John Baden of the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment authored this essay celebrating the 25th Anniversary of PERC -- the Property and Environment Research Center. Given the recent discussion of environmentalism's ill-health, this passage may be of interest:

Last October, an essay by two highly credentialed environmentalists generated virulent discussion. “The Death of Environmentalism” explores the 30-year decline in the environmental movement’s political influence. The authors attribute the decline to excessive division within the movement, the lack of an overarching vision, and a failure to collaborate with other political groups. I celebrate the environmental movement’s original -- and successful -- goals. Now, however, a collectivist ideology governs the movement; PERC challenges this orientation. . . .

The essay argues, “Environmental groups have spent the last 40 years defining themselves against conservative values like cost-benefit accounting, smaller government, fewer regulations, and free trade.” PERC, in contrast, belongs to the small contingent of environmental groups that uses these very principles to promote environmental values. . . .

Many people prefer the safety of like-minded colleagues to an open dialogue among individuals of differing opinions. This is surely true in the environmental movement. Contrary to popular belief, there is a conservative faction deeply committed to environmental quality; environmentalists can be liberal, conservative, or libertarian. The environmental community in Bozeman -- and nationwide -- could benefit by recognizing shared values.