It's not a knee jerk reaction at all. The simple fact is that the environmental movement is more about statism and putting private property into the hands of the government than it is about protecting the environment
Agreed. There's a great deal of truth in what you say.
HOWEVER, it has grown into that because conservatives didn't take the issue that is rightfully ours. WE should be the ones protecting the environment. Not through promoting excessive regulations and land grabs, but by promoting wise use and good stewardship.
It's a leftist issue because WE let them have it.