by Edward Ring
A new environmentalism challenges climate alarmism, rejects false scarcity, and defends both ecological integrity and human freedom through practical, market-based solutions.
Last month, in recognition of the annual celebration of Earth Day, it seemed appropriate to compile a list of ten common myths that constitute the major premises of modern environmentalism. That list, along with explanations of why each of these premises is unfounded and counterproductive, can be summarized as follows:
1 – There is no climate crisis.
2 – There are not too many people on Earth.
3 – We are not running out of oil/gas/coal.
4 – Biofuel is not renewable or sustainable.
5 – Offshore wind is not renewable or sustainable.
6 – Renewables are not renewable.
7 – Renewables cannot replace oil/gas/coal.
8 – Housing should not be confined to densifying existing cities.
9 – Mass transit is almost never cost-effective.
10 – Wilderness areas are not sacred.
Environmentalism, pursuant to these myths, is not a movement primarily devoted to protecting the planet’s ecosystems. It is a totalitarian political agenda that aims to consolidate power and wealth in the hands of a managerial elite that will wield absolute control over every aspect of human life. Where you live or travel, what you purchase or produce, and what you can own and consume will all be specified, monitored, and rationed. And the moral justification for this will be the “climate emergency.”
There are few examples in history that can compare to the political power grab enabled by the alleged “existential threat” of climate change. But of equal concern is the fraudulent essence of the economic and technological agenda pushed in the name of fighting climate change. It not only discredits environmentalism in the eyes of awakening millions, but, as explained in the ten myths, it also will wreak environmental havoc.
Meanwhile, true environmentalist values, uncorrupted, remain of vital importance to humanity. It is necessary to expose how special interests have hijacked the environmentalist movement. But it is equally necessary to articulate principles that may inform a new environmentalism focused on authentic threats and propose ways to counter these threats without compromising individual freedom and prosperity. To that end, here are some ideas.
Principles of New Environmentalism
1 – Questioning the “climate emergency” does not mean someone is not an environmentalist.
2 – Public investments and public policies designed to combat the alleged climate emergency must still pass a cost/benefit analysis that does not take into account “climate impact.”
3 – Over-regulation is a primary cause of unaffordability, but deregulation cannot be selectively targeted to favor, for example, “renewables” or “affordable housing.” A level, deregulated playing field must be created for all investments, including energy, water, and housing.
4 – The priorities of environmentalists must return to addressing genuine environmental threats, for example:
– The steady and significant decline in global insect mass.
– Overfishing the oceans.
– Poaching of endangered species.
– Aquatic dead zones.
– Deforestation and wildlife depletion in nations denied access to
conventional energy and commercial agriculture because of the “climate
emergency.”
– Actual air and water pollution, mostly in developing nations.
– Biofuel plantations destroying hundreds of thousands of square miles of rainforest.
– Massive oceanic garbage patches.
– The worsening human population crash and environmental factors that may be contributing to worldwide loss of fertility.
5 – Mitigating even genuine environmental challenges must avoid extremes. Advances in genomics can now identify subspecies as unique even if they are otherwise indistinguishable apart from minute genetic differences. Similarly, we now can measure toxins in parts-per-trillion quantities. But now that science’s ability to identify subspecies and measure toxins greatly exceeds our economic capacity to mitigate, a balance must be struck.
6 – “Smart Growth” is not smart. It is a heavily subsidized and highly inefficient way to create housing that most people don’t prefer. The alternative to Smart Growth might be called “New Suburbanism,” an unsubsidized, family-friendly approach that recognizes consumer preferences and, contrary to agenda-driven misinformation, does not consume excessive land.
7 – In a reasonably regulated, competitive commercial environment, private industry can operate far more efficiently than government. Private investment in, for example, energy production, water infrastructure, mineral extraction, and forestry will create jobs, generate tax revenue, and lower the cost of living.
8 – A corollary to the principle of private investment being more efficient is the unavoidable necessity for public utilities. You can’t change the route of a pipeline or railroad for every property owner who will not consent to an easement. But public utilities should not be guaranteed revenue on a cost-plus model, and their profits should not be “decoupled” from their productivity.
9 – For everyone on earth to use half as much energy as Americans do per capita, global energy production must double. In 2023, wind, solar, and geothermal energy only accounted for 2.5 percent of global energy production. Scaling these “renewable” sources of energy while they remain technologically immature is not sustainable. We need to continue to develop conventional energy while continuing to aggressively research new energy technologies. Access to energy is a prerequisite to prosperity and wealth, which in turn is a prerequisite for nations to have the wherewithal to address and solve genuine environmental challenges.
10 – Around the world, the challenge to achieve abundance is governed more by politics and culture than by limited resources. The scarcity agenda inherent in “climate” policy guarantees societal instability and inadequate resources to eliminate genuine pollution. Abundance is achieved through economic freedom and competitive capitalism, subject to reasonable regulatory restraints. Beware of the “abundance” mantra increasingly being adopted by the left or by climate zealots. Even if they are sincere, their solutions are unworkable.
These are a few of the principles that might help redefine environmentalism for the 21st century and restore its credibility. They offer a new approach that not only rescues the natural environment but also preserves freedom and nurtures worldwide prosperity. Moreover, because they make practical economic sense and are predicated on reality instead of theory and mythology, adhering to these principles would set an example that other nations would enthusiastically emulate.
The next time you hear a politician or pundit blithely discuss the “climate emergency,” as if it is something we all accept as indisputable truth, think about the dubious premises they rely on to make these claims. And think about new approaches that will allow us to more effectively care for our beautiful world, along with everyone living here.
Edward Ring is a senior fellow of the Center for American Greatness. He is also the
director of water and energy policy for the California Policy Center,
which he co-founded in 2013 and served as its first president. Ring is
the author of Fixing California: Abundance, Pragmatism, Optimism (2021)
and The Abundance Choice: Our Fight for More Water in California (2022).
Source: https://amgreatness.com/2025/05/07/principles-of-new-environmentalism/
