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Green Liberalism is a term used to refer to liberals who have
incorporated green concerns into their ideology.
In Green Liberalism, the planet is highly valued; it is viewed as being important that the planet be passed down to the next
generation unharmed. Green Liberalism accepts that the natural world is a system in a state of flux, and does not seek to conserve the natural world as it is. It does however, seek to minimise the damage by the
human species on the natural world, and to aid regeneration of damaged areas.
Classical liberalism opposes any regulation by the
state, but Green Liberalism allows environmental regulation. The argument being "We do not own the planet, we borrow it from
our children. Therefore, the planet is not ours to do with as we please, rather it is our responsibility to protect it from
harm."
Green Liberalism is now the dominant form of liberalism in some countries, particularly the United Kingdom and, to a lesser
extent, the United States of America. Green Liberals advocate their brand of green politics over that of some Green Parties. The
reason stated is that liberalism is repulsed by authoritarian politics, which the Green Parties do not explicitly reject.
Conrad Russell, a member of the Liberal Democrat (UK) party, dedicated a chapter of his book
"The intelligent person's guide to liberalism" to the subject of Green Liberalism.
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