboos, inappropriate uses of technology, and climate change.

You will present your findings at the next UN General Assembly. Your goal is to provide a brief history of each issue, the number of countries affected, and the effects of this threat on the world population.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The global environment is shaped by complex threats that influence the socio-economic fabric and stability of nations worldwide. Making informed priorities among these threats is essential for effective policy formulation and resource allocation. As a UN consultant, selecting the four most critical threats involves understanding their historical context, geographical impact, and cumulative influence on humanity. This paper elucidates four major global threats—climate change, civil war, energy sources, and poor health—based on their historical development, affected populations, and overarching consequences.

Climate Change

Climate change refers to significant alterations in global weather patterns primarily attributed to human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions. Its origins can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, which marked a surge in fossil fuel consumption. Today, climate change is an urgent global crisis, affecting nearly every country worldwide, but most severely impacting low-lying island nations, Arctic communities, and regions prone to droughts and floods. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that rising temperatures contribute to sea level rise, extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity (IPCC, 2021). The World Bank estimates that climate change could push more than 100 million people into poverty by 2030, disrupting agriculture, health, and freshwater supplies (World Bank, 2022). The visual chart commonly used to depict climate change impacts is a temperature anomaly graph showing the upward trend over the last century.

Civil War

Civil wars are armed conflicts within a country aimed at overthrowing or reforming the government structure, often rooted in ethnic, religious, or political differences. Historically, conflicts like the American Civil War and the Rwandan Genocide exemplify the destructive potential of internal conflicts. Currently, civil wars persist in countries such as Syria, Yemen, and parts of Africa, affecting numerous nations—over 50 countries—directly or indirectly (Uppsala Conflict Data Program, 2020). These wars cause massive civilian casualties, displacements, and economic collapse. For instance, the Syrian civil war has displaced over 6 million people internally and caused a humanitarian crisis affecting neighboring countries (UNHCR, 2023). The cumulative effect of civil wars destabilizes regions, hampers development, and perpetuates cycles of violence. A bar graph illustrating the number of ongoing civil conflicts worldwide annually provides a stark visual of this persistent threat.

Energy Sources

The dependency on finite and often environmentally damaging energy sources, chiefly fossil fuels, has grown exponentially since the 20th century. The industrial revolution accelerated energy consumption, leading to substantial air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion. Today, over 80% of global energy consumption relies on coal, oil, and natural gas (International Energy Agency [IEA], 2023). Countries like China, the United States, and India are the primary consumers, with significant environmental impacts manifesting as smog, health issues, and climate change accelerators. The impacts extend to global warming, ocean acidification, and ecosystem destruction. The chart most relevant here illustrates the global energy consumption by source over time, revealing increased reliance on non-renewable sources and emphasizing the need for renewable energy transition (IEA, 2023).

Poor Health of Entire Populations

Global health disparities have resulted in millions of preventable deaths annually, particularly affecting the vulnerable populations in low-income countries. Historical pandemics like the 1918 influenza and ongoing challenges like HIV/AIDS exemplify health crises that transcend borders. Currently, diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 continue to threaten populations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of Latin America. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that preventable or treatable diseases cause approximately 15 million deaths yearly across the globe (WHO, 2022). Malnutrition, poor sanitation, and limited access to healthcare facilities exacerbate these issues. A world map depicting areas with high disease burdens visually underscores the magnitude of health disparities and their threat to global stability.

Conclusion

Prioritizing threats to the global environment necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their origins, affected populations, and consequences. Climate change, civil conflict, energy dependency, and global health crises remain at the forefront due to their extensive impact on human welfare, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. Recognizing the interconnected nature of these threats can guide policymakers in devising multifaceted strategies to safeguard future generations and promote sustainable development.

References

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Summary for Policymakers. In Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press.
• International Energy Agency (IEA). (2023). Global Energy Review 2023. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2023
• Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). (2020). UCDP Conflict Dataset. Uppsala University.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (2023). Syria Regional Refugee Response. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/syrian-refugees.html
• World Bank. (2022). Climate Change Overview. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). World Malaria Report 2022. Geneva: WHO.