The Three Waves of Environmentalism

The First Wave: Conservation

Starting in the 19th century, environmentalists worked to identify, protect and extend those
parts of our land that needed to be kept intact for future generations and for our current
civic health. They worked mainly with governments, and via NGOs such as the Nature
Conservancy, to establish the parks, refuges and preserves we treasure today. Over time the
vision of this first wave has expanded from saving single sites in isolation to protecting entire
functioning ecosystems – a goal which remains a significant challenge.

The first generation of environmentalists has called themselves “conservationists.” The goal
has been KEEP WHAT WE HAVE.

The Second Wave: Environmental Activism

Starting mainly in the 20th century, many environmentalists became political activists,
publicly identifying the ever-more-obvious sources of environmental degradation and
working with both governments and the private sector to minimize and curb the damage.
Their work has produced regulatory authorities such as the Environmental Protection

Agency and legislation such as the Endangered Species Act and the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Through lawsuits and direct action they have also
helped to stop or reverse specific activities damaging key environmental assets. Their work
did not supplant the need for conservation, but has very helpfully supplemented it.
The second generation of environmentalists has called themselves “environ-mental
activists.” The goal has been STOP THE DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION.

The Third Wave: Restoration and Co-Creation

The 21st century is witness to a rising third wave of environmentalists: people who realize
that we need both to repair and remediate damage begun in the past and also to help build
sustainable systems and communities for the future. Their most salient driving issue is
global warming – a looming environmental catastrophe to which we all have contributed to
some degree.

This third wave is broad in its scope, ranging from urgent global and national
action to a focus on more localized environmental threats, opportunities and actions.
This third wave understands that companies and governments still bear major responsibility
for allowing environmental damage to continue, but also that we collectively need to mend our
ways and contribute to personal and political solutions to environmental challenges. “We
have met the enemy and he is us.”

The main focus of work that supplements but doesn’t replace second-wave environmental
activism is local action to create and build positive solutions, not just to curb the damage.
These solutions must be crafted within a sustainable model and oriented primarily towards
enduring community benefits rather than transient private profit. Improved and efficient
infrastructure and more compact and more community-oriented development have been
explicit working goals of this third wave.

The third generation of environmentalists might now call themselves “environ-mental co-
creators.” The goal we have recently defined is FIX WHAT WE BROKE AND BUILD
SUSTAINABLY.