Being an environmentalist isn’t always an easy path to walk. Overall most of our views are shared by a majority of the world population, so why are we struggling every day to make the changes needed to safeguard our environment?

The psychology behind why people behave in an way, knowing it’s not going to solve their issue, is complex. They say that the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.

I read an article the other day covering this topic and it was one of the most interesting pieces I’ve read in a very long time. When people are given an option that benefits them only, they will in many cases take it. Some will have other people’s survival on their mind and be moderate and make sure that the option is sustainable. Others will even sacrifice their opportunity to take more than they should or take just about what they are allowed to. They do this due to being very well aware that there are the ones taking more than the fais share, out of ignorance or greed. When people stop being aware of the impact they have on the commons’ and they turn a blind eye towards the fact that we don’t have a never ending supply, it becomes chaotic.

Humans at times take for granted that others would choose less, and therefore think they have the opportunity to choose more and get away with it. The big issue is when we have several people in a society wanting their equal bigger part of the limited resource.

Short-term self interest always harms the commons’, it’s not sustainable and the bubble always burst sooner or later. The person being selfish to start with will actually be harmed at the end of it as well, but is blind to this fact when making the choice with benefit only in mind. There is no winner when confronted with issues and choosing the shortcut that benefit one person only.  

Take balloon releases for example, yes they might be fun for the selected few. However, do these selected few ever consider the damage their short-term entertainment has on the ecosystem which they themselves depend on at the end of the day?

The concept of “mhux xorta” or “what does it matter, it’s only a balloon” is a perfect example of the tragedy of the commons’. It poisons our whole society, inside and out.

Humans aren’t hopeless though, thank God for that. We have developed the capacity to form social agreements. We create laws to save our collective selves from our individual impulses and the laws are implemented by the ones we vote for. The issue is that the ones in charge are like us, an equal share of opportunists. Some will see only the short-term individual benefit, rather than going for the solution that will be better for the whole society.

So the question is, is it human nature to be greedy and selfish? Most certainly there are more good people out there than bad ones, I strongly believe this. The big problem is that if one person waste a resource and gain benefit from it and get away with it, why shouldn’t the one next to him do the same?

When I do talks to students, they always ask me “But how do we know if we live sustainably?”. My answer is always the same. Whatever you do in life, you need to always take a step back and ask yourself one question.

If all people on earth did what I am about to do, would the resources last for me only or would the others be able to equally benefit from it?

This basic question could save so many issues in our society. When we take the car 200 metres to a minimarket instead of walking, what if everyone did the same? When we throw one small cigarette butt on the ground, how would it look if all 432,000 citizens in Malta did the same? If all of us kept the tap running while brushing our teeth twice per day, how long would our water reservoirs last?

If we keep on removing “just a tree” everyday, how long will it be until we chop the last one?

In general, it is in the users of a commons interests to keep the common running, and the solution is said to start with the commons and not with the ones in charge of a country. We just need to educate people on this subject and make them understand the full picture and importance of it.

Empowerment of a population, and the change starts with you making the right choice. What’s good for all of us, is good for each of us.