Global Trends and Sustainability Flashcards

These vocabulary flashcards cover global trends, conflict and mass migration, climate change, increased world trade, and the three dimensions of sustainability as outlined in the lecture notes.

Global Trends

Patterns or changes occurring across many countries that require international cooperation to address, impacting low-income countries the most.

Conflict

Armed violence between groups or nations, often targeting civilians, hospitals, and food or water supplies, where approximately $90\%$ of deaths are civilians.

Mass Migration

The forced movement of large groups due to crisis rather than voluntary migration; $108.4\text{ million}$ people were displaced globally by 2022.

Refugees

Individuals who have fled their country and crossed an international border seeking safety.

Asylum Seekers

Individuals who have fled their country, but their request for protection is not yet processed.

Internally Displaced Persons

Individuals who are forced to leave their homes but remain within their own country.

Stateless Persons

Individuals who do not hold the nationality of any country and are denied basic rights.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in global temperature and weather patterns, accelerated by human activity.

Global Warming

The gradual increase in Earth's average temperature caused by greenhouse gases, such as $CO_2$ and methane, trapping heat in the atmosphere.

WHO Climate Change Fact

Identified as the single greatest health threat of the 21st century, projected to cause approximately $250,000$ additional deaths annually by 2050.

Globalisation

The process of countries becoming more interconnected, enabling global product distribution and marketing.

Processed Foods

Foods altered from their natural state, such as frozen vegetables or canned fruit, which are not all necessarily unhealthy.

Ultra-Processed Foods

Foods manufactured with high levels of added salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives, such as instant meals and soft drinks.

Digital Divide

The unequal access to technology and the internet occurring between different countries or social groups.

Sustainability

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Economic Sustainability

Ensuring average incomes in all countries are adequate to sustain a decent standard of living and continue to rise in line with inflation and living costs in the future.

Social Sustainability

Creating an equitable society in which all people have access to social resources, such as human rights and healthcare, both today and in the future.

Environmental Sustainability

Ensuring the natural environment is used in a way that will preserve resources into the future by using nature only as fast as it can replenish.

Biodiversity

The variety of all living things, including plants, animals, genes, and ecosystems, which provide oxygen, clean water, and medicine.

Renewable Resources

Resources that replenish naturally at a fast rate, including forests, fish, water, solar, and wind energy.

Non-Renewable Resources

Resources that cannot be replaced once consumed, such as coal, oil, and gas.

Social Protection Systems

Government schemes that provide help for the sick, unemployed, or poor, such as housing, food, and healthcare.

Fair Trade

A trading partnership where producers receive fair pay and safe working conditions, allowing them to afford healthcare and education.