My current reading is Chris Beckett's 'America City'. It's described as science fiction, but there are obvious parallels with the rise of Donald Trump, and political decisions being made around climate migration in a country which (in the book) is split along a new border: the cold states to the North such as Alaska, and the dustbowl and storm states of the south which are particularly badly hit. A charismatic senator wants to be President, and appoints a young data analyst to help him tap into the public 'social media' of the 22nd century to help sway public opinion. It's a cracking read, and is recommended.A major report has now been released by the US Government, which warns of some grave consequences of climate change for the economy and the environment.
This is the 4th National Climate Assessment. It can be viewed here, and chapters and other sections can all be downloaded for further in-depth reading.
This second volume of the report has a particular focus on impacts, and these are fairly stark and worrying... There are national topics such as water and energy, and also regional reports.
Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States
CNN report says that:
The federally mandated study was supposed to come out in December but was released by the Trump administration on Friday, at a time when many Americans are on a long holiday weekend, distracted by family and shopping.
For the GCSE course, we need to be able to describe the impacts of climate change on the UK, and similar reports are published by the UK government.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump still confuses climate and weather:
Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS - Whatever happened to Global Warming?— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2018
The Republicans are of course downplaying the report.
Looks like Donald Trump isn't going to get the "great weather" that he wanted, following his visit to Paradise which was so badly hit by forest fires last week.
Update
President Trump on reading it
“I’ve seen it, I’ve read some of it, and it’s fine,” he said outside the White House on Monday. “I don’t believe it.”
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