The ecology of conservatives

I consider myself far more of an environmentalist than Frans Timmermans, Greta Thunberg and others who, having lost an ideology defeated by history, have rebranded themselves through a form of pseudo–environmentalism. I am an environmentalist because I believe that preserving the land of our ancestors is one of the essential duties of European conservatives. The late British conservative philosopher Sir Roger Scruton expressed this clearly. He argued that ecology, or environmentalism, is the essence of the conservative cause and the clearest expression of a living alliance between those who came before, those alive today and those yet to be born.

Nicola Procaccini MEP is a member of the European Parliament and Co-President of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. He is the President of New Direction Think Tank. He also is the Head of the Department of Environment and Energy Policy of Brothers of Italy.

This view of ecology connects the

physical beauty of nature with something transcendent. I sense a divine breath even in a single blade of grass, and even more so in human and animal life. My spiritual understanding of ecology leads me to what is often called the “ecology of creation”. Since humanity is made in the image and likeness of God, we are not merely one species among others. We are called to actively protect creation and to defend life, from conception to natural death. This is a defining belief for us as conservatives and one that I often highlight.

Over time, this view has been deepened through the teachings of several popes, including Pope Benedict XVI, Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis. They have all reminded us that, created in God's image, human beings have a duty to care for creation. This requires active responsibility rather than passive observation. If nature is sacred, then so is life, especially human life, from its beginning to its end.

No one can be a true environmentalist while ignoring the earliest and most fragile stages of human life. Yet left–wing environmentalism frequently does this, showing concern for wildlife but disregarding human life, which it often seeks to eliminate through measures such as euthanasia.

This demonstrates that environmentalism has never been a side issue for our political identity. It has always been central. I say this because our commitment to environmental concerns predates movements such as Fridays for Future. At that time, the left was not speaking about the environment, since it was focused on building a socialist model of society. Only when that model failed did it begin searching for a substitute. Its version of environmentalism became a replacement for an ideology already discredited by history.

The European Green Deal was created in this ideological context, without enough attention to the daily lives of families and businesses. The consequences are now becoming clear, particularly in the industrial sector. The automotive industry, for example, is experiencing serious decline. Decarbonisation goals are important, but they must be pursued gradually and pragmatically, with a balanced focus on environmental, economic and social sustainability.

In the European Parliament, both as representatives of Brothers of Italy and as members of the European Conservative group, we are working to reduce the harm caused by a Green Deal that threatens not

only Europe's economy but also its most vulnerable citizens. I refer to those who, for example, cannot afford a new electric car because they simply do not have the resources.

Our approach to environmentalism is grounded in everyday life. If I think back to my first environmental campaign, I have to smile. It was against plastic cotton buds. It was not a glamorous cause. But when someone like Paolo Colli explained the environmental damage caused by disposable plastic, and how easy it was to replace such items, you came to understand that this was a real ecological issue.

Paolo Colli, the group Fare Verde and other right–leaning environmental associations in Italy began their work with waste management. For young people focused on other political causes, it was not easy to care about waste. Yet that experience taught us a fundamental truth: great ideals must begin with simple, tangible actions. Change starts with the world just outside our door.

Another essential aspect of our environmentalism is love for our homeland. The word patria – which means fatherland in Italian – is neither outdated nor dull. It conveys a sense of duty to both the past

and the future. Patria represents culture, people, and land. It is the place where we first opened our eyes, and it is our responsibility to protect and preserve it. This challenge goes beyond Italy; it concerns

the entire Western world.

Roger Scruton preferred the word ‘ecology’ to ‘environmentalism’ because of its Greek origins. The word ecology derives from oikos, meaning ‘home’, and logos, meaning ‘study’ or ‘care’. Ecology, in its

truest sense, is the thoughtful stewardship of our shared home.

It’s a small act with big potential, lowering water bills, protecting the environment, and building resilience in our communities. Let’s not wait for another drought warning. By fitting a water butt, you can take a small but powerful step toward securing your home’s water future and help tackle a national challenge, one drop at a time.

That is where our environmentalism begins: with our homes, our neighbourhoods and our cities. Only afterwards should attention turn to the Amazon rainforest. It makes little sense to campaign for distant

ecosystems while ignoring the street outside your own home. This does not mean rejecting global concern, but it establishes a clear order of responsibility. We must first protect what has been passed down to us.

Freud said, “We are what we are because we were what we were.” Conservatives believe in defending those who have lived in and worked with nature for generations. These are people who do not need lessons in environmentalism from those who only experience nature on holiday. Human beings have a duty to safeguard nature. We defend farmers because they are our roots. Alongside herders and fishers, they do not simply take from nature; they care for it and keep it alive. Without them, nature declines rather than flourishes.

Some suggest that nature would be better off without humans. That is a tragic mistake. It is one of the ideas that separates us from the theatrical posturing often seen in left–wing environmentalism.

I want to conclude with one last topic, which is the great innovation of our age and which excites me particularly. What is the mechanism that generated the universe, that released the energy which then allowed human life to come into being and to take shape? It was nuclear fusion. It was the creation of the stars. The energy that was released in the formation of the stars, when elements collided and unleashed the force that created the entire universe.

Now, without going into the details of nuclear fission or the technologies of next–generation reactors like small modular reactors or advanced modular reactors, our approach is pragmatic: we must use

the best energy technologies that are available to us now. However, it is right to invest in research, and it is important and right that Italy, by promoting the G7 agreement on nuclear fusion, has committed itself to investing in humanity’s most thrilling dream: to have clean, infinite energy drawn from the stars.

I believe that if there is one vision that can in some way unite and inspire our entire generation, it must be that of nuclear fusion. I cannot say how many days remain until the commercialisation of fusion reactors, but I know that now we can see it in front of us. We see that light ahead of us. And how can we not feel, deep within ourselves, the urge to run towards that light, to seize it, a little like Prometheus, and make it available to all of humanity?

I believe that this is our mission.

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Views expressed in this chapter are those of the author, not necessarily those of the Conservative Environment Network.