"It appears that certain people derive existentially important feelings of self-esteem from pro-environmental behaviour and thus respond to concerns about mortality with increased concern for the well-being of the natural world," the researchers said. "These self-esteem investments can thus transform the protection of the natural world into an existentially relevant behaviour which can similarly function to mitigate concerns with our vulnerability to death."

the pic:"The Nature of Time" - mars 1
The mysteriousness of the universe
http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/D5F947F1-6DCF-4610-B985-67D72978488D/

In general terms there are some people whose sense of self is related to a core value and set of beliefs which posit them as begetters of the future as were those behind us in history with similar values. Such a central meaning shapes morality, identity and hence, of course, self esteem: esteem is about value and a value which places others, those yet to be born, as primary reduces fear of death by making it irrelevant to self identity.