ISAS Insights

Donald Trump is set on reversing President Obama's approach to climate change. The current president used all the executive authority at his disposal to constrain the development of the hydrocarbon sector in the United States. His successor, by nominating for his cabinet people such as Rex Tillerson, Exxon Mobil's Chairman, and former Texas Governor Rick Perry as Energy Secretary, has set the course towards increasing reliance on domestically produced oil and gas. If that was the outcome of his presidency, it would seriously compromise international attempts to contain global warming. The Asian continent would be one of the most seriously affected world regions. Rising seas will seriously damage the economies of the area's numerous islands, concentrated mostly in the continent's southeast. This was one reason why these countries pressed the Paris summiteers to agree on a lower target - 1.5 degrees Celsius rather than 2 degrees - as the limit not to be crossed by the world community. Some of Asia's largest cities that are on the coast will also face serious consequences. In South Asia and China, rapid melting of glaciers in the vast mountain ranges will produce first massive floods followed by sharp reductions in the flow of water through their large rivers. Climate change will also have social consequences as millions of displaced people will seek safer grounds to live. Once again Asia will be seriously affected.