The emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety have become major global concerns in 2025. The United Nations (UN) has consistently emphasized the need for international cooperation to handle these evolving challenges responsibly.
These issues not only influence global governance and international relations but also shape the future of education, youth empowerment, and sustainable development.
Understanding the Emerging Global Issues
1. Artificial Intelligence Regulation
The UN has called for global frameworks to ensure ethical, transparent, and human-centered AI. With rapid AI adoption, concerns over data privacy, bias, and employment are rising. The UNESCO Recommendation on AI Ethics (2021) remains a guiding policy for countries worldwide.
2. Climate Change
The UN-led Paris Agreement and COP summits have pushed nations to cut emissions and adopt sustainable energy. Climate resilience, green jobs, and carbon neutrality are now central to every national agenda.
3. Youth Digital Safety
Digital transformation brings opportunities but also risks. Cyberbullying, misinformation, and data theft pose challenges for young users. The UN’s Digital Compact Initiative aims to create safer online spaces for children and students globally.
40+ MCQs on Emerging Global Issues like Artificial Intelligence Regulation, Climate Change, and Youth Digital Safety (with Answers & Explanations)
Below are carefully designed multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to help students understand the emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety in detail.
1. Which UN agency leads global discussions on artificial intelligence ethics?
A) WHO
B) UNESCO
C) WTO
D) IMF
✅ Answer: B) UNESCO
🧩 Explanation: UNESCO adopted the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in 2021, focusing on fairness, transparency, and accountability.
2. What is the main goal of the UN’s Global Digital Compact?
A) Promote online gaming
B) Regulate international trade
C) Make digital spaces inclusive, safe, and open
D) Encourage cryptocurrency
✅ Answer: C) Make digital spaces inclusive, safe, and open
🧩 Explanation: The UN’s Global Digital Compact ensures technology works for all and safeguards digital rights.
3. Which agreement aims to limit global warming to below 2°C?
A) Kyoto Protocol
B) Paris Agreement
C) Rio Declaration
D) Stockholm Convention
✅ Answer: B) Paris Agreement
🧩 Explanation: The Paris Agreement (2015) commits nations to combat climate change and achieve carbon neutrality.
4. The UN’s AI regulation efforts focus on:
A) Banning AI completely
B) Encouraging ethical and human-centered AI
C) Replacing humans with robots
D) Promoting military AI
✅ Answer: B) Encouraging ethical and human-centered AI
🧩 Explanation: The UN advocates responsible AI use that supports human rights and sustainable development.
5. Youth digital safety is threatened most by:
A) Online misinformation and privacy breaches
B) School uniforms
C) Renewable energy
D) Public transport
✅ Answer: A) Online misinformation and privacy breaches
🧩 Explanation: The UN calls for digital literacy education to help young users navigate online threats.
6. Which international event focuses on global climate policy annually?
A) COP (Conference of the Parties)
B) G7 Summit
C) BRICS Summit
D) Davos Forum
✅ Answer: A) COP (Conference of the Parties)
🧩 Explanation: The COP summits bring countries together to discuss and negotiate climate actions.
7. Which of these is NOT part of emerging global issues?
A) Climate change
B) Artificial intelligence ethics
C) Youth digital safety
D) Local sports tournaments
✅ Answer: D) Local sports tournaments
🧩 Explanation: Global issues are those affecting multiple nations and future generations.
8. The United Nations’ main aim in addressing AI is to:
A) Promote global surveillance
B) Ensure AI is used ethically for human welfare
C) Ban social media apps
D) Support AI-driven weapons
✅ Answer: B) Ensure AI is used ethically for human welfare
🧩 Explanation: The UN believes in AI for Good, balancing innovation with moral responsibility.
9. What is the youth’s role in tackling climate change?
A) Passive observation
B) Activism, innovation, and awareness campaigns
C) Ignoring the problem
D) Avoiding education
✅ Answer: B) Activism, innovation, and awareness campaigns
🧩 Explanation: Young leaders worldwide are vital in climate action and sustainable innovation.
10. Which UN goal aligns with climate change action?
A) SDG 13
B) SDG 8
C) SDG 2
D) SDG 16
✅ Answer: A) SDG 13
🧩 Explanation: Sustainable Development Goal 13 focuses on urgent climate action globally.
11. Which UN body organizes global climate negotiations under the COP framework?
A) WHO
B) UNFCCC
C) UNESCO
D) IMF
✅ Answer: B) UNFCCC
🧩 Explanation: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the main international body that conducts COP summits to address climate change, one of the major emerging global issues today.
12. Which country hosted COP28 in 2023 to discuss global climate issues?
A) India
B) UAE
C) France
D) Japan
✅ Answer: B) UAE
🧩 Explanation: The UAE hosted COP28, focusing on renewable energy and climate finance, key elements of emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
13. What is one of the biggest ethical risks of unregulated AI?
A) Economic growth
B) Algorithmic bias
C) Better healthcare
D) Free education
✅ Answer: B) Algorithmic bias
🧩 Explanation: AI can unintentionally discriminate if trained on biased data, making AI regulation an essential emerging global issue emphasized by the UN.
