Catastrophe to cooperation: How a conservative view on climate stewardship leads to conflict resolution

Conflict and climate change are two man-made crises that are exclusively responsible for driving the world to a catastrophe, inching the Doomsday Clock closer to zero than any time since its inception in 1947. While these issues are often treated separately, they are deeply intertwined. As the climate stress fuels wars and instability, the need for environmental stewardship becomes not just ecological, but geopolitical. Although conservatism is often dismissed in climate debates, it may hold the keys to cooperation. Why? Because at its core, conservatism is about conserving values, resources, and stability. 

Cyrus Rowshangohar | CEN Ambassador

A conservatism approach to climate stewardship not only makes environmental action more effective, but also paves the way to conflict resolution. 

Climate change doesn’t endanger ecosystems – it destabilises nations. An empirical example is the Sahel region of Africa. This region witnesses prologues droughts which have intensified food insecurity, fuelling displacement and violent insurgencies. Environmental degradation has become a ‘trigger’ for armed conflict, especially where weak corrupt governance already exists. Yet, paradoxically, climate stress can also foster cooperation. In the Middle East, where tensions run high and water is scarce, Israel and Jordan have found common cause. Despite historical hostility, they’ve partnered on long-term water-sharing for green energy swaps. This kind of climate cooperation is rooted not in liberal mandates, but in conservative principles as it reflected localised, practical problem solving for mutual benefit, rather than top-down globalism.  This demonstrates how conservative necessity can transcend hostility. 

At its heart, conservatism is about preserving what matters – order, tradition, and the institutions that sustain society. The instinct to conserve naturally extends to the government. Former US President Theodore Roosevelt, pioneered the American conservation movement by establishing national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges – not out of ideology, but from a deep sense of generational duty. 

Today, conservative values like localism, self-reliance, and economic pragmatism offer a grounded framework for climate action. From promoting energy independence to investing in private-sector innovation in renewables, conservative stewardship focuses on long-term stability over short-term policies. It is not about resisting change; it is about managing it wisely. Protecting both the land and principles that hold society together. 

Liberal internationalism has produced important binding treaties like the Paris Agreement, but global emissions are still on the rise, revealing the limits of a top-down approach. International organisations often struggle with enforcement and political will. In contrast, conservatism emphasises individual responsibility and national stability. By promoting energy independence – such as investing in solar, wind, and nuclear power – countries reduce reliance on unstable regions for oil and gas. This approach strengthens security at home while advancing climate targets. Ultimately climate stewardship isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s a matter of preserving national strength and global peace. 

Climate change and conflict aren’t separate crises -  they’re connected challenges demanding urgent action. Conservatism’s core values of stewardship, responsibility, and stability provide a powerful foundation for effective climate action that can reduce global tensions. This isn’t about left versus right; it is about a shared duty to protect our planet and each other. By embracing a mindset of conservatism of resources, traditions, and peace we can move from catastrophe to cooperation. The future depends not on ideology, but on our collective will to steward the Earth wisely and peacefully. 

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