We have a responsibility, both as a key contributor to many of the biggest issues in our world today (including climate change) and as the self-professed greatest country in the world, to lead. Leading requires self-reflection, an ability to recognize our shortcomings and work to improve them. Shirking responsibility is not part of the job.
According to Genesis 1, God created humanity in God’s own image (which inherently means we are called to love, create, and care for the things God created) and gave humanity dominion over it. While some like to use those words to profess no need to care for it, that completely contradicts the nature of God with God’s own creation. If we’re created in the image of God, then having dominion over something would more strongly correlate to feeling a deep sense of responsibility for its care and well-being.
Castles in the Sand 