Professor Mike Nelson led this week’s Great Decisions discussion with a warning that the United States is at risk of “ruining our environment,” urging attendees to stay engaged politically and pay close attention to environmental policy at both the state and national levels.
Held on Earth Day, the event explored how environmentalism has shifted from a historically bipartisan issue into a deeply polarized one. Nelson encouraged audience members to write to elected officials and consider environmental positions when voting, arguing that policy decisions today will shape the nation’s environmental future.
The discussion began with the origins of Earth Day, first organized in 1970 by former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, and examined how environmental awareness has evolved over the past five decades. Early environmental movements drew support across party lines, but modern debates increasingly divide along political and economic perspectives.
The central theme of the talk questioned whether nature holds intrinsic value or only matters when human interests are involved. Nelson pointed to legal frameworks that regulate human behavior even in outer space as evidence that societies recognize the need to protect environments beyond immediate human use.
Environmental justice was also highlighted, including the work of activist Hazel Johnson, whose efforts helped bring national attention to environmental racism and pollution in marginalized communities. Nelson referenced international examples as well, including a poisoning case in Nigeria, to illustrate the global scale of environmental challenges.
The lecture examined U.S. environmental legislation such as the Clean Water Act and debates surrounding air quality, including concerns about ozone depletion and worsening air pollution. Nelson also discussed recent policy controversies, including a Senate vote regarding mining protections in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and argued that shifting political priorities have affected how the United States presents itself on environmental issues globally.
President Trump was cited as an example of changing federal environmental policy. Nelson referenced Trump’s criticism of environmental initiatives as a “green new scam” and his administration’s use of national security arguments to navigate provisions of the Clean Air Act.
Throughout the event, Nelson emphasized the connection between environmental policy and broader party platforms. He noted that environmental regulation is often viewed by conservatives as burdensome to business and government growth, while liberals have traditionally made environmental protection a core policy priority.
Concluding the session, Nelson urged attendees to stay informed and politically active, warning that scientific expertise is increasingly sidelined in public debate. “We are turning our back on science,” he said, adding that individual civic engagement remains critical to shaping the future of environmental policy.