Exercise #3
February 27, 2022 By: TAORUI LIU
Article #1 – The ‘tragedy of the commons’ and why it is helping to scorch our planet
URL – https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tragedy-climate-column-don-pittis-1.6135872
This article discusses how the tragedy of the commons explains the global warming phenomenon. It is relevant because it applies the ‘tragedy of the commons’ theory to an environmental problem that is quite controversial both locally (in Canada) and elsewhere abroad. Urbanization has come with development activities that further make it hard to reduce global warming. The use of gasoline in vehicles produces tons of greenhouse gases in Canada, and because it is almost impossible to do without it, global temperatures are likely to keep rising. The tragedy of the commons explains how tragic the situation is because very few individuals would give up their convenience and luxuries for the sake of the greater good of the entire human race.[1] Unfortunately, the countries that produce the least greenhouse gases (such as those in Africa) are the worst hit by the effects of climate change.[2] So long as the environment remains the collective responsibility of all people or nations, individual people and nations will keep seeking to satisfy their selfish needs to the detriment of the global population.
Article #2 – Six Lessons from the History of Natural Climate Solutions
URL – https://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/articles/opinionsix-lessons-from-the-history-of-natural-climate-solutions/
This article describes six lessons in detail regarding how humans have innovated natural climate solutions throughout history. It is quite consistent with the reading Transformations of the Earth: Toward an Agroecological Perspective in History by Donald Worster. According to Worster, ecological lessons of the past can provide insightful solutions on how to mitigate current and future environmental challenges.[3] One of the lessons learned through history is that each acre of forest cover saved today translates to 50 fewer hectares of land that humans will have to plant in the future.[4] The lesson underscores the need to conserve forests, especially from encroachment, as urban areas continue to expand. It seems that if more authors keep writing such articles documenting the lessons learned from ecological history, it is possible to save the planet from the environmental predicament it is in currently.
[1]. Hardin, Garrett. 1968. “The tragedy of the commons.” Science 162 (3859): 1243-1248.
[2]. Pittis, Don. 2021. “The ‘tragedy of the commons’ and why it is helping to scorch our planet.” CBC. August 11. Accessed February 10, 2022.
[3]. Worster, Donald. 1990. “Transformations of the earth: toward an agroecological perspective in history.” The Journal of American History 76 (4): 1087-1106.
[4]. Zwick, Steve. 2022. “Six Lessons from the History of Natural Climate Solutions.” Ecosystem Marketplace. February 7. Accessed February 10, 2022.
It seems commendable that the tragedy of the commons explains the global warming phenomenon. But then, it is tragic that African countries that produce the least greenhouse gases suffer the most effects of the global warming. Again, it is more tragic that most people do not want to give up their convenience and luxuries to save the ecological system. It seems plausible that involving more and more women in the decision-making processes and policies in the government might help to address the issue of conservation of the environment better than what it is currently. In other words, women tend to have a greater affinity for the environment, support conservation measures more and are more concerned than men are about problems of inequality.(1) Guess it is high time we gave women the chance to tackle the problem of global warming, and probably they might devise more clean and renewable energy sources, and better recycling methods.
(1) Science Daily. “When more women make decisions, the environment wins.” Science News 21st March 2019, Retrieved 18th March 2022: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190321152838.htm
There is a principle in health science that states, make time for you health or you will be forced to make time for you illness. In essence we cannot ignore the consequences of our inaction and more times then not are forced into action by them. I am not sure exactly what this means for the future health of our environment. However, I do feel that to some degree even those who are unwilling to give up their luxuries for the betterment of others will eventually be forced to change their behaviours for the betterment of themselves.