Prospects of A Conservative Environmental Philosophy

Abstract

In our paper, we will analyze the prospects for justifying a conservative environmental philosophy that assigns the responsibility for solving environmental problems to citizens, their organizations and private initiatives. The conservative approach implies a local adjustment to threats and consideration of local solutions, avoids radical steps and leads to the repeal or loosening regulations, especially if they are part of the problem. At the base of this philosophy stands the attachment of local communities to their closest natural environment, which they want to keep clean and to provide opportunities for its sustainable development in order to pass it on to the next generations. This attachment is tied to well-established cultural and moral traditions whose adherence has proven beneficial for the respective community. The conservative approach in ecology is distinguished from the indiscriminate invasion of commodity-money relations through the sale of air pollution allowances, because it unnecessarily burdens taxpayers, brings profits to shady structures and leads to the limitation of opportunities for the development of national industry. We can summarize that the conservative environmental philosophy implies small and modest steps, but they are entirely in the interest of people who love a sacred concrete environment, the place where they live, traditional methods of production and cultivation of the land, and want to keep them their home clean and suitable for future generations. Environmental conservatism defends the sovereignty and the right to make independent decisions to protect one's home for each community, for the national society, and for free citizens and their organizations.