The entire world will have to deal with the effects of climate change, but it will affect different areas in different ways. Here are my predictions:
- Parts of the Middle East and North Africa may well become uninhabitable. As a result, the refugee problem for Europe will get nothing but worse.
- China depends heavily on water from rivers that are fed by glaciers. This is going to be a huge issue for the Chinese government.
- Russia may actually benefit in some ways from climate change. If there is any silver lining in their dark cloud, that is probably it.
- The EU countries are willing and able to deal with climate change. In some cases (The Netherlands), they are old hands in adapting to sea level increases. The EU will consequently have a competitive advantage on this point.
- The US is able, but currently not willing, to address the problem. In the short run, it will primarily be a state and local government issue. In the long run, the evidence will compel the GOP to change its stance, but we are definitely behind the curve.