How does the perception of human nature affect climate action? A cross-cultural study of present bias and pro-environmental behaviour

Urgent global action is essential to combat climate change and safeguard humanity and our ecosystems. However, there’s a significant disparity between the necessary support and the steps taken. Climate action, in some ways, involves the struggle between different motivations. It requires sacrificing our present comfort and convenience for future gains. This is often seen as a manifestation of present bias or temporal discounting, a cognitive tendency to favour immediate rewards over delayed ones. Some researchers and journalists have argued that present bias is a natural and universal trait of human psychology, which makes climate change appear inevitable and climate action futile. However, this view neglects that humans can overcome their biases, for instance, through mental time travel, educational investments, or creating supportive institutions.

This research merges economics and psychology by exploring the intersection of present bias, individual beliefs, and global climate action. Using two online surveys in India and the US, it aims to test how the perception of human nature as either present biased or not affects people’s willingness to engage in pro-environmental behaviour and examine the cross-cultural differences and similarities in this phenomenon. The findings can inform policymakers on communicating the urgency of climate change and creating a more positive and proactive attitude towards climate change.