Globalization and World Cultures PDF
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This document discusses globalization and world cultures, exploring concepts like cultural diversity, hybridization, and convergence. It highlights how these concepts are relevant across cultures and communities, promoting the idea of empathy and cultural understanding.
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**CHAPTER 4 -- GLOBALIZATION AND WORLD CULTURES** World culture encompasses the rich tapestry of human existence, woven together by diverse traditions, beliefs, customs, and practices across the globe. **Facets of world culture:** **Cultural Diversity:** - - **Shared Elements:** - -...
**CHAPTER 4 -- GLOBALIZATION AND WORLD CULTURES** World culture encompasses the rich tapestry of human existence, woven together by diverse traditions, beliefs, customs, and practices across the globe. **Facets of world culture:** **Cultural Diversity:** - - **Shared Elements:** - - **Cultural Exchange:** - - **Challenges and Opportunities:** - - **Perspectives on Global Flows of Culture:** A. **Cultural differentialism** This refers to the recognition and appreciation of lasting differences among cultures. It acknowledges that each culture possesses unique characteristics, values, and practices that endure over time. B. **Cultural Hybridization** This paradigm recognizes that cultures constantly **interact, blend, and evolve**. It celebrates the creative fusion of diverse cultural elements, resulting in new forms of expression. Cultural hybridization challenges fixed boundaries and embraces fluidity. C. **Cultural convergence** **Cultural convergence** is a fascinating phenomenon where two or more cultures gradually **blend together**, resulting in the sharing of values, beliefs, customs, and behaviors. **Factors of cultural convergence** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. D. **Cultural Homogenization** Cultural homogenization is the process by which local cultures are transformed or absorbed by a dominant outside culture. It results in a convergence of cultural expressions and practices. Cultural homogenization raises questions about preserving cultural uniqueness while embracing global interconnectedness. Styles of Dress: Different cultures across the world have different attires based on their traditions, climate, religion and other factors. However, as a result of cultural homogenization the ways that people dress are increasingly looking similar across the globe, with items like jeans and t-shirts being widespread. **LESSON 1 -- Mass Media and Globalization** "By media we mean the channels, the means or forums used for disseminating information, providing entertainment with time motto to create awareness among the masses" (Mehsood, 2006). Mass media are diversified and large-scale communication devices for Information transmission to the large audience which includes newspaper, books, radio, magazines, television, and internet etc. Mass media are designed technologies for mass society to produce mass communication which is the product of more than one person. We all are exposed to the media text to some extant as being part of the radio audience in the morning as we get ready for school, college or work, watching breakfast television or reading newspaper, listening to music on MP3 players, logging on to read our mails and surf the web, sharing photos and texting friends on our mobile phones or glimpsing advertising hoarding as we travel to school, college and work throughout the day consciously and unconsciously, exposed to different media products.(Rayner & Wall, 2008).![](media/image2.jpeg) Globalization has redefined international communication in many ways. 1. First, it has opened previously closed markets to conglomerate media corporations across the world. 2. Second, the diffusion of high-speed internet and bandwidth has altered the nature of international news content availability. 3. Finally, the combination of globalized media conglomerates and the internet/digital revolution has changed the operations of global journalism and mass communication across the world (Pavlik, 2001). **Media globalization** Following Thompson (1995), we can say that media globalization is characterized by a number of distinct features. These are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. A. **The Global Village** The concept of the global village describes the phenomenon of the entire world becoming more interconnected due to the widespread propagation of media technologies. This term was coined by Canadian media theorist Marshall McLuhan in his influential works, including "The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man" (1962) and "Understanding Media" (1964). - - B. **Cultural Imperialism** Cultural imperialism refers to the imposition, by a usually politically or economically dominant community, of various aspects of its own culture onto another nondominant community. This phenomenon involves the forceful extension of the authority of one way of life over another population, either by transforming or replacing aspects of the nondominant community's culture.![](media/image4.png) **Contemporary Examples:** - - - - - - **LESSON 2 - Religion and Globalization** It is the belief in and worship of a controlling supernatural power, often containing moral codes. The two main types are monotheistic, believing in one god, and polytheistic, believing in many gods. Five major world religions are described briefly: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. A close-up of a text Description automatically generated *Source:* *[https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/17-3-sociological-perspectives-on-religion/]* **Importance of Religion in contemporary world** 1. It gives meaning and purpose to life 2. It reinforces social unity and stability. Religion has the function of uniting a society by ensuring that people meet regularly to affirm common beliefs and values. It provides shared sacred beliefs and practices and provides shared moral order and social unity. Religion brings us together. 