14. The UN’s SDG 4 focuses on:
A) Quality education
B) Climate action
C) Industry innovation
D) Gender equality
✅ Answer: A) Quality education
🧩 Explanation: SDG 4 ensures inclusive and equitable education, a foundation for solving emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
15. Which UN agency supports global youth empowerment through digital safety campaigns?
A) UNICEF
B) WTO
C) IMF
D) FAO
✅ Answer: A) UNICEF
🧩 Explanation: UNICEF promotes youth digital safety, guiding students on how to use technology responsibly — a priority among emerging global issues.
16. The goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 aims to:
A) Increase fossil fuel use
B) Balance carbon emissions and absorption
C) End industrialization
D) Promote urbanization
✅ Answer: B) Balance carbon emissions and absorption
🧩 Explanation: Carbon neutrality combats climate change, one of the most pressing emerging global issues recognized by the United Nations.
17. What initiative by the UN promotes AI for social good?
A) AI4Good
B) AIforProfit
C) DigitalWarriors
D) Tech4Trade
✅ Answer: A) AI4Good
🧩 Explanation: The AI for Good program by the UN fosters innovation for humanity while ensuring AI regulation and ethical application — core to emerging global issues.
18. Which region faces the most severe climate impacts according to UN data?
A) Europe
B) South Asia
C) Antarctica
D) North America
✅ Answer: B) South Asia
🧩 Explanation: The United Nations highlights South Asia as highly vulnerable to climate change, making it central to emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
19. Digital safety education helps youth:
A) Learn online scams
B) Use social media responsibly
C) Ignore privacy laws
D) Promote misinformation
✅ Answer: B) Use social media responsibly
🧩 Explanation: Digital safety education is vital in addressing emerging global issues related to youth digital safety.
20. The Paris Agreement aims to achieve:
A) More oil drilling
B) Global temperature stability
C) Increased pollution
D) End of internet use
✅ Answer: B) Global temperature stability
🧩 Explanation: It’s a landmark climate treaty to stabilize temperature rise under 2°C — a cornerstone of emerging global issues policy.
21. Which organization develops global cybersecurity awareness programs for youth?
A) ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
B) UNESCO
C) FAO
D) WTO
✅ Answer: A) ITU
🧩 Explanation: The ITU ensures digital safety and builds capacity among youth to counter cyber threats — directly linked to emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
22. Which of the following contributes most to global warming?
A) Planting trees
B) Burning fossil fuels
C) Using solar panels
D) Water recycling
✅ Answer: B) Burning fossil fuels
🧩 Explanation: Fossil fuel use is the main driver of climate change, one of the emerging global issues prioritized by the UN.
23. Which global initiative supports AI fairness and transparency?
A) Global AI Ethics Forum
B) UNESCO AI Ethics Framework
C) World Bank Digital Plan
D) IMF AI Report
✅ Answer: B) UNESCO AI Ethics Framework
🧩 Explanation: The UNESCO framework ensures AI aligns with human rights, reflecting the UN’s vision for AI regulation under emerging global issues.
24. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in:
A) 2010
B) 2015
C) 2020
D) 2005
✅ Answer: B) 2015
🧩 Explanation: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underpins emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
25. What is the main goal of AI regulation according to the UN?
A) Curb innovation
B) Ensure ethical and inclusive AI use
C) Promote private monopolies
D) Eliminate jobs
✅ Answer: B) Ensure ethical and inclusive AI use
🧩 Explanation: AI regulation ensures fairness and accountability — key aspects of emerging global issues.
26. Which UN initiative supports youth in climate action?
A) Youth Climate Summit
B) Youth Digital Lab
C) Youth Finance Forum
D) Tech Mission
✅ Answer: A) Youth Climate Summit
🧩 Explanation: The Youth Climate Summit gives young voices a global platform — integrating youth into emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
27. What is the term for rising Earth temperature?
A) Global Warming
B) Biodiversity
C) Urbanization
D) Polarization
✅ Answer: A) Global Warming
🧩 Explanation: Global warming is a critical aspect of climate change, one of the leading emerging global issues.
28. Who is the UN Secretary-General as of 2025?
A) António Guterres
B) Ban Ki-moon
C) Kofi Annan
D) Ursula von der Leyen
✅ Answer: A) António Guterres
🧩 Explanation: Guterres continues to advocate for AI regulation, climate action, and youth digital safety — core emerging global issues.
29. Which summit discusses internet governance and safety?
A) Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
B) Climate Action Summit
C) AI Innovation Forum
D) Youth Connect Expo
✅ Answer: A) Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
🧩 Explanation: The IGF focuses on safe, inclusive internet access — aligning with youth digital safety, a pillar of emerging global issues.
