November 5, 2024

The idea of ​​a “conservative environmentalist” has become an oxymoron, because for many years conservatives and Republicans have been outsiders to the environmental movement. But now, in the year 2022, some conservatives may have begun to rethink their positions, including young people and some prominent public intellectuals. For liberals looking to reach the proverbial aisle, conservatives may finally be ready for it, but messaging will be critical.

Much of the rightful opposition to environmental causes stems from the anti-capitalist sentiments often espoused by environmentalists, coupled with their largely statist solutions. In fact, some even see the rise of the modern environmentalist movement as having its roots in the fall of communism in the late 1980s, making environmentalism a kind of stand-in for the old, bad Marxists. that ideology.

One right-wing commentator who is rethinking his position on climate change is Bret Stephens. Stephens is a former writer for the conservative opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, who was welcomed by the New York Times
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back in 2017. One of his first articles for the Times started a firestorm of controversy, because it seemed to minimize the dangers associated with global warming. In recent years, he has changed his tune, arguing that climate change is actually a big deal and deserves more attention.

It’s easy to say, “Hey Stephens, stop trying to screw up your new bosses at the New York Times,” but I don’t think that’s what happened here. Stephens’ approach is thoughtful and pragmatic. He wants to base climate policy on sound risk assessment and cost-benefit principles, not emotions and doom-and-gloom hysteria.

That makes sense. However, Stephens’ message is not perfect either. This may appeal to hyper-rational libertarians. But most people, even highly intelligent ones, want to connect on a human level. That might help explain why rational data points, like the fact that the seven hottest years on record have all occurred since 2015 (which hardly seems like a coincidence), are so far out of whack. what was done to incite the conservatives.

Republicans have developed a reputation for being anti-science, but this labeling is counterproductive. All this has done is create bad blood between the left and the right on climate change. What many conservatives want is to have a two-way conversation where they are treated like adults. And they want a message that includes some hope from a messenger who is also not afraid to be real with them.

One problem with conservatives’ messaging is that it feels condescending. Take a 2021 study looking at Republican reactions to various climate-related ads. The study found that focusing on the implications for national security, or the connection between faith and the environment, would appeal to some Republicans, for example.

It’s easy to think of other areas where the messaging might also resonate: Climate change has implications for hunters, who care about the environment but can’t label themselves environmentalists, and the cost of economy for businesses from climate change can also be large.

One problem with this type of research is that conservatives don’t want to “study” like some kind of pachyderm heading to the elephant’s grave. They prefer it attracted on the merits, and on the issues most important to them.

Conservatives also care about the environment, but they tend to be skeptical of revolutionaries who seek to overturn conventional society based on some new age religion. And, let’s be honest, many environmentalists find it so. So there must be a courtship between liberals and conservatives. Like a Shakespeare play, romance can take time to develop. But unlike Romeo and Juliet, there is no reason why this love story cannot have a happy ending.

But for that to happen, compromise is needed from all sides. Consider, for example, that there are green parties in Europe that are for the environment, but also have a moderate economic stance, by emphasizing economic efficiency and development. Can you imagine the American Green Party taking the same approach?

Conservatives are more likely to associate with those willing to talk about the economy in a way that promotes business rather than demonizing it. Take economist Tyler Cowen, whose book “Big Business: A Love Letter to an American Anti-Hero,” takes the unusual step of doing what the title implies: actually writing a letter to love of businesses. This seems completely out of character in a culture where businesses are often portrayed as villains.

Cowen defies the norm. Often, what conservatives get is rebuke, including some who were once identified as right-wingers. A good example is Jerry Taylor, formerly of the Cato Institute and the Niskanen Center. Taylor made a name for himself as a global warming denier who later changed his mind. Besides, instead of trying to win over conservatives, he used his new platform to rebuke them. Taylor was a false god, and his evil tactics eventually led to his downfall (he was later embroiled in a domestic violence scandal).

A better approach is that of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC). It is a group of young activists with an inspiring message that is both pro-environment and pro-capitalism. “Conservation” in their name is a double entendre. In other words, the group is conservative in politics but also focused on conserving the environment. Groups like the ACC show that, unlike many older conservatives, clean energy is not anathema to the younger generation of conservatives. Additionally, ACC’s message is pro-economic growth—a far cry from the “death by a thousand cuts” regulatory solutions offered by the traditional environmental movement.

To environmentalists, all this waiting for conservatives to get on board with their mission is frustrating. Those who think “the end is near” do not want to wait. But no matter how hard it is, they need to step back, take a breath, and find opportunities for common ground. The clock wasn’t even close to midnight. We only have time before the earth turns into a giant metaphorical pumpkin.

Appealing to conservatives—or anyone with strong political beliefs—is a delicate balancing act. Too much rationality or too much criticism will not work. In this regard, liberals can learn from the examples of Stephen and Taylor.

If a consensus is to be built, a new positive message needs to be formulated. Here, environmentalists can learn from Dale Carnegie and his classic book “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Carnegie argued that kindness is always the best path to productive partnerships. If liberals want to “tie the hole” with conservatives on environmental issues, a sustainable coalition must be tied with a smile. As with scientific facts, there is no simple avoidance of this inconvenient truth.

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