Ancient instincts block progress on today’s environmental crises

Our Stone Age brains still push us to make choices that worsen environmental problems, from overconsumption to resistance to change, hindering efforts to solve global crises.

Louise Fabiani writes for Undark.

In short:

Evolutionary psychology shows our modern behavior is deeply influenced by ancient survival instincts, making it hard to embrace needed lifestyle changes.
These biases, like holding onto affluence and overvaluing technology, create barriers to reducing environmental impact and adopting sustainable practices.
Addressing these cognitive obstacles is key to solving complex global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss.

Key quote:

“Human beings like their affluence, modest as it may be for the average person, and they absolutely love technology.”

— Louise Fabiani, Undark

Why this matters:

We tend to cling to ideas that tech will save us or that individual wealth is a personal right, not a drain on resources. Understanding our cognitive biases can help shift strategies, making sustainable changes more palatable and effective in the fight against climate change. Read more: What will it really take to avoid collapse?

undark.org

Ancient instincts block progress on today’s environmental crises

LA fire survivors got a rude surprise that could hit more Americans

Proposed surcharge on oil would help pay for responses to climate-related disasters in Alaska

High Seas Treaty takes effect, giving the open ocean real protection

New map reveals landscape beneath Antarctica in unprecedented detail

Homes that survived the 2025 L.A. fires are still contaminated

The state of science, one year on

Three things to watch in EPA’s endangerment repeal

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.