Benji Backer

Benji Backer, founder of the American Conservation Coalition, dives deep into the intersection of politics and environment. He shares his experiences with political toxicity, including receiving death threats while advocating for bipartisan support of public lands. Backer emphasizes the importance of reconnecting people to nature for mental health and community well-being. He champions a new conservation corps and the idea that nature transcends political divides, urging a pragmatic approach to conservation that prioritizes actions over labels.

Benji Backer, a young conservationist and founder of the American Conservation Coalition, advocates for a Republican embrace of climate activism. He’s joined by Akshat Rathi, a senior climate reporter at Bloomberg, who explores how capitalism can drive climate solutions. They discuss the potential for bipartisan support in tackling environmental issues and the rich history of legislative cooperation. The duo also delves into capitalism's complex role in both causing and addressing climate change, urging collaboration between governments and businesses.

Activist Benji Backer discusses the economic benefits of merging conservative values and environmental sustainability. Topics include: aligning environmentalism with American economic interests, challenges of reducing emissions in rural America, incentivizing vegetable consumption, market-driven origins of the Toyota Prius, managing forests for healthy ecosystems, balancing conservation with population growth, challenges of achieving net-zero emissions in California, consequences of Greta's advocacy for solar and wind energy, and exploring global climate solutions.

Benji Backer, author of "The Conservative Environmentalist," discusses how conservatives and liberals can collaborate on environmental issues. He critiques current environmentalism, proposing market-driven and local solutions. Backer emphasizes the need to align ecological policies with personal economic benefits and calls for bipartisan cooperation to advance effective climate action. He highlights the importance of political dialogue and overcoming regulatory hurdles to support clean energy development. A fascinating exploration of unity in addressing our planet's challenges!

Benji Backer, Executive Chairman and Founder of the American Conservation Coalition, is a leading voice in youth environmentalism. He shares his early inspirations in political activism and the bullying that fueled his resilience. Benji candidly discusses experiencing burnout, the decision to step back as CEO, and his commitment to bipartisan environmental solutions. The conversation highlights the importance of building coalitions across political lines and the therapeutic power of nature in his journey toward effective advocacy.