The words “conservative” and “environmentalist” are all too often considered mutually exclusive.
One could be forgiven for consideration, given that the most recent Republican president called climate change a hoax perpetrated by China. But I am here to inform you that conservative leadership on the environment has returned. It arrives via the Conservative Climate Caucus, a new conservative climate platform chaired by congressman John Curtis of Utah. The caucus will present conservative and market-based solutions to our environmental and climate woes. The 52 GOP congressional members of this caucus are reclaiming the mantle of conservative leadership on the environment. They hearken back to great conservative environmental leaders such as Teddy Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, and George H.W. Bush.
Many will say that these 52 politicians are a minority in their party. They are wrong. Conservative action on climate and the environment is set to be a norm, not a fringe anomaly. These issues are profoundly important to the newer generation of conservatives. Statistics show that young conservatives care about the environment.
The Republican Party and conservatives as a whole must regain their once firm hold on environmental leadership. We conservatives should not be afraid here. It has been confirmed time and time again that markets, innovation, and economic prosperity, rather than regulation and government mandates, are the most effective mechanism for protecting the environment and fighting climate change.
The Yale Environmental Performance Index showcases this reality. It shows that countries with robust economies and high GDPs perform better on the environment. Well-informed and economically well-off populations lead to environmentally conscientious consumers who demand an environmentally conscientious private sector. Many liberal solutions to our environmental and climate woes require placing restraints on our economy. By putting restraints on our markets and not allowing our economy to prosper, private individuals are less able to demand positive environmental outcomes from the private sector. In turn, we incur less desirable environmental outcomes. The Conservative Climate Caucus must lead.
Moreover, conservative political philosophy is not only compatible with environmentalism, it is perhaps its greatest champion. We have an obligation to be good stewards of our environment and way of life to conserve it for generations to come; a key tenet of conservative political philosophy. As Roosevelt once said, “I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.” As a young conservative who cares immensely about our environment, I am hopeful for the future.
Ian C. Linnabary an incoming freshman at the University of Utah, and a senior blog contributor at Gen Z GOP.
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