Source: Liberalism.org
by Christopher R Hallenbrook & Ryan Reed
“The harms of climate change are now well documented, from rising sea levels to destructive wildfires, severe flooding, and now the strongest El Niño on record. Yet classical liberals have often criticized proposals addressing this threat as impractical, costly, and/or beyond the legitimate scope of government power. We engage the latter critique by turning to John Locke’s writings. Locke is both a proponent of limited government and profoundly influential on liberal democracies. He argued that government exists solely to enforce natural law, and in doing so, it protects life, liberty, and property. While Locke presented the earth’s resources as existing to be exploited, he crucially limited property acquisition, arguing that natural law prohibits spoilage and requires we leave ‘enough and as good for others.’ We argue that because these caveats are part of the natural law, governments are obligated to take comprehensive action addressing climate change.” (10/28/26)
https://www.liberalism.org/p/john-locke-and-the-climate-crisis