6.3G Tragedy of the commons in action (HL) Notes

1. The Earth’s atmosphere is a global commons, shared by all nations and living organisms.
2. When one nation burns fossil fuels, it gains economic benefits, but the environmental costs such as pollution and climate impacts are shared by the entire planet.
3. When a nation invests in carbon capture, renewable energy or ecosystem restoration, that country pays the financial cost, but all nations benefit from reduced global emissions.
4. Climate change, therefore, represents a classic tragedy of the commons situation.
5. Without strong international cooperation, nations may continue acting in their short-term self-interest, accelerating global warming.

Why the Tragedy of the Commons Is Hard to Escape

1. Nations are motivated by national interests such as economic growth, employment and political stability, rather than collective atmospheric stability.
2. Short-term economic advantages from fossil fuels outweigh long-term environmental harm, creating incentives for continued exploitation.
3. The benefits of climate mitigation (e.g., carbon sequestration) are diffuse and global, while costs are local and immediate.
4. Countries may rely on the efforts of others while contributing little themselves, creating a free-rider problem.
5. Most governments respond to visible and near-term threats, but climate change delivers delayed and cumulative impacts, which weakens urgency.

International Cooperation as the Only Solution

1. Global cooperation must ensure equity, fairness, and shared responsibility (climate justice).
2. Treaties such as the Paris Agreement (2015) aim to overcome the tragedy by:
   1. Requiring NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions)
   2. Encouraging five-year review cycles to increase ambition
   3. Supporting financial and technological aid from high-income to low-income countries
3. Compliance depends on trust and transparency through international monitoring.