The Environment, Climate Change, and Tragedy of the Commons

Question 1

Ecological Footprint

Answer 1

the measure of human demand the corresponding supply of the Earth’s ecosystems. We engage in comparative analysis of human demand against Earth’s capacity to renew

Question 2

Equation for environmental credit and deficit

Answer 2

biocapacity – footprint = amount of credit or deficit

Question 3

Describe the Green Energy Conundrum

Answer 3

green energy has been about making more efficient technologies, but the conundrum arises because the increased efficiency is met with increased demand, which ultimately leads to a larger footprint rather than a smaller one that efficient technology is believed to bring

Question 4

4 Possible Problems in a Globalized World

Answer 4

1. Global Issues: Environmental issues that affect all equally. An example is ozone depletion which will affect all people
2. Exploitation of the Global Commons
3. Transnational problems
4. Over-exploitation and degradation: local problems that occur across many localities, such as deforestation and pollution

Question 5

What is the tragedy of the commons?

Answer 5

How rational people produce irrational collective practices. The tragedy of the commons is that each individual has incentive to increase use of the common resource until benefit is maximized, but this leads to the resource being depleted before it can replenish, ultimately becomes unavailable to anyone

Question 6

What is over saturation?

Answer 6

Too much can be taken from the commons, but at the same, too much can be put into the commons – over saturating it with a resource, like the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone with pollutants from the Mississippi River. Another example is micro-plastics.

Question 7

What are the 4 possible responses to microplastics?

Answer 7

1. Unilateral Action
1 actor discontinues the practice
2. Exploit and Move
Maximize usage and move to another area
3. Privatization
Change property rights to improve resource management 
4. Governance
Establish systems of norms, riles, regulations, and/or taxes to manage, sustain, and conserve