Much of our environmental troubles stem from the greed of Man. And much of that is directly attributable to the rampant consumerism of the last half of the Twentieth Century. Environmental stewardship affirms that freedom, human flourishing, and the integrity of creation are principles that are not only compatible but also dynamically related. The earth is created by God, and is distinct from God. God's creation is good, and is sustained and governed by his loving kindness.
Freedom is the context in which human actions become moral actions.
A person can relate rightfully to God and to creation only through the free exercise of human intelligence in relation to the good. The earth is, however, finite. Our call to choose fruitfulness is thus related to our obligations over creation. The earth's finite resources must be allocated such that the dual human goals of fruitfulness and loving dominion over creation are best served. Free cooperation among human persons in the economic sphere is the method of allocation that best serves these goals, while safeguarding the moral conditions for an authentic human ecology.