Conservatives Love Nature Too: Benji Backer Tells Us Why Nature is Nonpartisan
From Climate One
Benji Backer•Founder and CEO, Nature is Nonpartisan
Executive Summary
The speaker argues for a non-partisan, culturally relevant environmental movement to overcome extreme political polarization, drawing inspiration from the broad-based support for conservation in the 1970s.
Despite a deeply cynical view of Washington D.C.
politics, the speaker points to recent major bipartisan legislative successes in national park investment and sustainable agriculture as proof that progress is possible.
The organization 'Nature is Nonpartisan' aims to build a broad coalition by making environmental advocacy accessible and engaging, using modern media and creative campaigns to bridge ideological divides.
The discussion explores the necessity of pragmatic compromise, even with challenging political figures, while remaining vigilant against 'greenwashing' and bad-faith arguments that undermine true environmental stewardship.
7 quotes
Concerns Raised
Extreme political polarization and the prevalence of bad-faith actors in Washington D.C.
The risk of policy being 'greenwashed' to serve economic interests without genuine environmental protection.
Social media algorithms reinforcing division and preventing good-faith dialogue.
The environmental movement lacking cultural relevance and broad appeal to average Americans.
Opportunities Identified
Building a broad, non-partisan coalition for environmental action that transcends the left-right divide.
Engaging younger generations, including conservatives, who show increased concern for environmental issues.
Leveraging recent bipartisan legislative successes as a model for future cooperation.
Using creative, modern media campaigns to make environmentalism a positive and engaging part of American culture.