IN my last column, I drew attention to the important role that science has in government and in political decision-making.

Today I shall consider how science applies, more specifically, in environmental issues.

Our understanding of the impact of human behaviour on the environment is based on science. Scientific findings tell us about soil degradation and biodiversity loss.

They tell us about the effects of our lifestyles on mineral and water resources.

They tell us about the damage caused by man-made substances and waste when they they are released into the soil, atmosphere, groundwater, rivers and oceans. 

We know all this. Most of the scientific observations and ideas about environmental damage have been around for many years. We can then ask ourselves if it matters.

Are we are content for this damage to continue? Or do we think we should change the way we do things?

This is nothing to do with environmental science, but some of the answers can be sought through another branch of science: the science of human nature.

That is why I gave my book on the environment the title ‘The Earth and Us’.

It’s not enough to know about the environment. If we think it is important to look after the environment better, we should try to understand why humans think and behave as we do and what it is that makes us want to change.

What makes us want to damage our environment? What makes us want to look after it? What makes us care about the generations who will come after us? What makes us think they don’t matter? What might make us decide to change our ways?

We are a long way from understanding the answers to these questions, but we know enough to encourage us that change is possible.