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By: Piper Coleman
On May 25th, 1961, President John F. Kennedy stood before a joint session of Congress and declared that, within the decade, the U.S. should land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth. From our perspective in 2024, it can be hard to imagine how unattainable a moon landing seemed. Space travel was pure science fiction to most, and it was risky: the necessary math and technology did not even exist yet. There was also concern about the massive amount of required manpower and logistical coordination. Moreover, some were against costly space exploration because it seemed unnecessary and wasteful; the U.S. spent a total of $25.8 billion on Project Apollo—this money could have been spent on a number of pressing social issues. “The facts of the matter,” Kennedy declared, “are that we have never made the national decisions or marshaled the national resources required for such leadership. We have never specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule, or managed our resources and our time so as to insure their fulfillment.” The obstacles were clear and many, and yet, the country persevered to achieve greatness. The list of discoveries and innovations that stemmed from the Apollo missions is still expanding decades later.
Prior to Kennedy’s announcement, the Soviets had already made significant progress in space exploration, and President Kennedy made the gravity of the situation unequivocally clear: “If we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyranny, the dramatic achievements in space which occurred in recent weeks should have made clear to us all the impact of this adventure on the minds of men everywhere, who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take.” This was not merely a race for mere achievement, but it was a crucial chance for the U.S. to prevail in the Cold War.
Now, six decades after President Kennedy’s announcement, we find ourselves still in the midst of global tension, as Ukraine’s war against Russia rages on, and as the Israel-Hamas Conflict continues to unfold. The United States is presented with yet another opportunity to serve as a leader and unifying force, not only in securing peace among nations but also in facing the existential threat that is climate change with a spirit of innovation and optimism.
According to the 2022 Environment Performance Index report, climate change will soon force 216 million people to migrate in search of safer homes, and by 2050, it is predicted that the global economy will experience three times the economic loss experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Climate change threatens to upheave and slowly destroy life as anyone knows it anywhere in the world. If no significant change is made within this decade and the next, regions will fight for natural resources, food, water, and energy. Governments will be forced to spend more on disaster relief, resilient infrastructure, and imported goods. Any current concerns about inflation and government spending will only be exacerbated. Millions of people will be displaced because of natural disasters, rising sea levels, and shifting agricultural regions. Climate refugees will migrate to the still tolerable regions of the world, which will include areas of the United States. As a country already struggling to agree on practical and humane immigration policy, it seems unlikely that the United States will be able to manage an increased rate of immigration while simultaneously managing internal conflict due to crop insecurity, rising costs, and costly disaster relief. Here, in Kentucky, the frequency of tornadoes will continue to increase as will rates of both drought and flooding—disasters that our communities should not have to endure.
So, what are we doing, America? Why, when the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, stated in July of 2023 that only with “dramatic, immediate action” can we avoid the worst effects of climate change, did the world scroll past the headline with a swift, thoughtless swipe? “Leaders must lead” he said, “no more hesitancy. No more excuses. No more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that.” There is simply no time for that. So I ask again, what are we doing, America?
President Kennedy’s 1961 address to Congress set in motion a massive undertaking that is still shaping society. Under impressive leadership, the nation worked together to meet the long-range goals. But now, at a point in time when humanity is facing a slow, agonizing downfall, the United States chooses to fight amongst ourselves and preserve the status quo in order to secure short-term stability. The Biden Administration has pledged an unprecedented amount of money to face the climate crisis, and nations across the globe have taken steps to lower emissions. However, countries like the United States with the largest carbon footprints per capita refuse to impose serious emissions restrictions. Of course, the concerns about transitioning to renewable energy too quickly are valid; however, a failure to achieve “net zero” by 2050 will prove detrimental to humanity.
We have the resources to become the leading nation in sustainability, healthy environments for all, and advanced renewable technology, but we seem to be lacking the willpower, leadership, and concern for society’s preservation. This is the next opportunity for the U.S. to shape the future of science and technology, to create a prosperous world fit for generations to come, and to prove that democracy will prevail. The United States has been seen as a superpower for decades, but can we live up to that reputation, or will we slowly sink into the abyss of partisan ineffectiveness?
Piper, of Bowling Green, Ky., is a member of the McConnell Scholar Class of 2025 at the University of Louisville. She studies geography, political science, and philosophy.