"There is a deep-rooted connection between European civilisation and care for the environment, founded on the values of tradition, responsibility and continuity between generations. A bond now strengthened by the desire to reaffirm that the safeguarding of creation does not belong to any particular political ideology but constitutes a moral and civic duty rooted in the conservative and liberal traditions.
One of the key figures behind this vision is the British philosopher Roger Scruton, who saw the defence of our homeland, our community and our identity as the foundation of genuine environmentalism. Care for the environment stems, in fact, from a sense of belonging to a place and from the responsibility to pass it on intact to future generations.
As Scruton argues in A Political Philosophy: Arguments for Conservatism, both conservatism and environmentalism ultimately aspire to protect our common home: the place where we are, the place that defines us, which we hold in trust for our descendants and which we do not wish to damage. In short, the protection of our identity and our very future also depends on the defence of our territory, our nation and nature.
Conservative ecology thus presents itself as an ecology of moderation, proximity and rootedness. It values the tangible reality of territories, communities and landscapes, opposing abstract and centralised visions. Nature is not regarded as a theoretical concept, but as a living reality with which people have, over the centuries, built a daily relationship based on respect and stewardship.
This approach, which I have sought to explore in my recent book The Ecology of Conservatives: Rediscovering the Sacred in Nature (Giubilei Regnani, 2026, with a foreword by Giorgia Meloni) has its roots in both European cultural tradition and Christian social thought. From the thought of Leo XIII through to John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and Leo XIV, a concept of “human ecology” emerges that links the protection of the environment to the defence of human dignity, the family and communities.
Nature and humankind are not opposing forces: humankind is called upon to steward creation responsibly, without exploiting or arbitrarily manipulating it.
From this perspective, green conservatism is not a compromise or a contradiction, but the revival of a tradition that regards human beings as stewards of the world. Freedom finds its balance in the recognition of limits, whilst progress must develop in harmony with the preservation of what is of value.
However, the evolution of a strand of contemporary environmentalism has led to clear distortions, to the point where it has gradually become an ideological and political tool. Certain European policies, such as the Green Deal, are a clear example of this; whilst pursuing laudable environmental objectives, they have adopted an approach that is too rigid and pays insufficient attention to the economic, productive and social consequences. Conservative ecology, on the other hand, takes the form of a gradual, pragmatic ecological transition that is compatible with the needs of businesses, and the labour market, while respecting national sovereignty. In this vision, environmental protection cannot be separated from the defence of communities, identities and real economies. There is no sustainability without local roots, nor an ecological future without social responsibility. This is why conservatism proposes a form of modernity capable of combining innovation and continuity, economic development and environmental protection, individual freedom and collective responsibility.
As you will read in this second edition of our magazine, conservative ecology presents itself as a vision for the future, not as a longing for the past. At its heart lies the idea that the environmental issue is first and foremost a matter of civilisation: it concerns the way in which a society preserves its roots, protects its natural and cultural heritage, and prepares the world it will leave to future generations. Defending the environment therefore means defending civilisation itself, handing down to our children a home that is still habitable, recognisable and worthy of love."
- Nicola Procaccini MEP
President of New Direction, Co-Chair of the ECR Group
