CASE STUDY - Global Commons (Antarctica) Flashcards
1
Q
Describe the location and climate of antarctica
A
The most southern place in the world
- contains the south pole
- coldest place on earth
- surrounded by the southern ocean
- considered a desert due to how dry it is
2
Q
Name the 4 major threats to Antarctica
A
- climate change
- fishing and whaling
- tourism
- mineral exploitation
3
Q
How has climate change posed a threat to Antarctica?
A
- warmer sea temperature have melted ice sheets, causing sea levels to rise
- increase in temperatures is also killing certain species
- the CO2 stored in the ice sheets is being released into the atmosphere, creating a positive feedback loop on increasing global temperatures
4
Q
How is fishing and whaling posing a threat to Antarctica?
A
- unsustainable fishing disrupts the food chain
- overfishing can lead to species becoming extinct
- whaling has caused whale populations to become endangered
5
Q
How is mineral exploitation posing a threat to Antarctica?
A
- oil spills cause large damage to the ecosystem
- extracting the oil destroys habitats
6
Q
How is tourism posing a threat to Antarctica?
A
- fossil fuel emissions as a result of ships and planes transporting people to and from Antarctica create air pollution
- ship crashes damage ice sheets
7
Q
Give 2 ways Antarctica is being governed
A
- the antarctic treaty
- the international whaling commission
8
Q
What has the IWC done to govern whaling?
A
- set quotas of whaling
- banned all whaling in the southern ocean (whaling moratorium)
9
Q
Give a criticism of the IWC
A
- countries can object to the IWC’s regulations
10
Q
What has the antarctic treaty done?
A
- banned nuclear activity
- can only be used for peaceful means
- researched is allowed but must be shared
11
Q
Give a criticism of the Antarctic treaty
A
- not mandatory, so although they have effective policies, if countries don’t follow it then it won’t work
