Final answer:
People treat the atmosphere as a common through the emission of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels and by polluting the air with contaminants from everyday activities like driving.
Step-by-step explanation:
People treat the atmosphere as a common in several ways. One significant way is through the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, from burning fossil fuels. These emissions contribute to global climate change and are akin to the “Tragedy of the Commons,” where individual benefits lead to adverse collective outcomes. Another way is treating the air as a dumping ground for pollutants from activities like driving cars, which leads to air pollution that affects public health and adds up to a long-term global problem. These examples illustrate a lack of immediate consequence for the individual, even though there are significant long-term effects for the environment and society as a whole.