Climate change is going to rapidly become important. Even if people choose to not believe it, the results will still have to be dealt with. Here in NYC, the Governer is considering levees. Levees. in NYC. Hurricane sandy was the largest Atlantic storm ever (in terms of actual width) and the second costliest one (right after katrina). It came a year after the first hurricane to hit the region is decades, and the first evacuation of low-lying areas, Irene. Alsothe first ever system-wide closing of the subways. A year later, it happens again. And harder. There'sa reason Bloomberg endorsed Obama.
Global inequality would be les prominient. There's a chance Arab spring might not have occured (rising food prices. See? Good things come of it too!) Space? Naah. As much as it's the next frontier for man, there are too many nay-sayers. Of course, man must expand, so it will come, but not yet. I do genuinely expect a lunar base in our lifetime. Hell, probably in my mom's lifetime (50 with heart defect. Aortic Aneurysm. Growing slowly, so she'll be fine.)
Internet issues would be far more important, as well as general cyber-security. There's been a number of things that sparked the issure, alla SOPA, but it would most likely be near the fore-front as a emerging issue.
The United States would probably be more willing to challange China, and so there'd be more tension in the pacific. Presumbably the US military might be involved, with obvious implications for hostility. Especially if they decide to help Japan in the matter of patrolling the Senkaku islands.
I'lll think of more later.