3. Promotes physical and psychological well-being - Religion may benefit psychological well-being because it encourages supernatural beliefs that can help people deal with stress. Social psychologists identify "stress buffering" mechanisms, such as a perceived connection with the divine, as keyways people may deal with difficult life events. 4. Motivate people to work for positive social change. Peter Beyer (1994) identified three key impacts of globalization on religion: - - - A. **Secularization of religion** Secularization, a multilayered concept, generally denotes "a transition from a religious to a more worldly level." It encompasses various dimensions, and most forms of secularization do not necessarily lead to atheism or irreligion. Secularization, as elaborated by Steve Bruce, is a multifaceted concept that goes beyond a simple decline in religious influence. Let's delve into the defense of this "unfashionable theory": **Definition:** - - **Three Dimensions of Secularization:** - - - **Reduced Religious Practices and Beliefs:** - - - B. **Religion and globalism** **Globalism** - A widespread belief among powerful people that the global integration of economic markets is beneficial for everyone. **CHAPTER 5 -- GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHY, MIGRATION, AND GLOBAL CITIES** **LESSON 1 -- Global Demography** A. ![](media/image8.png) The demographic transition that began in nineteenth-century Europe was marked **Stage 3: Declining Fertility** **Stage 4: Demographic Transition in the Early Twenty-first Century** **Beyond Stage 4: A Stationary Population** **Contemporary Issues** [Does population growth pose a challenge to economic development?] [Malthusian View] [Strategies for reducing fertility] \(1) [Birth Control Programs] a. b. c. d. e. \(2) [Socio-economic Development] a. b. c. d. B. Here\'s a breakdown of the demographic dividend: 1. 2. 3. 4. **LESSON 2 -- Global Migration** 1. 2. [Policies to Discourage Rural-Urban Migration] A. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Push factors | Pull factors | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Push factors are negative aspects | Pull factors are positive aspects | | of the origin location that | of the destination location that | | motivate people to leave. | attract people to move there. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 1. 2. 3. 4. | 1. 2. 3. 4. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ B. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | By Intended Duration of Stay | By Reason for Migration | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 1. 2. | 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ C. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Effects on Destination Countries** **Effects on Origin Countries** [Economic Effect] Negative Negative In some cases, migrants might compete with native workers for jobs, potentially driving down wages. There can also be strain on social services like education and healthcare. Migrants often send money back home (remittances), which can improve the lives of families and contribute to local development. They may also return with skills and knowledge gained abroad, benefiting the home economy. Migration, particularly of skilled workers (brain drain), can deprive origin countries of human capital needed for growth. Cultural clashes can occur if migrants struggle to integrate or face discrimination. The loss of young people due to migration can weaken social structures and strain families left behind. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **LESSON 3 -- The Global City** A. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Economic Power** | **Center of Authority** | | | | | 1. 2. | 1. 2. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Center of Higher Learning and | **Connectivity and | | Culture** | Accessibility** | | | | | 1. 2. | 1. 2. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ B. +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Inequality and | **Environmental | **Infrastructure | | Social Exclusion** | Degradation** | Strain** | | | | | | The economic dynamism | Global cities are | Rapid urbanization | | of global cities | major contributors to | puts a strain on | | often creates stark | greenhouse gas | existing | | contrasts. Soaring | emissions due to high | infrastructure, | | property values and a | energy consumption, | including | | high cost of living | transportation | transportation | | can push low-income | demands, and waste | systems, sanitation, | | residents to the | generation. They are | and housing. Global | | periphery, leading to | also vulnerable to | cities often face | | social and economic | the effects of | challenges in keeping | | segregation. | climate change, such | up with the demands | | Additionally, | as rising sea levels | of a growing and | | immigrants and | and extreme weather | dynamic population. | | marginalized groups | events. | | | can struggle to | | | | integrate and access | | | | opportunities. | | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Security Threats** | **Governance | **Erosion of Cultural | | | Challenges** | Identity** | | As centers of | | | | finance, trade, and | Managing a large and | The influx of | | political influence, | diverse population | international | | global cities are | with competing | influences can dilute | | prime targets for | interests can be | the unique cultural | | terrorism and | complex. Global | identity of a place. | | cyberattacks. | cities often require | Finding a balance | | Ensuring security | innovative and | between embracing | | requires significant | collaborative forms | global trends and | | resources and a | of governance to | preserving local | | constant state of | address these | heritage is a | | vigilance. | challenges | challenge for many | | | effectively. | global cities. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ **CHAPTER 6 - ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS, GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY, and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (Mamsh Julie, Leana, & Rob)** **LESSON 1 -- Environmental Crisis** The Environmental Crisis is distinguished by swift and often unforeseeable alterations in environmental conditions, which, if not addressed promptly, can prove exceedingly challenging to reverse. The recognition of the magnitude of the environmental crisis, as highlighted in the 2012 UNEP Global Environmental Outlook report, underscores the profound impact of human activities on ecological systems worldwide. While humans have always exerted influence on their local environments, the scale and intensity of these impacts have escalated to a point where the Earth\'s natural systems are struggling to cope. Historically, human societies have altered their surroundings through activities such as agriculture, land use changes, and resource extraction. However, the rapid expansion of industrialization, urbanization, and globalization has accelerated these changes to unprecedented levels. As a result, the intricate balance of ecosystems that sustains life on Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. One of the key drivers of this crisis is globalization. While globalization has facilitated economic growth and interconnected societies on a global scale, it has also led to significant environmental consequences. The globalization of production processes has enabled goods to be manufactured under conditions that would be deemed unacceptable in many consumers\' own communities. This can include lax environmental regulations, exploitation of natural resources, and disregard for worker rights and safety standards. Additionally, globalization allows for the exportation of waste, enabling affluent nations to offload their pollution and environmental burdens onto less developed countries. This \"out of sight, out of mind\" approach allows individuals and societies to overlook the true scale and consequences of their consumption patterns. Furthermore, globalization has contributed to the homogenization of culture and lifestyles, promoting consumerism and materialism as markers of success and well-being. This has led to increased consumption of resources, energy, and goods, further exacerbating environmental degradation and strain on natural systems. In essence, the environmental crisis we face today is a result of the collective impact of human activities driven by globalization. To address this crisis effectively, it is crucial to recognize the interconnectedness of economic, social, and environmental factors and to adopt holistic approaches that prioritize sustainability, equity, and resilience. This requires transformative changes in policies, practices, and attitudes at both local and global levels to ensure a more sustainable and equitable future for all. A. Environmental crises can manifest in various forms, each with its unique characteristics and impacts. Some common types of environmental crises include: **Climate Change**. This crisis is characterized by alterations in global climate patterns, including rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events, primarily driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. **Biodiversity Loss**. This crisis refers to the rapid decline in the variety and abundance of plant and animal species worldwide, caused by habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, overexploitation, and climate change, leading to disruptions in ecosystems and loss of ecosystem services. **Pollution**. Environmental pollution involves the release of harmful substances into the air, water, or soil, resulting from industrial activities, transportation, agriculture, and waste disposal. Types of pollution include air pollution (e.g., from vehicle emissions or industrial processes), water pollution (e.g., from sewage discharge or chemical runoff), and soil contamination (e.g., from pesticides or heavy metals). **Deforestation and Land Degradation.** This crisis involves the clearing of forests for agriculture, urbanization, and resource extraction, leading to habitat loss, soil erosion, desertification, and loss of biodiversity. Unsustainable land management practices exacerbate these impacts, threatening the integrity of ecosystems and the services they provide. **Ocean Degradation.** The health of marine ecosystems is compromised by various factors, including ocean acidification, caused by the absorption of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, overfishing, destructive fishing practices, pollution (e.g., plastic waste and oil spills), and habitat destruction (e.g., coral reef degradation). **Resource Depletion**. The overexploitation of natural resources, such as fossil fuels, minerals, freshwater, and arable land, at rates exceeding their regeneration or replenishment capacity, leads to resource depletion, environmental degradation, social conflicts, and economic instability. **Natural Disasters**. Environmental crises can also arise from natural phenomena such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, and wildfires, which can cause widespread destruction, displacement of populations, loss of lives, and disruption of ecosystems and infrastructure. B. Economic activities encompass a diverse range of processes that utilize production