Why do people knowingly dispose of waste haphazardly even while being well aware about the proper disposal sites? One major reason is the psychological tendency called the future discounting or temporal discounting, that leads to prioritization of short-term comfort over long-term sustainability. The improper waste disposal habit, climate apathy and environmental policy resistance are some actions resulting from this bias.

Future discounting is a psychological bias which makes people favor quick, short-term rewards instead of waiting for long-term benefits. This inclination is deeply embedded in human psychology and plays a significant role in our decision-making process. This instinct is rooted in the survival instincts of our ancestors, when food and resources were scarce and survival was a gamble (uncertain), people then instinctively opted for immediate rewards to navigate an uncertain environment. The reasons behind our inclination towards this bias can be explained from the  unpredictability of human life and the reward system in our brain that drives us toward instant gratification. 

In the modern world, however, it undermines sustainable thinking as survival is no longer at stake. The abundance of  resources and certainty in survival, allows this bias to work against us. Our brains still lean toward short-term gratification, even when it negatively impacts our future. This can also be seen in the environmental behaviour of a person where he/she chooses short-term and immediate reward over long-term sustainable benefits.

Environmental Consequences of Future Discounting

If we consider waste disposal, the ease of tossing the waste outweighs the  cost of invisible pollution. The convenience of an easier task with immediate results is way more appealing than thinking about the future pollution costs. Eventually, this leads to blocked drains, dirty rivers, and health issues for the public.

Similarly, if we consider farming decisionse, it is easier to go for intensive mono-cropping with chemical fertilizers for quick gains rather than sticking with traditional crop rotation that keeps the soil healthy for future harvests. The lure of immediate profit is strong, especially when loans and market demands in farming push for fast returns and high yields. But eventually, in future, the soil suffers and yields drop. Such short-sightedness ignores the future environmental factors like decreasing in arability of land , public health risks, and overall soil degradation. 

In addition, deforestation for timber or urban development offers fast profits and delayed future implications like loss of biodiversity, climate change, soil erosion and landslides, allowing the negative effects to be often overlooked.

Rewiring Our Environmental Behavior
Although future discounting is wired into our system, the answer lies not in trying to eliminate this bias but in learning to work around it. This can be done by behavioral nudges through taxes, rewards and penalties to overcome the short-term implications and  incentivizing sustainable thinking. Additionally, we can use social influence to provide public acknowledgment for eco-friendly actions, along with promotion of moral and environmental education that fosters emotional and ethical connection to long-term thinking.

Japan’s approach to cleanliness and civic discipline is well known around the world. The streets are tidy not due to ample availability of trash bins, in fact, availability of public bins are quite rare. Instead, people handle their trash and feel accountable for their own waste. After public events or school picnics, it is a normal culture for folks, especially kids, to clean up not just after themselves but also after others. Even in schools, students take charge of cleaning their classrooms and shared spaces. 

Japan has addressed the bias and encouraged strong environmental habits through several important factors like: 

1. Early environmental education: From a young age, kids learn to tidy up their classrooms and look after their surroundings as collective responsibility through daily routines. This instills a mindset of long-term responsibility and ownership of their surroundings. 
2. Group identity and social pressures: The Japanese are very mindful about not causing inconvenience to others, which acts as a deterrent force and helps to prevent careless actions.
3. Future-oriented thinking: Japanese culture highly values legacy, respect for ancestors, continuity between generations, and  long-term decision making. 
4. Compliance to law: Japan has strict and well-enforced laws which are reinforced by social responsibility. There are strict provisions regarding waste management, recycling, and public cleanliness. Illegal dumping can lead to hefty fines and even imprisonment. Garbage disposal is meticulously sorted and heavily regulated. 

The thing that sets Japanese culture apart is that the laws there are not just enforced from the top down approach but are embraced by a population that agrees to comply. Community groups frequently check local compliance, and neighbors keep each other in check. This creates a mix of formal regulations and informal enforcement through social pressure and community involvement. This Japanese culture shows that overcoming the tendency to prioritize immediate gratification doesn’t need extraordinary willpower but rather, proper systems, narratives, and frameworks to encourage long-term thinking.

Lessons for Nepal
Nepal faces similar problems, like littering, river pollution, chaotic urban growth, and deforestation while holding potential for transformation. These challenges arise from a combination of short-term thinking, weak enforcement, and insufficient environmental education. However, tight-knit communities, strong local traditions, and a youth population active in climate advocacy can be an asset to Nepal. If Nepal can merge its cultural values with enhanced environmental education, community-driven waste management, and stricter enforcement of environmental laws, it has the potential to create a society that prioritizes sustainability not just in theory but in its everyday practices.

In conclusion, real environmental change begins when we confront our internal biases. Environmental change is not initiated by technology or policy; it begins within our minds. Identification of our bias is the first step to rewiring them. Recognition of our internal biases allows us to reshape our thoughts, actions, and the way we nurture a mindset that sees long term well-being as a shared priority.