In Répliques 5 December 2009 (French radio programme), Philippe Raynaud, author of Trois Révolutions de la Liberté : Angleterre, Amérique, France, makes the following point :

The best way to reach a social compromise is to increase wealth. While, according to Machiavel, under the Roman Empire, this was done by conquering new land, in modern times, we are conquering Nature.

It raises the question whether it is possible to increase life quality while preserving Nature. It also suggests that reducing social tensions may be one key to stop the destruction of Nature.