In Ultimatum, Matthew Glass has taken the situation in the world today (emissions affecting the environment, countries vowing to control their emissions but not actually doing anything) and extended it to the year 2032 where the situation has further deteriorated.

The environmental conditions have become so bad that plans are already in place for Relocation (moving citizens away from the soon-to-be uninhabitable coastal areas.) The newly elected president finds out from his predecessor that the situation is far worse than anyone believed.

Thus begins the faceoff between the U.S and China (as the top two emissions countries on Earth) as each wants to take steps to control emissions but neither is willing to back down until the other side does. There is great tension as the negotiations and posturing escalates until the threat of nuclear war becomes very real.

Definitely a page turner and certainly a possible look at the direction we may be headed if policies don't change.

(One minor quibble: whenever the main character would get frustrated, he would always use the expression "Hell's Bells!". This statement should only be used if you are currently the lead singer of AC/DC.)