The fear of self-destruction (or phrased as its complement, the drive for survival) is one of the most potent motivators that humans have. The argument could b

The fear of self-destruction (or phrased as its complement, the drive for survival) is one of the most potent motivators that humans have. The argument could be made that Martian humans would be supremely motivated to move the environmental parameters there toward a survivable state for lightly-outfitted humans. Contrast this with Earth, where space exploration is a four-order or fifth-order concern for most people, and long-term environmental issues are treated as abstract exercises in reducing economic externalities. This is because Earthlings have (mostly) had it easy. We're biologically evolved and culturally adapted to survive here, and thus don't have a strong intrinsic motivation (yet) to maintain the long-term health of the biosphere.