factors to create goods and services, fulfilling the needs of individuals and the economy at large. These activities form the backbone of any economic system, impacting both individual well-being and overall national prosperity. They span various actions, including resource extraction, manufacturing, service provision, and technological advancement. Economic activities not only stimulate economic expansion but also exert significant influences on both society and the environment. Recognizing and comprehending these impacts are pivotal for fostering sustainable development. For example, adopting environmentally-friendly practices in production can help alleviate environmental degradation. By implementing methods that minimize resource consumption, reduce pollution, and promote renewable energy sources, industries can mitigate their negative environmental footprint. This approach not only preserves natural ecosystems and biodiversity but also contributes to the long-term health and resilience of the planet. Similarly, embracing inclusive economic policies can address societal inequalities. By ensuring equitable access to opportunities, resources, and wealth distribution, governments and organizations can foster social cohesion and enhance overall well-being. Inclusive economic growth promotes social mobility, reduces poverty, and empowers marginalized communities, ultimately leading to a more just and equitable society. Overall, understanding the multifaceted impacts of economic activities on society and the environment is essential for crafting policies and practices that promote sustainable development. By prioritizing environmental conservation and social equity alongside economic growth, societies can achieve a harmonious balance that ensures prosperity for present and future generations. **Lesson 2- Global Food Security** ![](media/image10.png) Achieving our goal in ending global hunger often requires providing food to people in need. But we know that **more is needed** to ensure that people enjoy food security. ***What is food security?*** As defined by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), ***food security* exists when all people, at all times, have social and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.** In the early 1970s, a time of global food crisis, the concept of food security initially focused on ensuring food availability and the price stability of basic foods, which was due to the extreme volatility of agricultural commodity prices that time. The occurrence of hunger, famine and food crises required a definition of food security which recognized the critical needs and behavior of potentially vulnerable people. A better perception of the crises in food security later led to a shift in emphasis from the availability of food to a wider approach. A deeper grasp of the functioning of agricultural markets under stress conditions, and how at-risk populations found themselves unable to access food, led to the expansion of the FAO definition to include securing access by vulnerable people to available supplies. Thus, economic access to foods came into the concept of food security. The next development came in 1986 when the World Bank introduced a time scale for food security by distinguishing food insecurity caused by natural or man-made disasters. These were reflected in a further extension of the concept of food security to include: "access of all people at all times". Since the studies on food security are often content specific, depending on which of the many technical perspectives and policy issues, this had no coherent definition then. In an attempt to bring more unity to such complexity, a redefinition of food security was conducted in 1966 reflecting the complex interaction among individual, household and even to the global level. Then in 2009, the World Summit on Food Security added the fourth dimension of stability to the concept of food security. More recently, it has been suggested that sustainability be added as the fifth dimension to encompass the long-term time dimension. **Dimensions of Food Security** 1\. **Availability of food.** This refers to the physical existence of food. This dimension addresses the supply side of food security, determined by food production, stock levels, and net trade. In other words, it focuses on whether there is enough food available to meet the population's needs. 2\. **Accessibility.** This refers to an adequate supply of food at the national or international level. Factors affecting access include income, expenditure, market availability, and food prices. Even if food is available, people must be able to afford it and physically access it. 3\. **Food Utilization.** This refers to the way the body makes the most of various nutrients in the food. This involves good care and feeding practices, diverse diets, food preparation, and fair distribution within households. The individual must be able to eat adequate amounts both in quantity and quality in order to live a healthy life. Food and water must be safe and clean; thus, adequate water and sanitation are involved at this level. 4\. **Stability.** This refers to the stability of other three dimensions over time. Meaning, there is regular and consistent access to food on a periodic basis. Even if someone's food intake is sufficient today, they may still be considered food insecure if they face periodic challenges in accessing food. Adverse weather conditions, political instability, economic factors (such as unemployment or rising food prices), and other external factors can impact food security status. Therefore, stability across all dimensions is essential. **A.