Skip to main content

Self-interest not the only reason people will protect the environment, researchers find

Share
TORONTO -

Selfishness is a major stumbling block when it comes to convincing people to take action to fight climate change.

If they don't think the danger will affect them, the thinking goes, why should they lift one finger to help?

However, when researchers asked landowners in Montana why they were securing their garbage against bear intrusions, they found that protecting personal property was not the most frequent response.

CTV News Science and Technology Specialist Dan Riskin explains what was motivating the landowners, and what that can teach us about collective action, in this week's Riskin Report.

Sign up here to receive The Climate Barometer, delivering climate and environmental news to your inbox every week

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Local Spotlight

'It was surreal': Ontario mother gives birth to son on day of solar eclipse

For many, Monday's total solar eclipse will become a distant memory or collection of photos to scroll through in the years to come. But for Alannah Duarte and her family, they'll be reminded of the rare celestial event every year they celebrate their youngest son's birthday, as he was born on the day of the momentous occasion.