Environmental Tragedy of the Commons
- David Zu
- Aug 11, 2021
- 2 min read
Why is it that so many companies destroy environments in order to gain profit? Why do people stock up on supplies and run stores empty during pandemics, while the most vulnerable get left behind? Why is it that, even in our local communities, many people would rather throw trash on the ground, rather than walk a few meters to a trash can?
The answer is the Tragedy of the Commons.
But what exactly is the Tragedy of the Commons? According to Earth.org,
Tragedy of the Commons is an economic problem where individuals have access to a shared resource and act in their own interest, at the expense of other individuals. This can result in overconsumption, underinvestment, and depletion of resources.
In other words, even though it seems great in the short term to act in one's self-interest, everyone being selfish ends up harming the shared resource, and everyone, in the long term. In our cleanup's case, the shared resource is clear: the environment.
So how can we fight against the Tragedy of the Commons? One method is to make it so people's actions are no longer in their self-interest. For example, making littering punishable by heavy fines makes citizens think twice about tossing their bottle on the grass. The short term convenience of doing so is outweighed by the more severe risk of paying hundreds of dollars.
A more radical idea would be stronger enforcement of the parks themselves. People often trust in authority more than the average sign or citizen telling them not to litter; having townspeople or officers patrolling parks once in a while sets a precedent that people will be watching you, if you litter.
Regardless of the solution, it's clear that the problem of Tragedy of the Commons touches all parts of our life, local or global, and not just for environmental issues.
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