Neuroscience, evolutionary psychology (in various forms), cognitive science, and various behavioral disciplines seem to be converging on a view of human nature that may help explain why our species has come to this place where our impact on the global environment is creating these challenges.

In this topic we can look for those aspects of human nature that are implicated in damaging the environment (e.g. profligate consumption and wasteful behaviors that cause the loss of energy reserves while emitting CO₂). We need to look for positive cognitive capacities that will allow people to understand the consequences of their choices if we are going to succeed in meeting these physical challenges.