Is it possible to be a Conservative & an Environmentalist?

Hey Guys! This is one those posts that I consider one of my more important, more thought-provoking, and potentially worthy of great debate. Please read the article (what I quote doesn't do it justice), and especially from the conservatives on here, give me your thoughtful, sincere feedback. I see no reason why environmentalism has to be mutually exclusive; indeed, I believe that it could be a core base that unites us all eventually, Libertarian, Democrat, Conservative, Liberal, Republican, Independent alike. What do you think of this author's claims/statements? Where can we go from here? I'll reserve my thoughts for a bit if you don't mind.

http://www.grist.org/climate-change/201 ... ge-convert
Open letter to a conservative climate change convert
by David Roberts
25 Apr 2011

Mr. Tucker, you ask: "Is it even possible to be a libertarian and an environmentalist -- or a conservative and an environmentalist, for that matter?"

These are good questions! At least when it comes to climate change, I don't think anyone has explored them with the care and attention they deserve. The question you have to answer is: How much of the enormous changes necessary can be driven by policy premised on small government, low taxes, and reduced regulation?

Lots of my leftie friends would respond: none! But I think that's wrong. I think there are actually huge areas of public policy ripe for green/libertarian cooperation. I once wrote that ... (see article for more)

Greens want communities that generate more of their own energy and food, that are more self-reliant and resilient, less dependent on large, distant power centers. Is rugged self-reliance not a conservative virtue? Right now the energy industry is the sector of our economy that most resembles socialism: rule by a cozy cabal of politicians, cartels, and corporate welfare recipients. Greens want to break that cabal up, to decentralize control over energy, to expose it to more competition and innovation. Is decentralized power not a conservative virtue?

In short, there's a great deal that libertarians, conservatives, and climate hawks can agree on in the short-term. I hope you'll keep thinking, keep digging, and keep writing about it. This debate badly needs a productive, reality-based conservative voice.