** **Factors affecting global food security** **B. Addressing global food security** Demographers predict that the world population will stabilize by 2050 to 9 billion, although they warn that feeding this population will be an immense challenge. As part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) which aims to end hunger and ensure access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food by all people all year round, a multifaceted approach is needed to address various aspects of food security, nutrition, and agricultural sustainability. **1. Increase Agricultural Productivity** \*Implement agricultural research and development programs to develop high-yielding crop varieties, resilient to climate change and pests. \*Provide smallholder farmers with access to improved seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs. \*Invest in agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, and rural roads to improve productivity and market access. **2. Enhance Sustainable Farming Practices** **\***Promote agroecological approaches to farming that minimize environmental impact, conserve biodiversity, and enhance soil fertility. \*Provide training and extension services to farmers on sustainable land management practices, agroforestry, and integrated pest management. \*Encourage the adoption of climate-smart agriculture techniques that improve resilience to climate change while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. **3. Improve Access to Markets and Value Chains** **\***Strengthen market linkages for smallholder farmers to ensure fair prices and access to markets. \*Support the development of producer organizations and cooperatives to enhance bargaining power and market access for small-scale producers. \*Invest in post-harvest infrastructure and technologies to reduce food losses and improve food quality along the value chain. **4. Address Malnutrition and Improve Dietary Diversity** **\***Implement nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions that promote the production and consumption of diverse and nutrient-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, and animal-source foods. \*Integrate nutrition education and behavior change communication into agricultural extension programs to improve household dietary practices and nutrition outcomes. \*Implement targeted interventions to address specific forms of malnutrition, such as micronutrient deficiencies and stunting, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. **5. Strengthen Policy and Governance** **\***Develop and implement national policies and strategies that prioritize food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. \*Strengthen institutional capacity and governance frameworks to ensure effective coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of food security and nutrition program Name, age, civil status, number of families in the household Number persons in the household Number of earning individuals in the household Prioritize the following Budget for food, electricity,water, internet, schooling, medical/health and others Food security; Pira it iyo it budget kada adlaw ha pagkaon Pira it kakilo it iyo napapalit hin bogas kada adlaw Pira it iyo budget hit sura Ano nga klase nga bogas iyo napapalit? Pira naka bulan nga sugad nga kase na bogas an iyo napapalit? Na maintain ba niyo an kadamo nga bogas nga napapalit ha kada adlaw? **Lesson 3- Sustainable Development** **What is Sustainable Development?** Source: [Fast Facts - What is Sustainable Development? - United Nations Sustainable Development] - According to the Sustainable Development Commission, **sustainable development** is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. - According to the United Nations, **sustainable development** means meeting present demands without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfill their own needs. This is how people must live today if they all hope for a better future. - Development is not just about focusing on one approach, may it be economic, social, or environmental, but also looking for ways to balance different, and often competing, needs against awareness of the limitations we face as a society. - From large-scale financial crises caused by irresponsible banking to changes in the global climate resulting from our dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources, the longer the effects of unsustainable development, the more frequent and severe their consequences are likely to become. **Aspects of Sustainable Development** - The concept of sustainable development is named after the Brundtland report, which reported sustainable consumption in developed countries. - This was explained through the discussion of climate change, economic development, and global goals that should be implemented to achieve sustainable development. - From a historical perspective, the concept of sustainability was formulated at the first United Nations Conference on the Environment in 1972 and this clarified the goals of sustainable development. - Social - Economic - Environmental The adoption of numerous international agreements and goals for the benefit of the individuals and communities involved serves as the main foundation for the shift to sustainable development. Individual states and communities that are involved are: - **United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change** - **Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)** - **UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)** According to Safdie, a copywriter at Greenly, the social pillar refers to values that promote equality and respect for individual rights. The principles upon which this pillar is founded are as follows: - Combat social exclusion and discrimination. - Promote solidarity. - Contribute to the well-being of stakeholders. **What is economic sustainability?** - Recycling of products and the renewable use of energy are fundamental aspects of economic development. **What is environmental sustainability?