One fairly recent international change is the view of the environment, climate change, and carbon footprint. The need to protect the environment has influenced fuel acquisition, automobile manufacturing, and packaging, to name a few. One recent concern is migration and displacement. Natural events such as tsunamis and hurricanes are causing people to move from certain areas in large numbers. This can add stress to local and worldwide governments. Mass location changes can cause greater conflict and financial strain.
The introduction of climate change theories has caused both failure and success. Some people have tried to reduce their carbon footprint in an attempt to preserve the environment; that is a success. Reducing waste is always a good idea. The problems occur when there are extreme actions. Climate change has been linked with Armageddon. People are given information that causes fear and panic. The research of global warming in itself induces that fear. Extreme measures are occurring in order to help reverse climate change. The fears are costly as people prepare for a major world-damaging event. Sales target those fears forcing some people to obsessively prepare and worry.
One negative aspect of the climate change hype is that some people see the over-sensationalized view and do not accept that any danger really exists. People have been pushed to fear destruction, and nothing occurs. This could be likened to the Peter and the Wolf story. You can only “cry wolf” so many times before people stop listening. When people stop listening, they most likely will not be prepared; they may lose the trust of those in charge, in this case, the government and the corporations cashing in on the fear.