Bronte Wells
The conservative approach to pollution and environmental protection has been a contentious issue, with critics arguing that conservatives have often obstructed efforts to address these problems. During the Bush administration, there was a notable lack of initiative to roll back existing environmental rules, with major environmental laws remaining unchanged. While some regulatory initiatives were slowed down or temporarily halted, the administration also encouraged new regulatory measures when supported by cost-effective independent research. The Obama administration, on the other hand, embarked on ambitious regulatory initiatives to control greenhouse gases, despite resistance from conservatives. Conservative politicians have often been accused of disregarding scientific evidence and prioritizing economic impacts over health and environmental concerns. However, it's important to note that not all conservatives hold the same views, and some have proposed policies to address climate change, such as supporting nuclear power and carbon capture technology. Recent studies suggest that conservatives can be persuaded to care more about the environment when messages emphasize protecting the purity and sanctity of the Earth and our bodies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conservative views on climate change | Some conservative leaders have called climate change a "hoax" and downplayed the link between human activity and global warming. |
| Conservative actions on pollution | Some conservatives have sought to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) abilities and responsibilities to regulate and protect against pollution. |
| Conservative alternatives to pollution reduction | No clear alternatives have been offered by conservatives, with some choosing to ignore scientific evidence and focus on economic impacts instead. |
| Persuasion of conservatives on environmental issues | Research suggests that conservatives can be persuaded to care more about the environment when messages emphasize threats to the "purity" and "sanctity" of the Earth and human bodies. |
| Conservative contributions to environmental regulation | While conservatives have contributed to the expansion of environmental regulation, they have also blocked efforts for major new environmental legislation and increased stringency of existing laws. |
| Conservative philosophy on conservation | Conservative philosopher Roger Scruton argues that conservatism and conservation share a root, both being policies of "husbanding resources and ensuring their renewal." |
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What You'll Learn
- Conservatives have contributed to the expansion of environmental regulation
- Some conservative politicians ignore or deny climate science
- Conservatives can be persuaded to care more about the environment with pro-environmental messages
- Conservatives have tried to block health, safety, and environmental protections
- Conservatives argue that conservation and conservatism share a root
Conservatives have contributed to the expansion of environmental regulation
While conservative views on environmental issues like climate change, deforestation, and toxic waste have traditionally been seen as intractable, there is evidence to suggest that conservatives have contributed to the expansion of environmental regulation.
Despite a strong anti-regulatory stance, conservatives have had a substantial impact on both environmental policy and politics. For example, the Bush administration did very little to roll back existing environmental rules, and even encouraged some new regulatory measures when independent research suggested they could be cost-effective. Similarly, while Republican officeholders during the Obama administration attempted to slow the growth of regulatory authority, they were only partially successful and, at times, inadvertently paved the way for renewed regulatory expansion.
Furthermore, some congressional Republicans have proposed policies to address climate change, such as supporting more nuclear power and the development of carbon capture technology. This indicates a recognition of the importance of environmental protection and a willingness to engage with the issue, even if there are differing views on the best approach.
Research from UC Berkeley also suggests that conservatives can be persuaded to care more about the environment when messages are framed in terms of protecting the "purity" and "sanctity" of the Earth and our bodies. This indicates that it is possible to reduce partisan polarization on ecological matters and find common ground on the need for environmental stewardship.
Overall, while there may be resistance to certain regulatory approaches or disagreements over the role of government, conservatives have played a role in shaping and expanding environmental regulation, even if their contributions are sometimes overlooked or underappreciated.
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Some conservative politicians ignore or deny climate science
Some conservative politicians have been accused of ignoring or denying climate science. For example, during the Bush administration, there was a focus on resisting the expansion of federal regulatory authority, with Bush appointees slowing down and temporarily halting some regulatory initiatives. While the Bush administration did not make any significant changes to major environmental laws, they did attempt to reform pollution-control requirements under the Clean Air Act, which was rejected in federal court.
Under President Obama, the EPA embarked on an ambitious series of regulatory initiatives to control carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, despite conservative opposition to "big government" and federal regulation. Some conservative politicians, such as Representative Fred Upton and Senator James Inhofe, have been criticized for ignoring scientific evidence and prioritizing economic impacts over health-based clean air standards. They have actively defied the law by considering economic factors when setting health-based clean air standards, which has been ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.
There is also a history of conservative politicians downplaying the link between human activity and climate change. For example, former President Donald Trump has referred to climate change as a "hoax". While there have been some efforts by congressional Republicans to address climate change, such as supporting nuclear power and carbon capture technology, there is a notable divide within the Republican Party on this issue.
Overall, while not all conservative politicians ignore or deny climate science, there is a significant faction within conservatism that has been resistant to acknowledging and addressing the issue. This resistance has been attributed to a variety of factors, including ideological opposition to government intervention and a prioritization of economic interests over environmental concerns.
