Greenwashing & Tragedy of the Commons (HL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Greenwashing

• Greenwashing, sometimes referred to as 'green sheen', refers to the misleading practice where companies use marketing techniques to portray themselves as environmentally friendly or sustainable

  • This can be deceptive or dishonest because they often do it without implementing any meaningful changes or environmental improvements to their practices

  • For example, companies may engage in greenwashing by investing in advertising campaigns or branding initiatives that create the perception of environmental responsibility

    • This can include using eco-friendly imagery, slogans, or labels on products without backing up these claims with genuine sustainability efforts

• Greenwashing misleads consumers and undermines genuine efforts towards sustainability

• It diverts attention and resources away from real environmental solutions and allows unsustainable business practices to continue

Examples of Greenwashing

Tragedy of the Commons

• The tragedy of the commons is the term used to describe a situation where resources that are shared by everyone are exploited or depleted due to the absence of individual responsibility

  • When no one owns a resource, individuals may exploit it for their own gain, leading to its degradation or complete depletion, which ultimately has negative consequences for everyone

  • An example of the tragedy of the commons can be observed in international waters, where various fishing fleets compete for fish stocks without regulation or cooperation

    • As each fleet seeks to maximise its catch, fish populations decline, disrupting marine ecosystems and making fisheries increasingly unsustainable

Property rights and commons

• In situations where property rights are not clearly defined for common resources, such as communal grazing lands or shared water bodies, individuals may exploit these resources without regard for the long-term consequences

  • Without ownership or responsibility, the 'free rider' problem arises, where individuals benefit from the resource without contributing to its maintenance or preservation

Alternative approaches

• Ostrom's Shared Pastures in Switzerland:

  • Elinor Ostrom, a renowned scholar in economics, highlighted the effectiveness of local communities in managing common resources through collective agreements and rules

    • She did this through her research and publications in the latter half of the 20th century and early 21st century, winning the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2009

  • One notable example is the management of shared pastures in Switzerland by rural communities

    • In these shared pastures, local communities have established collectively agreed-upon rules to govern grazing practices and ensure sustainable use of the land

    • Grazing rights are allocated based on traditional practices and equal distribution among community members

    • Additionally, regular monitoring and enforcement of rules are implemented to prevent overgrazing and maintain the health of the pasture ecosystem

    • This approach demonstrates how communities can effectively manage common resources through cooperation and collective action without the need for centralised government intervention