Long-term high impact decisions (SLOTH)

When people make decisions, they are often focussed on short-term benefits and neglect long- term consequences. The present seems more relevant and valuable than the future. With a short- term time horizon, chocolate, junk food, trash TV and social media win out over healthy diets, classic films and reading books; the good intentions remain in the future. The logic of many everyday decisions seems to be: Pleasant things now, efforts later. When it comes to complex challenges such as human-made climate change, such an approach to decision-making is not helpful. Future climate change impacts are difficult to grasp, feel distant and therefore have little influence on (consumer) behaviour. However, measures must be taken in the present to avoid catastrophic consequences in the future. The logic in this case is: Efforts now, benefits later and this contradicts the human tendency towards short time horizons. In certain situations, however, people are capable to think and act with long-term time horizons in mind. One example are private forest owners: the decision to plant trees has little immediate benefit. Only future generations will see how these trees grow to their full size (and become ready for harvesting). The aim of this research project is to gain a better understanding of how decisions with a long time horizon are made and which factors influence such decisions. The research deals with different groups. In addition to the private forest owners already mentioned, home builders also offer an interesting case study. Both groups are confronted with long-term decisions, but also with new challenges in terms of climate change. For example, wood-based alternatives can replace fossil-based materials, while forests are increasingly threatened by climate-related disturbances; builders are challenged to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and use low-emission materials, while keeping an eye on an increased number of extreme weather events. The focus of the project is on decision-making situations with a long time horizon, focussing on decision-making situations with strong potential for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The results should provide information on how long-term thinking can be better integrated into human decision-making behaviour. The project is a co-operation between research institutions in Austria and Slovenia. Ana Slavec leads the research team at Innorenew CoE (SLO); Thomas Brudermann leads the research team at the University of Graz (AT).