How is the Tragedy of the Commons applicable in solving environmental problems in Canada and the United States today?

What will be an ideal response?


The text describes how many environmental problems intensify due to trade-offs between individual and social priorities. For instance, few people dispute the undesirability of air and water pollution, yet a factory owner may calculate a reduction of production costs if industrial wastes are dumped into nearby streams and lakes. Even though it may be illegal, the factory owner may rationalize the pollution since one factory causes little or no increase in overall pollution. Yet if everyone is willing to think this way and pollute for short-term benefits, then we wind up with polluted water and everyone suffers.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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All of the following are true about the discharge trading policy except

a. is sponsored by the EPA b. uses market forces to reduce water pollution c. allows polluters to pollute at higher levels than they have permits for under certain circumstances d. purchasing of unused polluting credits from permit holders who are polluting below their allowed levels e. polluters who pollute at higher levels than they have permits for are immediately closed down

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which of the following types of maps would have the largest numeric scale?

A) world B) continent C) state D) city E) country

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which of the following is a social factor that influences population distribution?

A) Climate B) Famine C) Hurricane Katrina D) Taxation E) Migration

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

A glacier undergoes ________ deformation in its upper part and ________ in its lower part

A) plastic, brittle B) plastic, plastic C) brittle, plastic D) brittle, brittle

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences