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Major Global Challenges in the Latest Data from the UN, GBD Study and Other Sources
Here we combine data on key global challenges from the WHO Global Health Estimates of July 2024 and other latest data from the United Nations with data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD Study), completed in May 2024, as well as other sources.
... more on "Major Global Challenges in the Latest Data from the UN, GBD Study and Other Sources" ...
WHO Global Health Estimates from July 2024
We present data from the new WHO Global Health Estimates on major global challenges. Global2030 defines these as issues arising from limited access to vital resources such as food, clean air or healthcare. We present the results in order of the number of annual deaths.
... more on "WHO Global Health Estimates from July 2024" ...
New Data and Projections on the Global Burden of Disease
The recently completed version of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study provides global, national and sub-national estimates for 2021 on many health categories: life expectancy, 288 causes of death, 88 risk factors, incidence and prevalence of 371 diseases and injuries, losses of healthy life-years and projections by 2050. Furthermore, it appears to be the biggest scientific study ever in terms of numbers of topics, estimates produced, collaborators and computational power utilized.
... more on "New Data and Projections on the Global Burden of Disease" (May 2024) ...
Latest Data on Major Global Challenges
We provide a collection of latest data on major global challenges that result from limited access to vital resources (such as food, clean air or health care). Where possible, trend data was included, also in relation to targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Between their adoption in 2015 and the target year 2030, 2023 marks the end of the first half of the target period.
... more on "Latest Data on Major Global Challenges" (Status November 2023) ...
COP28monitor, Peace Nobel Prize
We have launched the COP28monitor on the negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai. It offers information, online discussion and an online event. We have also started a similar project on the Peace Nobel Prize 2023 for Narges Mohammadi. Both projects are only available in German.
Links: COP28monitor at Mastodon 
, COP28monitor at Facebook , COP28monitor at X/Twitter
Friedensnobel23 at Mastodon , Friedensnobel23 at Facebook , Friedensnobel23 at X/Twitter .
Information on the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 Death Toll (Status November 2023)
Approaches to Combatting the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2021)
How Serious Is the COVID-19 Pandemic and How Long Will It Have to Be Mitigated? (29 March 2020)
New Global Health Estimates by the WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a new issue of their Global Health Estimates (GHE), updated for 2000 to 2019. At Global2030, we utilize this data for major global challenges that result from limited access to vital resources such as food, clean water or health care. We assess the relative importance of these challenges and their progress towards internationally agreed time-bound targets if given – such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set in 2015.
Furthermore, we compare the GHE data to those earlier published in the Global Burden of Disease study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
... more on "New Global Health Estimates by the WHO" ...
Long-term Trends in Nutrition, Health and the Environment
A recent speech by UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the state of the planet and the critical need to take urgent climate action. Outlined was the obligation to reduce the negative consequences of, amongst other human practices, the devastating impacts of the current food system on the planet. The Secretary-General expressed that with biodiversity collapsing, ecosystems disappearing and the over-fishing of oceans, the results are "impeding our efforts to eliminate poverty" and "imperilling food security". These statements resonate with recent findings by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) on long-term trends in nutrition, global health and the environment.
... more on "Long-term Trends in Nutrition, Health and the Environment" ...
New Data on the Global Burden of Disease and Progress Towards Targets of the Sustainable Development Goals
At Global 2030, we compile newly published data by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study to address major global challenges that result from limited access to vital resources such as food, clean air or health care. We utilize the study in topics covered by our data-driven review on the most important global challenges.
Additionally, we use the new data to assess trends towards major targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the members of the United Nations (UN) committed to in 2015 for 2030. Indicators are similar to the official UN indicators.
... more on "New Data on the Global Burden of Disease ..."
World Refugee Day: Global Trends of Forced Displacement
On today's World Refugee Day, Global2030 summarizes the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
... more on "World Refugee Day: Global Trends of Forced Displacement" (20 June 2020)
How Serious Is the COVID-19 Pandemic and
How Long Will It Have to Be Mitigated?
These are the questions addressed in a new study by Imperial College London, conducted in collaboration with the WHO and other institutions. The authors stress that the results of their models are not forecasts, but indicate the magnitude of the problem and important influencing factors. The effects will depend above all on action in the coming weeks and months (p. 3).
... more on "How Serious Is the COVID-19 Pandemic ..." (29 March 2020)
Achievements of the Time-Bound MDG Targets
Global2030 released the first comprehensive assessment of all time-bound targets of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals. The report, which comes following the close of the MDG time frame, documents the achievements and the shortcomings of the targets.
A key finding is that 8 of the 15 MDG targets reached between 80 and 320% of their goals, with most achieving about 150%. It also calculates the number of annual deaths prevented since the introduction of the targets to be between 6.85 million and 8.75 million. The child mortality target is found to be the biggest life saver. Furthermore, the pace of progress is shown to have increased in most indicators of the MDG targets. The report will be sent to heads of states, UN organizations and business companies.
P.S.: A summary of the report was released at Deliver2030 , which is run by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
... more on "Achievements of the Time-Bound MDG Targets"
Download: Global2030: Achievements and Unfinished Business of the Time-Bound MDG Targets 
, 10 pages plus annex, , 1.4MB (kilobytes)
Internship Placements for Refugees
Global2030 offers internships or volunteering placements for refugees with a scientific background. See www.Global2030.net/refugees.
Global2015 Project Renamed to Global2030
Global2030 is the new name for the successor project of Global2015. The name change is related to the close of 2015 as the main target year of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the adoption of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As Global2015 did, Global2030 monitors the most important global challenges including, among other topics, all MDGs and many SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). The legal name of the registered association (Global2015 e.V.) will also be changed but we intend not to include a year number (in case new global challenges appear after 2030).
SDG Targets: Strengths and Weaknesses
Global2015 presented its evaluation of the SDG targets at the Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment (IZT ). Using our data collection, a balanced assessment revealed the extent to which the goals are realistically achievable and those goals that will require extensive efforts from stakeholders. The presentation addressed shortcomings of the SDGs where tangible targets were missing and important issues were absent. However, the overall assessment revealed the strengths of the SDG targets and potential to achieve positive results by 2030.
Download: Global2015: Stärken und Schwächen der SDG-Targets 
(in German, with most diagrams in English), 32 presentation slides, , 971KB (kilobytes)
Fact Sheet on Trends of Old and New SDG Topics
In line with a series of our latest publications, Global2015 submitted a fact sheet on current trends to the UN negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda. The fact sheet provides trend diagrams on MDG target topics as well as new and emerging challenges. The fact sheet identifies progress, setbacks and new topics for the SDG targets. It utilizes annual trend data series from the 2015 Global Burden of Disease study and includes a comparison with the most recent WHO and UNAIDS trend data.
Download: Fact Sheet: Trends of Old and New Post-2015 Challenges , 5 pages plus an 8-page annex, , 404KB (kilobytes)
Fact Sheets on Post-2015 Targets and Indicators
Two further fact sheets of our series have been submitted by Global2015 to the UN negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda. The first fact sheet contributes to the tweaking of the post-2015 targets. It focusses on 8 SDG targets and provides proposals for changes as small as possible to make these targets more clearly quantifiable, to specify x-values in the draft or to preserve the intended aspiration. Our work is evidence-based and all recommendations are fully in line with the proposed post-2015 development agenda.
The second fact sheet proposes indicators for 17 selected SDG targets based on publicly available data. It was also submitted to the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC ) (see stakeholder feedback ).
Downloads:
- Fact Sheet: Tweaking of Selected UN OWG Targets , 6 pages plus a 5-page annex, , 212KB (kilobytes)
- Fact Sheet: Indicators for Selected Post-2015 Targets , 14 pages, , 251KB (kilobytes)
Fact Sheet on Infectious Diseases
The second fact sheet of our series was submitted by Global2015 to the UN negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda. The fact sheet focusses on target 3.3 on infectious diseases, which was proposed by the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG). The fact sheet can contribute to the technical proofing of the SDG targets. The evidence-based recommendations are fully in line with the proposed post-2015 development agenda and do not refer to any controversial topics or risk unravelling the package of the SDGs.
The fact sheet provides a comparison of the contagious diseases with the highest numbers of deaths. For selected diseases – each on individual pages –, it presents the latest trend data and a data-derived recommendation of an ambitious but achievable target level for 2030.
Download: Fact Sheet: UN OWG Target 3.3 on Infectious Diseases , 6 pages plus a 6-page annex, , 399KB (kilobytes)
Fact Sheet on Safe and Secure Working Environments
The first fact sheet of an upcoming series was submitted by Global2015 to the UN negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda. The fact sheet focusses on target 8.8 on safe and secure working environments, which was proposed by the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG).
The fact sheet provides a comparison with other major global topics in terms of relative importance. Furthermore, it presents latest trend data and a data-derived recommendation of an ambitious but achievable target level for 2030. The fact sheet is based on the latest available data, in particular from the ILO, the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2015 and the WHO Global Health Estimates 2014.
Download: Fact Sheet: UN OWG Target 8.8 on Safe and Secure Working Environments , 2 pages plus a 2-page annex, , 179KB (kilobytes)
Further fact sheets are being prepared, and you can register for receiving them at our fact sheets page.
Data-derived Recommendations for Post-2015 Targets
Global2015 submitted a new proposal for the UN negotiations on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It addresses several open issues of the ongoing negotiations. The proposal provides an assessment of trend changes achieved by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and derives from that an average level of aspiration for the SDGs. Furthermore, it suggests an approach to define global targets that accommodates the consideration of national trends and country conditions. Additionally, the proposal identifies major topics for the post-2015 agenda, based on the latest data on mortality and economic losses. This includes the update of the Global Burden of Disease study from December 2014 and January 2015.
Finally, the proposal suggests framing or clustering the 17 SDGs into a small number of summary objectives, in order to facilitate effective communication.
Download of the proposal: Data-derived Recommendations for Post-2015 Targets , 15 pages plus a 17 page annex, , 818KB (kilobytes)
Data-based Recommendations on Targets Proposed
Global2015 submitted "Data-based Recommendations on Targets Proposed" to the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG) . The OWG has developed targets which continue on from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which have an end date of 2015. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are intended to cover the time frame up to 2030 and will be agreed upon by the UN General Assembly.
The data and diagrams in our paper show both progress and setbacks among major global challenges, including MDG topics, between 1990 and 2010. Currently most major global challenges, though not all, are covered by time-bound and quantifiable targets proposed by the UN OWG. In particular, our paper provides data and suggestions on seven post-2015 targets proposed by the OWG, with regard to epidemics, air pollution and occupational safety etc.
The paper is a pre-release excerpt of an upcoming update of our previous publication "Assessing Priorities for Rio+20" (see below). It utilizes data from many trustworthy sources such as the latest version of the Global Burden of Disease study and the WHO Global Health Estimates of June 2014.
P.S.: The final UN OWG outcome document includes now: "by 2030 … combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases". A further post-2015 target has now been made time-bound: "by 2030 ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including for family planning, information and education". These changes are concurrent with recommendations made by Global2015.
Download of the proposal: Data-based Recommendations on Targets Proposed by the UN OWG , 11 pages plus a 22 page annex, , 725KB (kilobytes)
Assessing Priorities for Rio+20
A proposal was written by Global2015 for the preparation of "Rio+20", the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, which will take place in June 2012. The objective of Rio+20 is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date, and address new and emerging challenges.
The Global2015 proposal focuses on providing neutral information on major global challenges. This includes prioritizing the most urgent challenges that the world faces today, and identifying which issues have made the most progress and which have been neglected. The data on global challenges has been updated and diagrams have been included to show the comparative relevancies of the major global challenges, the progress made on issues, and target accomplishments. The proposal has been sent to the heads of appropriate bodies along with other international organizations involved in the preparation of Rio+20.
Download of the proposal: Assessing Priorities for Rio+20 , 9 pages plus a 38 page annex, , 1.3MB (megabytes)
Report for the UN High-Level Meeting on AIDS
Global2015 has created a report on "HIV/AIDS in the Context of Other Global Challenges". The purpose of the report is to assist decision-makers in assessing priorities for appropriate action, taking into consideration global challenges interlinking with HIV/AIDS. Heads of government, ambassadors to the , and the heads of related UN bodies were provided with the report, in regard to the High-Level Meeting on AIDS of the UN General Assembly (8-10 June 2011). The presidents of Switzerland and the , governments from countries such as Australia, Brazil and the , as well as the Commission and the , responded with their appreciation of the objective and comprehensive nature of the analysis.
Survey Presented at WHO/SIGN Conference
Global2015 was invited to present its Global Challenges Survey at the annual meeting of the Safe Injection Global Network (SIGN), which is hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO). 135 registered participants from 28 countries attended the conference, which lasted from the 9th to the 11th of November, 2010 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Feedback on this first international presentation of the Global Challenges Survey was very positive, and several participants agreed to give expert reviews of the draft survey.
Special Edition for the UN MDG Summit
A Special Edition of the Global Challenges Survey was created for the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (High-Level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly, 20-22 September 2010).
The updated survey by Global2015 covers most of the Millennium targets as well as other important global challenges. Global2015 has provided the survey to world leaders and UN representatives, and will continue to monitor the most urgent global challenges to encourage further action.
To the Global Challenges Survey, September 2010 …
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- Global2030 provides information and suggests action on the most important global challenges of the 21st century.
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January 17, 2025 Global Risks
New data from the Global Risks Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum:
State-based armed conflict is seen by 23% of the 909 experts responding from around the world as the most likely global risk to present a material crisis on a global scale in 2025.
Extreme weather events are the most likely crisis in 2025 for 14% of respondents.
A geoeconomic confrontation is considered the 3rd most likely risk in 2025 (8% of respondents).
For the next 2 years, the most severe impacts according to the Global Risks Report 2025 are expected from:
Misinformation and disinformation
Extreme weather events
State-based armed conflict
Societal polarization.
For the next 10 years, the most severe impacts according to the Global Risks Report 2025 are expected from:
Extreme weather events
Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse
Critical change to Earth systems
Natural resource shortages.
Source: WEF: Global Risks Report 2025 .
January 9, 2025 Natural Disasters
Today released:
In 2024, there were fewer deaths but more damage from natural disasters than the average for previous years.
About 11,000 people died, much fewer than the 77,600 in 2023.
Damages amounted to 320 billion US$, 52 billion $ more than in 2023.
MunichRe stated: “Climate change is showing its claws.”
Source: MunichRe .
December 1, 2024 HIV/AIDS
Today is World AIDS day!
HIV/AIDS resulted in the death of 630,000 to 718,000 people in 2021/2023, including 18,300 who died from resistant forms of the virus.
Sources: UNAIDS , WHO , GBD study (registration required).
October 16, 2024 Biodiversity
New data: The Living Planet Index (LPI) tracks the average relative change in the size of 34,836 monitored populations of 5,495 wild vertebrate species. From 1970 to 2020, it indicates an average decline of these wildlife population sizes by 73%, according to the 2024 issue.
However, the LPI is very sensitive to sharp declines in small populations and to population sizes of zero. Zeros may also reflect some small populations that have not been detected, according to the authors.
Half of the wildlife populations are stable or increasing, which is not evident from the -73% figure. As the authors see the LPI as an early warning indicator, they do not follow the recommendations of other scientists to make the index more robust, more neutral and less prone to outliers.
Sources: WWF Living Planet , Living Planet Index: Sensitivity , Living Planet Index: Technical_Supplement , Toszogyova et al. in Nature journal .
September 26, 2024 Antimicrobial Resistance
New 2030 target adopted!
Political Declaration of the UN High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance:
“We, Heads of State and Government ...
Note with concern that ... in 2019, 4.95 million deaths were associated with drugresistant bacterial infections, including 1.27 million deaths directly attributable to bacterial antimicrobial resistance, 20 per cent of whom were children under five ...
... Commit to scale up action to be commensurate with the present burden of antimicrobial resistance, with the aim to reduce the global deaths associated with bacterial antimicrobial resistance by 10 per cent by 2030 against the 2019 baseline of 4.95 million deaths”.
Sources: WHO , UN Political Declaration .
September 22, 2024 Sustainable Development
UN Pact for the Future adopted:
“We reiterate our steadfast commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030”.
“We will urgently accelerate progress towards achieving the Goals, including through concrete political steps and mobilizing significant additional financing from all sources for sustainable development”.
Source: UN Pact for the Future .
September 21, 2024 Armed Conflicts
Peace Day: The UN General Assembly declared in 2001 that “the International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence”.
Source: UN General Assembly .
September 7, 2024 Global Health Estimates and Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD Study)
We combined data on key global challenges from the WHO Global Health Estimates of July 2024 and other latest data from the UN with data from the GBD study (Global Burden of Disease Study), completed in May 2024, as well as other sources. The GBD Study was created by over 12,000 collaborators and is based at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.
Global2030 has identified as key global challenges those issues that arise from limited access of affected people to vital resources such as food, clean air or healthcare. We present the results in order of magnitude according to annual deaths.
... more on "Major Global Challenges in the Latest Data from the UN, GBD Study and Other Sources" ...
August 12, 2024 WHO Global Health Estimates from July 2024
New Data: We present data from the new WHO Global Health Estimates on major global challenges. Global2030 defines these as issues arising from limited access to vital resources such as food, clean air or healthcare.
COVID-19
COVID-19 led to about 8.71 million deaths in 2021 and 4.05 million in 2020 and was therefore the No. 1 killer among the observed challenges. The figures are based on excess mortality.
Pneumonia and Other Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections (excluding COVID-19 and tuberculosis) cost 2.45 million lives in 2021.
Neonatal Mortality
Neonatal mortality claimed 1.93 million lives in 2021.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis killed 1.40 million people in 2021.
Diarrhoeal Diseases (Unsafe Water)
Diarrhoeal diseases, mainly caused by unsafe drinking water and unsafe or no sanitation facilities, led to 1.24 million
deaths in 2021, mainly among children.
Road Accidents
Road traffic accidents claimed the lives of 1.18 million people in 2021.
Hepatitis B and C
Hepatitis B and C led to the loss of 1.11 million lives, mainly due to resultant liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS caused 647 000 deaths in 2021.
Malaria
Malaria killed 605 000 people in 2021, mainly children.
Maternal Mortality
Maternal mortality cost the lives of 259 000 adolescent girls and women in 2021.
Hunger
Malnutrition caused 257 000 direct deaths, excluding its contribution to other diseases, which was responsible for a far greater number of deaths.
Armed Conflicts
In armed conflicts, about 125 000 people were killed in 2021, including civilian casualties.
Measles
Measles killed 81 300 people in 2021, mostly children.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters caused about 9170 deaths in 2021.
Global Health Estimates
The WHO Global Health Estimates are one of the two most comprehensive sources of data on global challenges. They provide consistent, directly comparable data for a wide range of global health issues.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), July 2024: Global Health Estimates Summary Tables ; Deaths by Cause, Age and Sex, by World Bank Income Groups, 2000-2021.
December 3, 2023 Climate Change
Today is Health Day at COP 28:
Climate change is estimated to result in 141 000 to 400 000 annual deaths at present.
By 2050, it is projected to lead to between 250 000 and 1.09 million deaths per year. And by the end of the century, the annual death toll may rise to at least 3.35 or 4.6 million.
Sources: WHO 1 (p. 50);
CVM3 (p. 93);
GHF ;
CVM2 , (p. 17);
WHO 2 ;
Springmann ;
Bressler .
December 1, 2023 HIV/AIDS
Today, we celebrate World AIDS day.
AIDS killed about 630 000 people in 2022.
Although this death toll has fallen from 900 000 in 2015, it is not on track to reach the 2025 UNAIDS target nor the 2030 SDG 3.3 target to end AIDS.
Sources: UNAIDS Fact Sheet , UNAIDS Spreadsheet .
November 30, 2023 Climate Change
We have launched the COP28monitor on the negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai. It offers information, online discussion and an online event in German.
Links: COP28monitor at Mastodon , COP28monitor at Facebook , COP28monitor at X/Twitter .
Malaria
New report: Malaria killed about 608 000 people in 2022, mainly children.
This figure has risen from 586 000 in 2015 and is not on track to reach SDG 3.3 target to end malaria by 2030.
Source: WHO .
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, Mastodon , Facebook , Instagram or X/Twitter .
Global Challenges Survey
The Global2015 draft survey summarizes the most urgent issues for human life and needs. The information is exclusively drawn from reports of scientific institutes, organizations, national departments, and other trustworthy sources.
Global Challenges Survey, September 2010
The most recent data on global challenges can be found in our social media posts and in our latest publications, such as the "Major Global Challenges in the Latest Data from the UN, GBD Study and Other Sources" from September 2024 or the "Latest Data on Global Challenges" (including trend data) from November 2023. The most comprehensive compilation of our topics and indicators is included in the proposal "Assessing Priorities for Rio+20" of November 2011 (9 pages plus a 38 page annex, 1.3MB [megabytes])
Participating in the Project
Everyone is welcome to contribute ideas and suggestions to the further development of the draft overview on main global challenges. Please use the contact page. Furthermore, Global2030 approaches scientists and experts to review the draft.
After being reviewed, the completed survey report on global challenges will be published here. The purpose of the survey is to inform and motivate decision-makers in particular, but also the public, to increase their efforts to tackle the global challenges addressed.
Address of this page (URI, URL): http://www.global2015.net/index.html
Photo credit: © Mihai Eustatiu .
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