Social Dilemmas in Environmental Problems

Definition and Impact

Social Dilemmas: Situations where people or groups choose self-interest over the public interest
- Leads to environmentally insensitive actions
- Rational self-interest often results in destructive behavior

Social Trap: When self-interested choices lead to gradual negative consequences
- Short-term gain, long-term loss for many
- E.g. Littering: convenient for the individual, costly for the environment in the long run
- E.g. Corporations polluting for profit: local communities bear the costs

Coined by biologist Garrett Hardin (late 1960s)
Commons: Shared resources (air, water, public lands)
Tragedy: Degradation of commons due to selfish behavior
- Others may not behave responsibly if they see selfish actions
Examples: Climate change actions hindered by fear of non-cooperation from other countries

Fear of "free riders" and feeling of helplessness hinder pro-environmental behavior
Shared belief that individual actions alone can't make a significant difference
Commons dilemma: Hard to motivate responsible behavior due to self-interested gains

Structural Solutions: Governed by rules and regulations
- Laws, permits, policies aimed to promote cooperative behavior
- Example actions: Limiting greenhouse gases, restricting logging, subsidizing green energy, enforcing waste disposal laws
Importance of Government: Crucial in implementing and enforcing regulations
- Encourage consideration of environmental policy in voting
- Support passage and enforcement of sustainability-promoting regulations

Difficulty in enacting and enforcing laws
- Government intrusion often resented
- Legal system prioritizes private property and individual rights
- Viewed as anti-business and bad for the economy
Enforcement requires resources (money, personnel, political will)

Motivation of individuals for sustainable actions
- Necessary for supporting structural solutions
- Encouraging personal pro-environmental behavior