That philosophy will always veer liberal in the long run. People like myself can put a mostly private value on clean air. I say mostly because I benefit from 100,000 or so acres of national forest next to me. But I pay for it in spades with a 75 mile commute. Companies can move out there and hire me, offer me telecommuting options, or whatever else, but if they don't pay even 1/2 of what I'm getting now, I'm not going to consider switching. That's why economic growth is important, it gives me opportunities to save energy.
The other proof is that you in Europe and we in America have stopped our runup in energy usage and now it's the third world's turn to do so. If allowed to prosper they will be able to create the same efficiencies.
You didn't write anything with which I disagree.
However, there simply are not enough resources on the planet for 1-2 billion more people to run up their energy and then find efficienies later. If you don't want to talk about climate chage than how about fresh water, trees, and fish.
The reality is that there is a net loss of forests, the majority of our fisheries are at capacity or in decline, etc. etc.
I am not a "sky is falling" moonbat. I consistently advocate market/technology based solutions. But the scale of the problem and size of the investment needed, combined with pricing in of previously externatilized costs requires policy. Smart policy.
Can you explain how that is "liberal thinking"?