I argue that ethical reasoning alone isn’t sufficient to spur environmental responsibility, and instead propose an aesthetic approach grounded in everyday engagement with one’s environment. Building on two premises—(1) if people engage with environments, they care for them, and (2) the biosphere counts as one’s environment—I conclude that aesthetic engagement with the natural world fosters voluntary care for its integrity. Importantly, I introduce the concepts of engagement and exploitation, showing that genuine engagement generates intrinsic responsibility, while exploitation fosters indifference. And to bridge the scale gap between immediate surroundings and the biosphere, I suggest using familiar proxies (like a local park or backyard) that individuals can frequently perceive and emotionally connect with.