John Locke, Environmental Property, and Instream Water Rights

John Locke's views toward environmental property rights today would include some surprising nuggets of advice for his conservative followers. Water rights, for example, should be private property. There should be no takings without just compensation, and there should be a right to unbounded accumulation but only if waste does not occur. If waste occurs, the right should be reduced accordingly. For those without rights, money and commerce have allowed them to share in the social product created by the initial appropriators. If they want more environmental services, they should buy the rights from willing sellers. If private markets prove inadequate, the power of taxation and the public purse can be used - a majority of citizens or representatives willing - to buy additional rights from willing sellers.