Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.

1.Introduce the topic by
playing a micro-lecture
(video)

Micro-lecture (video) (~11 min)

Play the micro-lecture “Tragedy of the Commons” to introduce the concept of tragedy of the commons.

The micro-lecture (video) “Tragedy of the Commons”, delivered by Dr. Jonathan Tomkin, from the Introduction to Sustainability course by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is available on Coursera.

Guide a brief discussion among students to cite other examples of the tragedy of the commons, and to identify the “commons” and the “tragedy” in each example.

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2. Conduct a classroom/laboratory activity

Classroom/Laboratory activity (~50 min)

Next, explore the topic in further detail through a classroom/laboratory activity  “Introducing the economic
concept of ‘tragedy of the commons’ using global warming”.

The classroom/laboratory activity “Introducing the economic concept of ‘tragedy of the commons’ using
global warming” by Laura Triplett, Gustavus Adolphus College, is available on SERC’s InTeGrate portal at here

In this activity, students will discuss case studies for different tragedy-of-the-commons problems. Then, they will examine Earth’s atmosphere as a commons and global warming as a tragedy, and will propose economic solutions to solve this tragedy.

• Download the Teaching Materials
• Conduct the activity described on the page

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3. Demonstrate the connection to climate change using this reading

Reading (~60 min)

Read  “Climate Change: The Ultimate Tragedy of the Commons” by Jouni Paavola in “Property in Land and Other Resources”, edited by Daniel H. Cole and Elinor Ostrom, Cambridge, MA: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, pp. 417-433.

The reading “Climate Change: The Ultimate Tragedy of the Commons”

This reading describes climate change as a tragedy of the commons problem (atmospheric sinks for greenhouse gases are the commons) and analyzes the current state of climate change governance. It also discusses polycentricity as a governance approach to address global climate change at various levels and scales, providing specific examples of the Cities for Climate Change program and the Cement Sustainability Initiative.

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4.Questions/Assignments

Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation

Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:

• Describe the concept of tragedy of the commons.
• Discuss climate change as a tragedy-of-the-commons problem. Identify the “commons” and the “tragedy”.
• Explain why “atmospheric sinks for greenhouse gases” can be considered as a “commons”.
• Discuss different types of governance solutions for climate change as a tragedy of the commons. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each type of solution.

Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:

1. Describe the concept of tragedy of the commons.
2.  Discuss climate change as a tragedy-of-the-commons problem. Identify the “commons” and the “tragedy”.
3. Explain why “atmospheric sinks for greenhouse gases” can be considered as a “commons”.
4.  Discuss different types of governance solutions for climate change as a tragedy of the commons. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each type of solution.