美大学评出当今世界十大最紧迫问题气候变化居首

How Cornell faculty rate the world's most important and the most solvable problems

On a 5-point scale, Cornell faculty members rated the most important issues of the day (their average rating is first number in the parentheses) and issues that are the most solvable (average rating for solvability is the second number in the parentheses).

10 most important problems

• Climate change and its effects on ecosystems (4.39, 2.63)

• Corporations have too much influence in governing (4.24, 3.35)

• Lack of long-term perspective in political, environmental and social actions (4.23, 2.69)

• Humans are unsustainably exploiting the environment (4.13, 2.79)

• Maintaining the health of the planet (4.1, 2.67)

• Lack of global responsibility on the part of corporations, governments and individuals (4.03, 2.97)

• Global poverty and its effects (3.98, 2.48)

• Inequitable distribution of wealth among people (3.97, 2.32)

• Unsuitable growth in energy use (3.96, 2.95)

• Shortage of potable and clean water (3.94, 3.59)

10 most easily solved problems

• Lack of sufficient education in science, critical thinking and environmental issues (3.8, 3.87)

• The epidemic of preventable illnesses in the third world (3.44, 3.81)

• Inequitable access to health care (3.86, 3.77)

• Loss of civil liberties in the U.S. under the guise of fighting terrorism (4.02, 3.75)

• Shortage of potable and clean water (3.94, 3.59)

• Death of children due to preventable causes (3.38, 3.35)

• Women's reproductive health, education, control and options are dictated by others (3.85, 3.34)

• People and governments are paying less attention to basic science research (3.74, 3)

• Growing obesity that impacts health by increasing the risk of chronic diseases (3.59, 2.89)

• Children's activities are too structured and do not engage them in community (3.78, 2.64)