Climate Policy Neglect Risks Creating a Climate of Catastrophe: A Call for Accountability
By Paul F. deLespinasse
Friday, 03 October 2025 03:51 PM EDT
As imagined by Dante Alighieri in “The Divine Comedy,” Hell has nine levels, with the lowest reserved for the very worst souls. Though modern society may dismiss such beliefs, the concept of cosmic justice persists. If global warming accelerates unchecked, Earth itself could become a site of unimaginable suffering, mirroring the torment of eternal damnation.
Current U.S. policies under the Trump administration threaten to exacerbate this crisis. By withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and dismantling green energy initiatives, leaders have prioritized short-term economic interests over planetary survival. Subsidy programs for solar and wind energy have been canceled, while completed wind farms face obstruction despite public investment. These actions defy logic, worsening electricity shortages and driving up consumer costs.
The administration’s efforts to halt international cooperation on climate solutions further compound the issue. By pressuring other nations to abandon green energy transitions, the U.S. undermines global progress. Meanwhile, China gains geopolitical advantage as the world shifts toward renewable technologies, while America clings to outdated fossil fuel industries.
Even more alarming is the proposed shutdown of critical environmental monitoring systems, including satellites measuring greenhouse gases and the Mauna Loa observatory. These measures, framed as cost-saving, risk obscuring the true extent of climate damage. Corporate reporting requirements for emissions are also under attack, eroding transparency and accountability.
As the article suggests, whether through reincarnation on a ruined Earth or a more literal form of retribution, those responsible for obstructing climate action may face consequences disproportionate to their crimes. The stakes are clear: inaction now ensures irreversible harm for future generations.
Paul F. deLespinasse is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Computer Science at Adrian College.
