We must face environmental challenges realistically via the reform of capitalism. Denial and alarmism are the wrong ways for extremist political communities. These were some of the key noteworthy thoughts mentioned during the first public event of the Green Policy Center, which took place online on September 28, 2020, with the author of an analysis, Dr. Gábor Bartus and his interlocutors.

“It would not be more timely to keep the results of the substantive environmental policy so far and to supplement them with appropriate new elements. At the same time, it would not make sense to exaggerate the dangers, to face environmental challenges realistically, denial and alarmism are two extreme, inappropriate ways for the political community to react. ”

These are the thesis sentences, Gábor Bartus starts his analysis titled “Protecting the Beautiful and the Useful – the Conservative Way of Nature Conservation” prepared at the request of the Green Policy Center. The study is about one of the most significant global and at the same time national challenges of the decades ahead, the deterioration of the state of nature and the environmental problems, applying a conservative approach.

The dissertation presented on September 28 proposes a novel approach to alleviate and eliminate problems. He is looking for the answer to what to think about environmental problems, climate change, if we believe that they exist, but we do not want to turn the world out of its corners, and we do not want to stop the degradation of natural resources by reforming the institutions of capitalism.

Dr. András Csite, CEO of the HÉTFA Research Institute, wrote a recommendation for the study:

“The analysis of Bartus urges the reintroduction of common-sense political regulation into rights rather than universal world solutions. For us Hungarians, the worrying state of the natural resources of the Carpathian Basin, their further degradation, the deterioration of the living spaces of the Hungarians, is one of the most significant security risks of our life.”

The writing of Gábor Bartus, by analogy with the book of the Scripture, is the first piece of a series of studies entitled “Reopening the Book of Nature”, which is related to the introductory project of the Green Policy Center. In doing so, the think tank seeks to promote meaningful dialogue on sustainability, climate policy and other environmental issues. The initiative is founded on the fact that the issue of nature and the environment is an integral part of Christian-conservative thinking. It is time to “reopen” the Book of Nature and “read out” the organic answers.

The next elements of the series, which are expected to be published on a monthly basis, aim to outline a comprehensive picture within the given framework, including:

• the relevant teachings of conservative philosophy and the Christian churches,
• Hungary’s role and responsibility in the international arena,
• security challenges and responses,
• the relationship between patriotism and the protection of nature, and
• by presenting the issue of sustainability in a broader sense.