7.5 Global Commons Flashcards
What global commons are?
Global commons are parts of the Earth that are not owned or managed by any single country
What are the 4 global commons identified by international law?
Outer space
The atmosphere
The high seas (oceans)
Antarctica
What are the benefits and rights of a global common?
Benefits include climate regulation, economic value e.g. through tourism and fishing, and cultural and spiritual significance
No single country has an exclusive right to these resources, instead, they need to be managed through a cooperative approach to benefit everyone, now and in the future
Explain the concept of tragedy of commons
If individuals or countries act in their own self-interest without considering the needs of others, this could lead to the damage or depletion of a shared resource
This is known as the tragedy of the commons
Why are the risks to the global commons currently increasing?
Risks to the global commons are currently increasing due to population growth, increasing demand for resources and climate change
Outline an example of treaty for protections of high seas as a global common
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS) – adopted in 1982 and agreed by over 160 countries
In March 2023, a new High Seas Treaty was agreed which will help to achieve a goal to protect 30% of the sea by 2030
Explain the concept of a global commons
The global commons refers to the Earth’s shared resources (1), such as the deep oceans and atmosphere (1d).
The global commons include those areas that have no national governance but are used jointly by all people (1). The only land mass considered to be part of the global commons is Antarctica (1). The notion of the tragedy of the commons (1) as there is no single jurisdiction there is always the potential for overexploitation (1). If an individual country/group acts independently this will be contrary to the whole group and the shared resource becomes depleted (1d).
