In a wide-ranging speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September, President Trump touched on many of his frequently referenced concerns; domestic political rivals, border crossing numbers, the Nobel Peace Prize, the Israel-Gaza war, and the ever-present proclamation of the “American Golden Age” all made an appearance in the nearly hour-long speech. These have been well remarked-upon and are fairly run-of-the-mill, but one issue seemed to receive special attention in New York: His insistence that climate change is a “con job.” This is but the latest example of the United States' total abdication of leadership on climate action, a move that is setting the world up for a century of suffering and human rights crises. 

A Dismal Record

The history of American non-action on climate change is a long one. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was signed by the Clinton administration, recognizing the threats posed by human-caused climate change and agreeing to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. That same year, the Senate passed the Byrd-Hagel resolution in a 95-0 vote, which declared that the United States should not ratify any agreement that did not force developing countries to cut emissions, nor should it ratify any agreement which could result in, "serious harm to the US economy." This resolution effectively barred the United States from ratifying Kyoto, and President Bush withdrew shortly after taking office in 2001. 

The debacle surrounding Kyoto offered a blueprint for the next 25 years of climate denialism: Cast doubt on the veracity of the science and tell Americans that any climate action would lead to economic disaster. Using this blueprint, the United States has leveraged its position on the international stage to obstruct efforts to mitigate climate change and to justify its own non-action. Without the leadership (or even participation) of the U.S., efforts to cut emissions have floundered. 

An Adequate Standard of Living

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that, "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care." How does this interface with climate change? 

Disastrously.  

Human-caused climate change, which the United States alternately denies or minimizes, poses immense risk to the livelihoods and well-being of hundreds of millions of people around the globe. As communities reel from the steady rhythm of climate change-induced natural disasters, droughts, famines, and ecosystem ruptures, securing a standard of living consistent with Article 25 will become increasingly difficult. Furthermore, an estimated 1.2 billion people could be displaced by 2050, creating an unprecedented strain on the international asylum system.

What is the United States' plan for accommodating the millions whose lives have been shattered, in large part, by its own refusal to cut emissions?

In the same September address to the United Nations, Trump delivered the message to the gathered representatives that mass migration, much of which comes from asylum seekers, meant that "[their] countries are going to hell." This was not a one-off denunciation of the refugee settlement system. In an executive order made on the day of his inauguration, Trump moved to effectively end the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The order also revoked a Biden-era executive order which expanded the program and directly spoke to the issue of migration caused by the changing climate. If the Trump administration refuses to accept refugees displaced by persecution, it seems unlikely that it will develop a compassionate response to displacement caused by climate change, a phenomenon whose existence it denies. 

A Double-edged Sword

In twin positions staked out by the United States, a picture of a unique cruelty and disregard for human rights emerges: The U.S. will continue to liberally emit greenhouse gases, exacerbating the climate disaster and disrupting millions of lives, and will also refuse to admit refugees, including those refugees displaced by the effects of those self-same reckless greenhouse gas emissions. This is without even taking into account the domestic damage that climate change will cause in the United States, where billion-dollar natural disasters have been steadily increasing in frequency since the 1980s. 

If America is truly the nation it says it is - one built on justice, liberty, and equality - it must change course on climate action. Emissions must be cut and a comprehensive climate refugee admissions program must be established. Without taking these steps, the country will fall far short of its ideals and guide the world into a future of suffering and callousness. 

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are the author’s only and do not reflect an official position of the University of Minnesota, the Human Rights Program, or the College of Liberal Arts. As an institution of higher education that values and promotes free speech, civil discourse, and human rights, we welcome a variety of perspectives and opinions from our student contributors that are consistent with these values.