They rapidly scrap traditional practices in favor of those more materially productive. Many greens argue the market process fosters these changes. Hence, they insist, it must be stifled. Here they are wrong. Given strong, nearly universal propensities toward improving material conditions, solutions to many environmental problems lie in fostering responsible wealth creation and broad distribution.
Rich societies are cleaner, healthier, and ultimately greener.
The recent WTO meeting in Seattle was a reveling benchmark on this nascent but enduring conflict. As the Seattle meeting demonstrated, this transition toward modernity disturbs many people, especially deep greens. He challenged the assertion that greater prosperity leads to environmental improvement. The industrial revolution left London choking and buried beneath waste. In the short run, he is often correct.