The Lorax and the Tragedy of the Commons
Hi all!
In today’s blog, I will be explaining a concept that is discussed thoroughly in the worlds of environmental studies and economics: the Tragedy of the Commons. Although environmental studies and economics seem like they are different subjects, the subjects actually have a lot in common. We will need to use science and economics hand in hand in order to combat climate change.
The Tragedy of the Commons is a phenomenon that occurs when a resource is depleted because it is a public good. Since there is no party technically responsible for maintaing the good, it is overused and exploited to a dangerous degree. You probably already know a prime example of the Tragedy of the Commons. Have you ever heard of the classic story The Lorax by Dr. Seuss? If the answer is yes, then you have already been aquainted with the Tragedy of the Commons.
Despite its whimsical illustrations and bright colors, the Lorax describes a doomsday situation. The Once-ler arrives in the Truffula forest, a beautiful paradise of pastel Truffula Trees abounding with Bar-ba-loot Bears, ponds packed with Humming fish, and skies of Swomee-Swans. Once he realizes that Truffula tufts are a great material for his invention, the thneed, the Once-ler quickly cuts down all of the trees, depleting the resource and simultaneously destroying the homes of the animals. By the end of the story, the environment is uninhabitable both for the animals and the humans.
Although the Lorax does a good job of illustrating the Tragedy of the Commons, you can also observe this phenomenon by looking around your community. Overfishing, deforestation, and water scarcity are all examples of this concept.
In conclusion, the Tragedy of the Commons is most definitely a tragedy. Legal measures such as laws on fishing are often enacted in order to prevent this from occuring. It is important to be informed about the Tragedy of the Commons so that you can keep an eye out for it and advocate for the environment.
As the Lorax said, Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.
Thank you for reading!
