The view that economic solvency implies environmental sustainability, asserting that
dense, solvent urban development is environmentally superior to subsidized
car infrastructure and, by extension, Levittown-style development. Many "
gray environmentalists" do not care about the environment at all, but rather their preferred policies simply have positive environmental externalities (
e.g. a
libertarian approach to land use results in more efficient, and therefore less sprawling, development and infrastructure).
Gray Environmentalists argue that per-capita environmental impact is most limited in these
dense, walkable, communities, not because there is a deliberate effort, but instead due to factors such as
car independence (as opposed to
car dependence) and central heating (even if minimal, as in duplexes). Proponents also argue that denser development frees more space for parks and recreational centers, thereby creating a greater potential for green space, whether in the community or immediately outside of it.
Gray Environmentalists differ sharply from the more well-known Green Environmentalists, who are in favor of increased regulation, a "return to nature", and frequently view nature as more innocent, and therefore superior, to human lives.
"Did you hear that high birthrates and immigration are causing overpopulation?! We need more living space!"
"Adolf, ever hear
Gray Environmentalism? Build up, and not into
Poland."
"Ja, but kill enough people and we get lower carbon output!"
"Or, hear me out,
maybe don't build the autobahn?"
