Green conservatism

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Green conservatism is a term used to refer to conservatives who have incorporated green concerns into their ideology.

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[edit] Variants

[edit] Canada

In Canada the term was popularized in 2006 by Preston Manning, former federal opposition leader and founder of the Reform Party of Canada. [1] Specifically Manning has argued that Western Canadian Conservatism with its strong rural roots and populist rhetoric will eventually have to reconcile the desire for strong growth with protection of the environment. He has specifically talked about using water pricing in the Athabasca Oil Sands to prevent a "tragedy of the commons" scenario.

[edit] United Kingdom

The Conservative Party in the United Kingdom under David Cameron has embraced a green agenda which includes proposals designed to impose a tax on workplace car parking spaces, a halt to airport growth, a tax on gas-guzzling 4x4s and restrictions on car advertising. The measures were suggested by The Quality of Life Policy Group, which was set up by Cameron to help fight climate change. [2]

Cameron has enthusiastically embraced "green" issues, and has made climate change a key component of his speeches.[3] He has called for an independent climate change commission to ensure that emissions reductions targets are met. [4]

[edit] United States

It is believed that the term was first used in the United States by former U.S. Republican congressman Newt Gingrich in a debate on environmental issues with John Kerry[5][6][7].

Green conservatism has manifested itself as a movement in groups such as Republicans for Environmental Protection, which seeks to strengthen the Republican Party's stance on environmental issues and support efforts to conserve natural resources and protect human and environmental health.

[edit] Australia

In Australia, Naturopath Brandon Raynor set up Brandon Raynor's Green Liberals in 2005 which was a political party with conservative family values policies and business friendly policies that was also a strong advocate of environmental protection, animal welfare and natural health practices. The AEC however, refused the application after considering it for 3 years on the grounds that the name was similar to the Liberal Party. During the 3 years while the government was considering it they actually changed the law to stop the party bring registered.

[edit] Japan

In Japan, the Environmental Green Political Assembly, or Midori no Kaigi, emerged out of the conservative reformist Sakigake Party. It combined a conservative ideology with an ecologist platform, forcing out a number of non-ecologist members to join the Democratic Party's Ryoun-kai faction. It showed poor performance at the polls, and was dissolved in 2004.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
  2. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml;jsessionid=ND2RNWDNYBJL3QFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/earth/2007/09/14/eacameron114.xml Daily Telegraph online David Cameron pledges radical green shake-up September 14, 2007.
  3. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=PHYKHXUF15AT1QFIQMFSFF4AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2005/12/10/ntory10.xml Daily Telegraph online, Cameron pledges tough measures on climate change. October 12, 2005.
  4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6084958.stm BBC online Cameron urges climate change law Oct. 25, 2006.
  5. ^ We Can Have Green Conservatism - And We Should - HUMAN EVENTS
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ The Case for Green Conservatism | Redstate

[edit] See also

[edit] External links