Conservatism centers on the belief that individual fulfillment and social progress are best achieved by local action and government humility. That is to say, government’s recognition that its ability to do good does not necessarily flow with its expanded field of action.
Yet sometimes government must take the lead to protect the public good. National security is one such area. Countering the overuse of plastics is another.
The central issue here is the roughly 8 million tons of plastic that wash into the oceans each year. Sky News has produced a number of reports that outline the scale of the problem. Of particular concern is the ingestion of plastics by animal and marine life at various levels of the food chain. In response, governments like that of Britain have introduced taxes on plastic grocery bags and incentives toward recycling, such as offering a refundable deposit for those who buy plastic bottles of soda.
American conservatives should get behind similar efforts at the federal level and an international treaty against plastic dumping would at least embarrass foreign states into some action on this issue.
This is especially important for conservatives because we should care about conserving our environment so it remains healthy and our opportunity to enjoy its gifts remains sustained.
Yet this isn’t a selfless agenda: Few conservatives who like seafood such as sushi would also enjoy consuming plastic bottles. But if we don’t get ahead of this issue, our sushi will be increasingly laced with plastic. Scientists are not yet sure how destructive plastic is on the food chain or toward our health. But if we look at the top of the marine food chain, to whales, the story is deeply concerning.
My brother, a marine biologist with the Ocean Alliance research organization, told me that “One whale reportedly was found to have ingested 800 kilograms of plastic.”
Nevertheless, more aggressive steps do not lead to some kind of liberal nirvana, in which regulation defines our approach toward resolving these issues. Biodegradable plastics and other projects of capitalist innovation such as Parley for the Oceans’ plastic fashion line are paving the way for changes that do not raise our costs of living, but offer better protections for the environment.
Conservative concerns on issues like the Paris climate accord are well grounded, but that doesn’t mean we should resist worthy environmental action. When it comes to protecting our planet from plastics, conservatives should take the lead.
