Sometimes it is helpful to consider the idea of environmentalism from within the broader context of human history. From that perspective, the idea of working actively to conserve portions of the environment or to reduce the amount of waste that we produce is a new one because it was not a necessary idea until very recently. It was industrialization that produced the need for environmentalism. Now that we are capable of exploiting the entirety of our natural resources we have to dedicate significant thought to their preservation.
Here are a few people whose work has contributed significantly to the the environmental movement.
John Muir
Founder of the Sierra Club and its first president, John Muir dedicated much of his live to environmental conservation. From as far back as 1870, John Muir questioned humanity’s exploitation of the environment and advocated fiercely for the wholesale preservation of environmental resources as opposed to the sustainable exploitation model advocated by many of his contemporaries. An influencer, John published essays in Atlantic Magazine and other publications to sway public opinion to his cause. He is credited with the creation of Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park and influencing the creation of Mount Rainier National Park and Grand Canyon National Park.
Rachel Carson
It is difficult to overestimate the effect that Rachel Carson’s work has had on the modern environmental movement. A prolific writer and public servant, Rachel’s work is said to have led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Her most well known book, Silent Spring, is still influential to this day. It discusses the impact that pesticides have on the environment and led to the nationwide banning of DDT through the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act.
Julia “Butterfly” Hill
If you’ve ever heard of the woman who spent two years living in a tree then you’ve heard of Julia “Butterfly” Hill. Fo 738 days Julia engaged in an act of civil disobedience in an effort to prevent the cutting of ecologically important trees. Her efforts were widely publicized and drew mass public attention to corporate clear-cutting policies. The attention drawn by her activism inspired a generation of activists and moved the needle on corporate sustainability practices. Many companies now plant trees to replace those that they cut down in an effort to minimize their contribution to global deforestation. Some states also have laws requiring companies to engage in reforestation after harvesting trees.
Wangari Maathai
The first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a Doctorate Degree, Wangari Maathai’s work has had a dramatic impact on the face of Africa. Wangari’s early work involved planting trees with village women to provide a fuel source and prevent desertification. This work continued throughout her life through the Green Belt Movement. Over her life she helped to plant more than 20 million trees to reduce erosion, improve quality of life, and conserve the environment. In 2004 Wangari won the Nobel Prize for Peace. She was the first black African woman to win the prize.
Gaylord Nelson
Earth Day, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act are all the result of the politician Gaylord Nelson. Nelson served as the Governor of Wisconsin and a United States Senator. While in the Senate he sponsored the Wilderness Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the Endangered Species Act.