Understanding environmental issues with temporal lenses: Issues of temporality and individual differences

Abstract

It has now been recognised that environmental issues entail both a social conflict (private vs. public interests) and a temporal conflict (short-vs. long-term interests). Supporting this view, several studies have shown that greater future time perspective is associated with higher pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. A recent meta-analytical summary of 19 independent samples (comprising more than 6,000 participants from seven countries) published by our research group has shown a medium effect size on the influence between future time perspective and environmental engagement. This chapter will first provide a theoretical summary of the links between time perspective (and in particular future time perspective) and environmental issues. This chapter will then review studies examining associations between future time perspective and environmental engagement at the individual and societal level. Implications and future directions for research in the area will also be discussed.