How we perceive the future influences the decisions we make today. A recent study published in npj Climate Action explores how longtermism—the ethical view that future generations should be valued as much as those living today—correlates with climate engagement. The findings suggest that individuals with a long-term perspective are more likely to take action to address climate change.

The Concept of Longtermism

Longtermism challenges the tendency to prioritize short-term gains over long-term well-being. This study examines whether endorsing longtermist values is linked to greater climate concern and pro-environmental behavior.

Key Findings

The study, which included thousands of participants, revealed:
🔹 25% of respondents strongly endorsed longtermist values, showing a higher sense of responsibility toward future generations.
🔹 These individuals were 2.25 times more likely to believe that climate change is human-caused and 4.5 times more likely to believe it is already affecting the world.
🔹 They also showed greater support for climate policies, engaged in more climate-related discussions, and were more likely to contribute financially to environmental causes.

Can Long-Term Thinking Be Strengthened?

To test whether a sense of intergenerational responsibility can be cultivated, the researchers implemented four psychological interventions:

📌 Thought Experiment: Participants imagined finding broken glass on a trail and considered whether they should remove it—not only for the next hiker but for all future visitors.
📌 Letter from the Future: Participants wrote a letter from the year 2500, reflecting on what actions today’s society should take to ensure a thriving future.
📌 Challenges & Solutions: Participants identified three major future challenges and brainstormed solutions that could be implemented today.
📌 Leadership Role: Participants took on the role of a leader in a committee dedicated to protecting future generations.

Each of these exercises successfully increased participants’ sense of responsibility toward future generations, reinforcing the idea that long-term thinking can be nurtured through targeted interventions.

Implications for Psychology and Climate Action

The findings highlight the crucial role of psychology in fostering sustainable behavior. By leveraging psychological insights, we can develop interventions that encourage long-term responsibility, ultimately promoting more proactive engagement with climate solutions.

This research suggests that shifting perspectives on time and moral responsibility may be a powerful tool for inspiring climate action. Integrating longtermist principles into education, policy discussions, and public communication strategies could help bridge the gap between short-term interests and long-term sustainability.

Conclusion

Understanding how psychological mechanisms shape climate attitudes is essential for developing effective interventions. If a stronger sense of responsibility for future generations leads to greater climate engagement, then fostering long-term thinking could be a key strategy in addressing the global climate crisis.

How can these insights be applied in practice? Future research should explore how longtermism can be integrated into educational curricula, policymaking, and public discourse to enhance collective action for a sustainable future.

Syropoulos, S., Law, K.F. & Young, L. The case for longtermism: concern for the far future as a catalyst for pro-climate action. npj Clim. Action 3, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-024-00110-8