In our world, there are many development issues whose resolution requires international action. Examples include global poverty, communicable diseases, education, migration, climate change, access to water, hunger, international trade, international financial stability, and conflicts. Effects of these global issues, which are already being felt in our societies, are expected to become even more acute as in the next 50 years. The mechanisms for addressing them are still evolving and will be challenged even more as time passes and the world's population and economy expand. The objective of this volume is to promote an understanding of key global issues and why they matter, of the forces that are shaping public and private action to address these issues, and to highlight the World Bank's own work on these issues.