What will the world look like 200 years from now?

[Javaman]

From another thread:

New Study: Global Temperatures to Rise 9 Degrees by 2100

Published this month in the Journal of Climate, the MIT-based research found a 90% probability that worldwide surface temperatures will rise at least 9 degrees by 2100.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3889446

What do you think the world will look like? Who will be left, if there is anyone left? How will they survive? Will there be a re-dawning of civilization? Will they learn from our mistakes?

Any ideas?

[meegbear]

1. Flying Cars!

Flying Cars! Flying Cars! Flying Cars!

[rcrush]

2. We will all be worshipping at the temple of Susan Boyle.

And Miss California will be our president.

[Echo In Light]

3. "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought,

...but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." ~ Albert Einstein

[LiberalEsto]

4. In order for civilization to re-dawn

it must exist in the first place.

I am not convinced we have achieved civilization if a nation like the United States can permit the savage torturing of prisoners, contrary to our laws, and then not demand complete accountability from the perpetrators and enablers of these acts.

[frogcycle]

5. I expect that

it will have returned to jungle and prairie with not a homo sapien to be found anywhere

that is, if there is any justice in the world

[SteelPenguin]

6. I guarantee you this...

...it'll be more extreme than you can imagine. Technology is advancing exponentially. Within our lifetimes we'll see more change than has happened in the past 10,000 years most likely. We'll see a shift more extreme than being a hunter gatherer with a spear, to a ipod nano wearing commuter on a maglev...

...or we'll destroy ourselves in the process...

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. I think we will be in another ice age -

The continents are not going to move, and they are what determine ocean and air currents, so when global warming increases enough to collapse the Greenland ice sheets the infusion of fresh water will shut down the thermohaline circulation, triggering the next ice age. It will happen quickly - over a period of maybe just months, and the resultant crop failures will cause a worldwide decrease in population by 50% - subsequent wars will further reduce the population. Global warming will stop, as the decreased population reduces greenhouse emissions by 90%, so there will be no check on the rapid cooling of the earth.

In 200 years, the human population will be under 1 billion, maybe even half that, and the average worldwide temps will be 6 degrees centigrade less than today. The glacial period that is just beginning will last 10,000 years.

[leveymg]

8. More like "Children of Men" and "Slumdog Millionaire" than "The Jetsons"

There will still be peaceful enclaves of leafy green for rich people, and maybe personal verticle takeoff vehicles, but with a population of 25 billion, the cities will be metaslums, the oceans lifeless, and the air a poisonous soup over large parts of a planet that is 9-11 degrees warmer. The old coastal cities - NY, London, Tokyo - and low-lying areas such as the Florida Peninsula will be under 30 feet of water.

Ice will cost $100 a cube. People will still be asking the same question in 200 years: "Hot enough for ya?"