A Climate-Centered Foreign Policy for the United States

• Author: Franklin L. Kury
• Pages: 115-120

115

Chapter 13: A Climate-

Centered Foreign Policy

for the United States

The ultimate use of Article 1, Section 27, is as a cornerstone in a cli-

mate-centered foreign policy of the United States.

e principles of the amendment are simple, clear, and universally

appreciable: the right to a healthy environment; public ownership of public

natural resources; a nd the trusteeship obligation of government to conserve

those natural resource s for future generations.

ese principles oer the United States a unique basis to regain its lost

credibility as a reliable world partner on environmental matters.

Regaining t hat condence among other nations requires the president and

Congress to commit fully to these principles. ey can do so by beginning

the process under Article V of the Constitution for enacting Article 1, Sec-

tion 27, as a federal constitutional amendment.

at commitment would be a tangible demonstration of our desire to

restore our credibility and reliability as an environmental leader. It would

alleviate international skepticism th at the United States ca n be counted on to

stick with what it proposes.

Enacting the Environmental R ights Amendment will take, at best, severa l

years. Assum ing passage by Congress in one session, it likely will take severa l

years to be ratied by thir ty-four states, the required three-fourths majority.

But the United States need not wait for ratication to be completed, as long

as the administration and Congress show a strong commitment to starting

the proce ss.

Look at two events of recent years. President George W. Bush refused to

adopt the Kyoto Protocol after the United States led eorts for its creation.

President Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord after the Obama

administration played a key role in establishing the agreement.

In short, we cannot preach battling climate change abroad unless we are

doing something signicant about it here at home.

While our credibility a nd reliability are being revitalized, the principles

of Article 1, Section 27, are a sound basis for an aggressive climate-centered