** This pillar is based on the dedication to mitigate environmental risks and assess the effects of company business activities on the environment. One of the biggest challenges facing businesses that produce goods and services with the intention of maximizing profit is mitigating environmental concerns. The challenges in this area are as follows: - Saving and preserving natural energy or resources. - Assessing their carbon footprint and reducing gas emissions. - Prevent water shortages and reduce overall waste for present and future generations. **United Nations- Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs)**![](media/image13.png) Source: [[Social Development for Sustainable Development \| DISD (un.org)]](https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/2030agenda-sdgs.html#:~:text=They%20are%20integrated%20and%20indivisible,the%20new%20Agenda%20is%20realized.) - According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people would experience peace and prosperity in a healthy environment. - According to the United Nations, the agenda of UN sustainable development goals is known as "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." - The agenda was adopted at the United Nations Summit in New York from September 25 to 27 2015. - It has a broad and universal policy agenda, with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 169 associated targets. - The 2030 agenda aims to direct Member States in changing their strategies to attain sustainable development that is inclusive, focused on individuals, and ensures that no one is left behind. **Sustainable Development Goals' Current Status** According to the report of SDG Gateway Asia Pacific in the Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2023: - **15%** of necessary has been made at the midpoint of the agenda. - Goals **5** and **6** require the attention and demonstrated commitment from poor and rich countries to the SDGs to bridge the data gaps. - **70%** of the pace leaders in Asia Pacific are countries in special situations. - Progress towards all 17 SDGs in the Asia Pacific region has been slow, increasing from **4.4%** in 2017 to **14.4%** in 2022. Snapshot of progress in Asia and the Pacific In terms of industry, innovation, and infrastructure (Goal 9), as well as affordable and clean energy (Goal 7), the Asia-Pacific area thrived in 2022; yet, in terms of climate action (Goal 13), it fell short. **Global Sustainability Challenges** What are the biggest sustainability challenges facing the world today? According to Paweł Nowodziński of Start Smart, Central and Eastern Europe, **Sustainability** is not only related to environmental issues. It is also related to social equity and economic development. However, he argued that the main shortcoming of sustainability is still strongly concerned with the preservation of the environment for future generations. 1. Challenges of environmental sustainability a. Global warming due to CO2 emissions. b. Air pollution and water contamination c. Pollution of the oceans, seas and inland waters d. Slow energy transition and insufficient share of renewable energy e. Uncompromising food production harms f. Significant development of modern cities and agglomerations without the transparent and comprehensive urban strategy. g. Hydric stress and water scarcity h. Overpopulation and waste management 2. Challenges of economic, business, and social sustainability a. Poverty and youth unemployment b. Advancing the circular economy c. Government action d. Climate change- performance monitoring e. Holistic thinking and action f. Social justice in climate transition g. Business influencing policy **Source:** [Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability \| Enel Group] [[Sustainable Development Goals \| United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)]](https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals#:~:text=What%20are%20the%20Sustainable%20Development,people%20enjoy%20peace%20and%20prosperity.) [SDG Progress Report 2023 \| SDG Data Gateway (unescap.org)] [Sustainability Challenges - MIT Enterprise Forum CEE (startsmartcee.org)] **No Poverty:** Complete eradication of poverty in all of its forms everywhere. **Zero Hunger:** End hunger, promote agriculture, and provide food for every person. **Good Health and Well-being:** Ensure health and provide care for everyone regardless of their age. **Quality Education:** Ensure quality education that is equitable and inclusive. **Gender Equality:** Eradicate gender-based discrimination and empower all women. **Clean Water and Sanitation:** Ensure and develop appropriate water supply and waste disposal systems. **Affordable and Clean Energy:** Provide access to affordable, reliable and modern energy. **Decent Work and Economic Growth:** Provide constant and inclusive enhancement of economic activities. **Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure:** Develop resilient infrastructure and enhance creativity. **Reduced Inequalities:** Further decrease and eradicate the inequalities that exist. **Sustainable Cities and Communities:** Develop cities and communities that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. **Responsible Consumption and Production:** Promote patterns of consumption and production that are sustainable. **Climate Action:** Make urgent efforts to combat climate change and its effects. **Life Below Water:** Protect and manage the oceans, seas, and marine resources. **Life on Land:** Conserve and promote the sustainable use of land-based ecosystems. **Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions:** Support the achievement of peaceful and constructive solid societies. **Partnerships for the Goals:** Revamp and strengthen global partnerships for sustainable development.