Issue Adaptation itself distributes benefits unequally

Summary

The Megatrends 2040 report cautions that adapting to change will not benefit everyone equally. It expects the gains from technology to be spread unevenly both between and within states, and warns that the adaptation process itself is likely to expose and worsen new inequalities. Countries able to capture productivity growth from AI may seize economic opportunities, while others fall behind. Adaptation measures range from cheap steps such as reforestation or rainwater storage to costly ones such as large sea walls or relocating populations, which not all can afford. The report suggests the most effective states will be those that build social consensus and trust in collective action while drawing on public and private know-how.