I think their attraction to environmental extremism is because they want to lower the standard of living for 95% of the people. They want to widen the gap between themselves and the commoners. If you are a super-rich progressive, going on vacation to Hawaii in one's private Lear Jet, it kind of spoils it if a mere peasant can buy a seat on an airliner and also go to Hawaii. It doesn't really help that the peasant saved for years for his vacation. In principle, it is offensive to the progressives that a peasant is able to go anywhere he wants. Only the ruling class should enjoy freedom of movement and any luxuries. So the progressives hit upon the idea of convincing people that if they live in poverty it will "save the earth."
In principle, it is offensive to the progressives that a peasant is able to go anywhere he wants
Your post is outstanding and sums up perfectly the core 'value' of the Liberals! It is highly offensive to them, at a deep personal level, that SO MANY 'people' (that means 'scum' in their language) HAVE so much. It is unseemly for the peasants to own homes, travel, have savings in the bank, etc. because it is evidence that the peasants don't 'know their place' vis a vis the 'chosen elite'.