Aristotle once observed that the more people who own a resource, the less respect they have for it. People are much more careful with things that they own personally than with those owned communally. They tend to neglect common property, only taking care of it when it directly affects them. These concepts may be reflected in attitudes towards global warming and the environment.
In the first part of the article, the capture of human environmental concern by authoritarian groups was described. Environmental concerns, it was noted, do not necessarily sit on the traditional left-right political axis, but instead revolve around an ecological axis. Those with small ecological footprints are near the top, and those with large footprints are near the bottom. Every citizen’s position within the context of the environmental issue could be found within this secular field.
The article articulated cautiousness against forceful limitations of humans’ ecological footprint, emphasizing that humans are part of the natural world too. While it would be harmful for humans to have large ecological footprints that destroy the environment, it would be equally detrimental to limit their existence and rights for the sake of protecting the environment.
The article also warned against “watermelon” environmentalists who might prioritize the needs of the Earth’s biosphere over human existence, comparing them to traditional red Marxists. It suggested that a more moderate approach was needed in order for humans to coexist with their environment.
The article then went on to present five free-market green prescriptions for environmental conservation. It discussed the need for a realistic approach to global warming without succumbing to alarmist ideals. It advocated for the encouragement and respect of property rights, along with an emphasis on local conservation efforts. It called for the end of wasteful consumption, the withdrawal of government subsidies, and the promotion of new green technologies.
The article ended with a reminder about the presence of trade-offs in environmental policy, noting that no solution could inherently solve all the environmental and economic challenges together.