Environmentalism: Difference between revisions

One could argue environmentalism is a fundamentally conservative position, making today's politics a bit odd, though most vocal proponents of environmentalism belong to influential elites.

== Generational conflict ==

Even though there is merit to the claim that the environment needs to be maintained to prolong future life and avoid a generational conflict between younger and older generations, there is a trade-off to be made between ensuring current social harmony and creating a livable future of the offspring as large-scale economic restructuring is associated with substantial risks. Examples of large-scale, centrally planned projects that have catastrophically failed are plentiful, leaving little optimism that a peaceful world-wide reduction in consumption is even feasible, especially considering complex market interdependencies in the modern world. What should also not be overlooked is that the next generation will benefit from the prosperity that is being accumulated in the meanwhile as long the planet remains livable.

Much of social harmony appears to depend on economic growth as it provides a strong incentive to get more stuff from newly created capital rather than from other people. Without growth, things tend to turn into zero-sum games instead, meaning whenever someone wants more he has to get it from others, if necessary by force (e.g. theft, wars etc.). Transitioning to a post-growth economy will inevitably risk this and thus has the tendency to divide people. Once it is socially acceptable to put high priority on the planet to be preserved, it is easy to conclude that the world is overpopulated and hence authoritarian leaders may decide for drastic measures of decimating the population (for their own automated paradise of course).