The phrase "a major societal problem" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing significant issues that affect society as a whole, such as poverty, inequality, or climate change.
Example: "Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major societal problem that requires urgent action from governments and individuals alike."
Alternatives: "a significant social issue" or "a critical societal challenge".
"The cost of higher education is a major societal problem that demands a public solution – not another financial product".
American adults under the age of 35 have come of age in the decades since the "discovery" of man-made climate change as a major societal problem.
Broad poverty is still a major societal problem — and increasingly a political one as well — but there are also more black people able to afford luxuries like satellite TV.
Obesity is a major societal problem which requires urgent action.
The growing educated, idle, jobless and underemployed youth is a major societal problem which if not tackled and controlled timely could turn into a bigger trouble for the state government.
Alcoholism is a major societal problem with great medical, financial and social costs.
However, adopting such an enlarged intervention, premised on enforced, huge cutbacks on CO2 emissions, could be highly destructive to the economies of many nations and could severely curtail the availability of funds needed for addressing other major societal problems, particularly if such a program were to be implemented within a short time frame of a few decades".
It is a distinct privilege that now, as the President of a major technological university, I can play an active role in creating an environment that provides opportunities for young men and women to receive a technology-focused education to fuel the economic engine of the country, contribute to solving major societal problems and make the world a better place.
With luck it will create a breakthrough and if it does it will change how we set about addressing major societal problems.
When individuals live in close quarters, they cannot escape major societal problems: growing inequality, environmental degradation, and inadequate public investment.
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue solutions to major societal problems and we should embrace it as the next chapter of our department's history unfolds.