30. What’s one benefit of addressing emerging global issues?
A) Stronger global unity
B) Greater inequality
C) Resource exploitation
D) Less cooperation
✅ Answer: A) Stronger global unity
🧩 Explanation: Tackling emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety builds peace and cooperation.
31. Who plays a crucial role in addressing emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety as highlighted by the United Nations?
• A) Only Governments
• B) Students and Youth
• C) Only Tech Companies
• D) None of the Above
✅ Answer: B) Students and Youth
🧩Explanation: The UN emphasizes youth empowerment as vital in solving emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety, since young minds drive innovation and awareness campaigns globally.
32. Which UN initiative protects global citizens’ data under AI ethics?
• A) UN-AI Data Shield
• B) Global Digital Compact
• C) AI Governance Forum
• D) Cyber Trust Alliance
✅ Answer: B) Global Digital Compact
🧩Explanation: The Global Digital Compact by the UN focuses on safeguarding data and ensuring ethical AI use — one of the major emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
33. Building AI literacy in schools helps address which key challenge?
• A) Online gaming
• B) Ethical and safe AI usage
• C) Smartphone addiction
• D) Virtual learning
✅ Answer: B) Ethical and safe AI usage
🧩Explanation: The UN advocates for AI literacy to ensure responsible digital engagement among students — an important step toward solving emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
34. Protecting children from online harm is part of which UN campaign?
• A) YouthNet
• B) SafeDigitalFuture
• C) Digital Safety for Youth Program
• D) UN Digital Trust Alliance
✅ Answer: D) UN Digital Trust Alliance
Explanation: The UN Digital Trust Alliance focuses on child safety online — directly linked to emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety in modern education.
35. What is one major goal of global clean technology investment?
• A) Increasing energy costs
• B) Expanding fossil fuel use
• C) Promoting sustainability and job creation
• D) Reducing innovation
✅ Answer: C) Promoting sustainability and job creation
🧩Explanation: Clean technology funding helps nations tackle climate change and create employment opportunities — aligning with emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
36. Which concept promotes startups focusing on ethical AI development?
• A) AI4Peace Initiative
• B) GreenTech Startups
• C) Ethical Innovation Movement
• D) YouthTech Forward
✅ Answer: C) Ethical Innovation Movement
🧩Explanation: The Ethical Innovation Movement encourages new ventures to prioritize responsible AI — crucial in managing emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
37. How do schools contribute to solving emerging global issues?
• A) By ignoring global education goals
• B) By promoting environmental volunteerism
• C) By avoiding discussions on global topics
• D) By focusing only on exams
✅ Answer: B) By promoting environmental volunteerism
🧩Explanation: Student-led environmental actions support the UN’s goals on climate change and sustainability — key aspects of emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
38. The “Technology Divide” refers to:
• A) Gap between users and non-users of AI
• B) Rich vs. poor access to technology
• C) Internet speed difference
• D) Data storage limits
✅ Answer: B) Rich vs. poor access to technology
🧩Explanation: The UN addresses the global north-south technology gap, ensuring equal digital opportunities — a central part of emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
39. What boosts global problem-solving through shared innovation?
• A) Isolation
• B) Research collaboration across countries
• C) Restrictive policies
• D) Disconnected systems
✅ Answer: B) Research collaboration across countries
🧩Explanation: Collaborative research strengthens global knowledge-sharing, essential for tackling emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
40. What is the ultimate goal of the United Nations regarding these global challenges?
• A) Technological domination
• B) Creating a secure, inclusive, and sustainable digital future
• C) Data monopolization
• D) Restricting innovation
✅ Answer: B) Creating a secure, inclusive, and sustainable digital future
🧩Explanation: The UN’s vision centers on building a future that merges technology, ethics, and sustainability — addressing emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety holistically.
FAQs on Emerging Global Issues like Artificial Intelligence Regulation, Climate Change, and Youth Digital Safety as Highlighted by the United Nations
Q1. What are the key emerging global issues discussed by the UN?
The United Nations focuses on artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety as major global challenges impacting education, ethics, and technology worldwide.
Q2. How is AI regulation connected to global ethics?
AI regulation ensures fairness, transparency, and human dignity — principles central to the UN’s approach to emerging global issues.
Q3. Why is climate change still a top UN priority?
Because it directly affects livelihoods, biodiversity, and economic stability, making it a vital part of emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
Q4. What does the UN mean by youth digital safety?
It refers to online protection, privacy, and awareness among young people — ensuring responsible digital engagement across borders.
Q5. How can students contribute?
By learning digital ethics, volunteering for climate causes, and engaging in AI education, students become change-makers in addressing emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety.
In today’s interconnected world, emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety as highlighted by the United Nations are not just political debates — they shape our collective future. Empowering youth, reforming education, promoting green innovation, and ensuring ethical technology use will define the next generation’s global identity.
By understanding and acting on emerging global issues like artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and youth digital safety, students can lead with purpose, awareness, and compassion — becoming global citizens for a sustainable and equitable tomorrow.
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