To Pollute or Not to Pollute: A Common Pool Dilemma Game

In this activity, participants examine the thought processes they use to make decisions about the environment. They will be introduced to common pool resources or resources which are difficult to exclude people from using (like the lake in this game). Participants will also learn about free riders- people or groups that consume more than their fair share of a resource or shoulder less than their fair share of the costs of the shared resource.

Background Information
Teacher Instructions

Materials

Pollution Sheets
Fake Money Sheets
Scorecard
Rounds 1 and 2 Handout
Rounds 3 and 4 Handout
Rounds 5 and 6 Handout
Green Card
Yellow Card
Red Card

This game was presented by CRED at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory Open House on October 4th, 2008.