The Tragedy of the Commons is a situation that occurs when a shared natural resource is being over-consumed by individuals who have unrestricted access to it, eventually resulting in the destruction of the source.

In relating this process to light pollution in Singapore, the shared natural resource is the dark sky. Business corporations use light to advance their own economic self-interests for instance, publicity, through the use of bright neon signboards, decorations or light shows. They perceive little consequence in releasing light into the environment since their impact seems very small and would hence engage in activities that pollute the sky with light.

 

 

There are no laws or disincentives enforced to restrict the emission of light into the environment. Moreover, even if the corporation does not emit light into the environment, other business corporations would still emit light indiscriminately. It would then become an economic loss to the sacrificing organisation without any gain to the whole.

Without any regulations imposed, business corporations lack the incentive to restrict emissions of light and this leads to serious light pollution.