Question 1

The Montreal Protocol of 1987 dealt with environmental problems that were basically national in scope.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Why do some view the tragedy of the commons as particularly useful for understanding global resource and environmental problems?

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons is a concept that is particularly useful for understanding global resource and environmental problems because it illustrates the challenges associated with the shared use and management of common resources. The term was popularized by ecologist Garrett Hardin in his 1968 essay, where he described a scenario in which multiple individuals, acting independently and rationally according to their own self-interest, ultimately deplete a shared limited resource, even when it is clear that it is not in anyone's long-term interest for this to happen.

Here are several reasons why the tragedy of the commons is a compelling framework for understanding global environmental issues:

1. **Shared Resources**: Many of the world's resources, such as the atmosphere, oceans, and forests, are shared by all nations. These resources are not owned by any one country, but their use and misuse can have global implications. The tragedy of the commons shows how individual actors (in this case, countries or corporations) may exploit these resources for their own benefit, leading to overuse and degradation.

2. **Externalities**: The concept highlights the problem of externalities, where the actions of individuals or groups have unintended consequences on others. For example, carbon emissions from one country contribute to global climate change that affects the entire planet. The costs of these actions are not borne by the perpetrators but by the global community.

3. **Lack of Regulation**: The tragedy of the commons often occurs in situations where there is no effective regulation or enforcement to manage the use of the common resource. In the context of global environmental issues, international laws and agreements can be difficult to negotiate and even harder to enforce, leading to overexploitation of resources.

4. **Short-term vs. Long-term Interests**: The framework underscores the conflict between short-term interests (immediate economic gains) and long-term sustainability. Actors may prioritize immediate benefits over the long-term health of the resource, leading to its eventual depletion or destruction.

5. **Collective Action Problem**: The tragedy of the commons is a classic example of a collective action problem, where individuals or nations find it difficult to cooperate, even when it is in their mutual interest to do so. This is particularly relevant in global environmental issues, where coordination and cooperation are essential for effective solutions.

6. **Incentive Structures**: The concept also points to the importance of incentive structures that encourage responsible use of common resources. Without proper incentives, individuals or entities may not have the motivation to conserve or protect shared resources.

7. **Interconnectedness of Global Systems**: Finally, the tragedy of the commons reflects the interconnectedness of global systems. Actions taken in one part of the world can have far-reaching effects, making it clear that global resource and environmental problems require a holistic and integrated approach.

In summary, the tragedy of the commons is a powerful metaphor for understanding the complex dynamics of global resource and environmental problems. It encapsulates the challenges of managing shared resources sustainably in a world where individual and collective interests often collide, and where the absence of effective governance mechanisms can lead to the overexploitation and degradation of vital ecosystems.

Question 3

According to the Club of Rome,

Accepted Answer

A)  technology will solve most of our resource problems.
B)  the supply of food is the world's most pressing concern.
C)  population growth must eventually be zero.
D)  there is no limit to the world's carrying capacity. C

Question 4

Garrett Hardin

Accepted Answer

A)  argued that the Club of Rome was too pessimistic.
B)  believed global warming is a myth.
C)  opposed the creation of the international food bank.
D)  claimed that Thomas Malthus was an enemy of the working class.

Question 5

Evidence indicates that wealthy people and societies have higher rates of population growth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The tragedy of the commons

Accepted Answer

A)  suggests the Club of Rome was wrong.
B)  illustrates why community resources might be overused.
C)  presents an argument against private property.
D)  assumes that individual and collective interests usually coincide.

Question 7

Thomas Malthus predicted that the growth in ___________________ would exceed the growth in _______________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Thomas Malthus predicted that the growth in...

Question 8

The Kyoto Protocol represents the first significant international attempt to deal with the problem of _______________________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Kyoto Protocol represents the first significant...

Question 9

The __________________ Treaty was/is an attempt to address the problem of emissions and global warming that the United States has failed to ratify.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The __________________ Treaty was/is an attempt to...

Question 10

Garrett Hardin rejected the idea that world is close to its carrying capacity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

______________________ refers to the maximum level of population the earth can support.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______________________ refers to the maximum level of...

Question 12

In what critical respects do the expectations/analysis of modernists differ from the neotraditionalists?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what critical respects do the expectations/analysis...

Question 13

Thomas Malthus

Accepted Answer

A)  thought global populations would level off at about 10 billion.
B)  criticized the World Food Bank.
C)  rejected the analysis of the Club of Rome.
D)  argued that food production would not keep pace with population growth.

Question 14

Neotraditionalists are generally skeptical that technology will solve problems of resource depletion and environmental degradation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The Club of Rome argued that the world had to achieve zero population growth at some point within 100 years of its report.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The buildup of greenhouse gases is generally considered a significant cause of _______________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The buildup of greenhouse gases is generally...

Question 17

Garrett Hardin and Thomas Malthus

Accepted Answer

A)  were members of the Club of Rome.
B)  opposed the Club of Rome's analysis.
C)  worried about overpopulation.
D)  predicted that the world would soon exhaust its oil supplies.

Question 18

Global population growth

Accepted Answer

A)  stopped in the 1950s.
B)  is greatest in the developed world.
C)  was not considered a problem by the Club of Rome.
D)  should level off this century according to the theory of demographic transition.

Question 19

The expectation that global population will level off by the end of the century is most closely associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  the tragedy of the commons.
B)  the Club of Rome.
C)  the theory of demographic transition.
D)  Garret Hardin.

Question 20

Compare and contrast the neotraditionalist and modernist views of global population growth, resources depletion, and environmental degradation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the neotraditionalist and modernist...

Exam 13: The Global Commons Index

The Montreal Protocol of 1987 dealt with environmental problems that were basically national in scope.

Why do some view the tragedy of the commons as particularly useful for understanding global resource and environmental problems?

According to the Club of Rome,

Garrett Hardin

Evidence indicates that wealthy people and societies have higher rates of population growth.

The tragedy of the commons

Thomas Malthus predicted that the growth in _ would exceed the growth in _____.

The Kyoto Protocol represents the first significant international attempt to deal with the problem of _______________________________.

The __________________ Treaty was/is an attempt to address the problem of emissions and global warming that the United States has failed to ratify.

Garrett Hardin rejected the idea that world is close to its carrying capacity.

______________________ refers to the maximum level of population the earth can support.

In what critical respects do the expectations/analysis of modernists differ from the neotraditionalists?

Thomas Malthus

Neotraditionalists are generally skeptical that technology will solve problems of resource depletion and environmental degradation.

The Club of Rome argued that the world had to achieve zero population growth at some point within 100 years of its report.

The buildup of greenhouse gases is generally considered a significant cause of _______________________.

Garrett Hardin and Thomas Malthus

Global population growth

The expectation that global population will level off by the end of the century is most closely associated with

Compare and contrast the neotraditionalist and modernist views of global population growth, resources depletion, and environmental degradation.