Is Climate Change the Most Pressing Global Issue Today?

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial emissions. This phenomenon leads to global warming, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems. The concept gained scientific recognition in the late 19th century, but global awareness surged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as evidence of its impacts became more visible. The term "pressing global issue" denotes challenges that have widespread, urgent effects on societies, economies, and environments worldwide. Climate change fits this category due to its far-reaching consequences, influencing agriculture, water resources, public health, and global stability. International efforts, such as the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015), reflect ongoing attempts to address the crisis through global cooperation.