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Conservatives can be persuaded to care more about the environment with pro-environmental messages
Conservatives have been instrumental in blocking efforts to pass major new environmental legislation or increase the stringency of existing laws. However, they have also contributed to the expansion of environmental regulation. For example, under President Obama, the EPA embarked on regulatory initiatives to control carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and while the Bush administration did little to roll back existing environmental rules, it also encouraged some new regulatory measures.
Research from UC Berkeley suggests that conservatives can be persuaded to care more about the environment with pro-environmental messages. The study found that conservatives tend to be less concerned about the environment than liberals, but their motivation increased when presented with articles and images stressing the need to "protect the purity of the environment". The findings indicate that reframing pro-environmental rhetoric according to conservative values can reduce partisan polarization on ecological matters.
The study also analyzed over 200 op-eds in national newspapers, sorting them into themes of "harm/care", which was expected to resonate more with liberals, and "purity/sanctity", which was predicted to appeal more to conservatives. The results showed that most pro-environmental messages leaned strongly toward liberal moral concerns. Researchers hypothesized that conservatives would be more responsive to environmental arguments focused on principles such as purity, patriotism, and reverence for a higher authority.
To effectively address climate change, it is critical to reach out to conservatives in a respectful and persuasive way, as significant environmental reforms will require the support of a large number of Americans, including those across party lines. By reframing pro-environmental messages to align with conservative values and concerns, it may be possible to increase conservative motivation to support and enact environmental policies.
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Conservatives have tried to block health, safety, and environmental protections
Despite their failure to enact wholesale reform, conservatives have had a substantial impact on both policy and politics. While some conservative politicians have proposed policies to address climate change, such as supporting more nuclear power and the development of carbon capture technology, others have tried to block health, safety, and environmental protections.
During the Bush administration, efforts to roll back existing environmental rules were largely unsuccessful, with most major environmental laws remaining unchanged. However, under President Obama, the EPA embarked on a series of regulatory initiatives to control carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which faced significant opposition from conservatives.
Conservative politicians have been accused of disregarding the health and safety of Americans by refusing to address pollution problems. For example, Rand Paul (R-KY) and Jim DeMint (R-SC) in the Senate, along with Don Young (R-AK) in the House, have vowed to dismantle not just the EPA's responsibilities but also all agencies' legal obligations with sweeping and reckless legislation. Their attacks on EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson's plans to strengthen protections against smog pollution have been particularly notable.
The lack of interest in dialogue and understanding displayed by House Republicans, as well as their calls for scaling back environmental policies, further highlight their resistance to addressing health, safety, and environmental concerns. This resistance is driven by a focus on economic impacts rather than scientific evidence and health-based standards, despite the urgency of the climate crisis.
Overall, while some conservatives have taken steps to address pollution and environmental issues, others have actively worked to block health, safety, and environmental protections, prioritizing economic considerations over the well-being of people and the planet.
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Conservatives argue that conservation and conservatism share a root
The words "conservative" and "conservation" are rooted in the verb "to conserve". The father of modern conservatism, Edmund Burke, believed that society should focus on conserving land for future generations. Burke's conservatism was a call for an "organic society guided by a sense of intergenerational responsibility". He believed that the current generation must not think of themselves alone, as that would lead to environmental ruin.
Despite this, modern conservatism is often associated with anti-environmentalism. This is due to the association of conservative politicians with anti-environmental policies and the libertarian ideology that is prevalent among many modern conservatives. Libertarianism often elevates personal liberty and material gain above other values, making libertarians more receptive to arguments from industry lobbyists against environmental regulations.
However, some argue that a truly conservative philosophy is consistent with environmental stewardship. For example, the group Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship works to promote environmental campaigns that align with conservative values. Additionally, some Republican leaders, including congressional Republicans, have proposed policies to address climate change, such as supporting more nuclear power and the development of carbon capture technology.
Furthermore, throughout history, there have been instances where conservative governments have contributed to the expansion of environmental regulation. For example, during the Clinton administration, despite the anti-regulatory rhetoric of conservatives, the overall trajectory of federal environmental policy remained unchanged. Similarly, the Bush administration did relatively little to roll back existing environmental rules, and some of its more aggressive efforts to reform environmental requirements were rejected in federal court.
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Frequently asked questions
While the assumption has been that conservative views on climate change, deforestation, and toxic waste are intractable, a 2015 study by UC Berkeley found that such viewpoints can be changed. The study found that conservatives can be moved to support pro-environmental policies when messages emphasise fending off threats to the purity of the environment and our bodies.
Some congressional Republicans have proposed policies to address climate change, such as supporting more nuclear power and the development of carbon capture technology.
The conservative philosopher Roger Scruton argues that conservatism and conservation share a root that is not just etymological. They are both policies of "husbanding resources and ensuring their renewal".
Anti-regulatory conservatism dominated the Republican Party from 1980 to 2008, receding only briefly before reappearing in 2009 when President Obama took office. Despite this, Republicans contributed to the expansion of environmental regulation during this period.
Republicans have been pushing bills to stop government 'weather modification'. However, this is in response to constituent feedback on conspiracy theories rather than a conservative stance on geoengineering.
