Global commons

Question 1

What is a global common?

Answer 1

Areas that aren’t owned by any one country or organisation.

Question 2

What are the 4 global commons?

Answer 2

-Antarctica
-High seas
-Earths atmosphere
-Outer space

Question 3

How do NGOs govern the commons?

Answer 3

They protect the commons from exploitation as they offer unique habitats and are valuable for scientific investigation.

Question 4

What governs the global commons?

Answer 4

Different pieces of international law.

Question 5

What pressures do global commons have?

Answer 5

-Countries and organisation may try to exploit the commons
-Industrialisation and population growth has led to an increase in the demand for resources.
-New technology means it’s easier to get to commons making them more vulnerable.

Question 6

How do the pressures of the global commons cause problems for the planet as a whole?

Answer 6

-High seas is a victim of over fishing having knock on effects on other animals in the food chain.
-Atmospheric pollution causes climate change.
-Increased carbon dioxide causes acidification of the sea.

Question 7

What odd required to protect the global commons?

Answer 7

Global cooperation

Question 8

What is the example for global commons?

Answer 8

Antarctica

Question 9

How much of the earths ice does Antarctica contain?

Answer 9

90%

Question 10

Describe the weather in Antarctica?

Answer 10

Very cold with little sunshine

Question 11

How do the conditions in Antarctica affect it?

Answer 11

Lack of warmth and sunlight means that the eco system is very fragile and easily damaged.

Question 12

What is the Antarctic convergence?

Answer 12

The point at which Cole Antarctica water meets warm water in the north.

Question 13

What is the wildlife like at the Antarctic convergence?

Answer 13

Peeling off nutrient rich cold water attracts phytoplankton which provide food for krill forming the basis of the food chain.
Theresa abundant sea life and birds like penguins survive on the sea life.

Question 14

Why is the Antarctic marine ecosystem fragile?

Answer 14

If the population of one species decline it affects other species.

Question 15

How does climate change impact the Antarctic?

Answer 15

-3 degree temperature rise has caused ice shelves to melt and retreat changing the environment.
-Melting sea ice has caused rustic sea level rise of 3mm

Question 16

How has climate changed affected the wildlife of the Antarctic?

Answer 16

-Penguins need ice causing Adelie penguin populations to decline.
-Krill depend on the ice for their environment and have declined by 80%
-Many aquatic animals eat sea life do their population has declined too.

Question 17

How has climate change cause ocean acidification?

Answer 17

When carbon dioxide in the air reacts with saltwater it creates a carbonic acid that depletes calcium carbonate soo animals cannot form their shells.

Question 18

How has over fishing threatened species?

Answer 18

Antarctic krill are the most fished creatures and reduced populations have knock on effects that eat them.

Question 19

Why is over fishing difficult to monitor?

Answer 19

There are legal limits on fishing but a lot of illegal fishing takes place.

Question 20

Describe the overfishing in the Antarctic of whales?
Why will this take a long time to recover?

Answer 20

Common in the 20th century but has declined since due to regulations.
Whales are slow breeders so it will take a long time for populations to fully recover.

Question 21

How has search for minerals threatened Antarctica?

Answer 21

There are large reserves of oil underneath the southern ocean and underground deposits of coal and iron.
Mining is illegal but future demand may damage the environment.

Question 22

How is tourism a threat to the Antarctic?

Answer 22

-Increases shipping and air travel to Antarctica cause water and air pollution.
-Tourists can disturb breeding colonies of birds and trampling damages fragile vegetation.

Question 23

How is Antarctica threatened by research facilities?

Answer 23

Research bases to live while conducting environmental research has created a lot of waste that has been burned or dumped in the sea.

Question 24

What law protects the Antarctic?

Answer 24

Antarctic treaty

Question 25

How many countries have signed the Antarctic treaty?

Answer 25

53

Question 26

What are 3 rules in the Antarctic treaty?

Answer 26

-Antarctic should only be used for peaceful reasons
-Countries should cooperate on research
-Antarctic will remain a global common

Question 27

What does the Antarctic treaty ban?

Answer 27

-Mining
-Unsustainable waste disposal
-Protects animals and plants

Question 28

What is the system to ensure countries abide by the rules?

Answer 28

No system if there are disputes then they are encouraged to negotiate.

Question 29

What institutions govern Antarctica?

Answer 29

-International whaling commission
-United national environment programme

Question 30

How do the IWC govern Antarctica?

Answer 30

-Responsible for regulating whaling and ensuring whale populations are at a sustainable level.
-They set up a whale sanctuary
They have been criticised for not properly monitoring the number of whales. As Japan still kill large numbers of whales for scientific research despite the ruling.

Question 31

How do UNEP govern Antarctica?

Answer 31

Responsible for reporting unsafe environmental practices in Antarctica to the UN.
-aim to stop illegal fishing to protect the Antarctic ecosystem.

Question 32

What role do NGOs have in Antarctica?

Answer 32

Monitor possible threats and protect the environment. As they aren’t a representative of a specific country they observe whether other countries are sticking to the laws.

Question 33

What is the main NGO involved in Antarctica?

Answer 33

Antarctic and Southern ocean coalition (ASOC)

Question 34

What do ASOC do in Antarctica?

Answer 34

-Protect the environment by highlighting countries that are exploiting it.
-Monitors the effects of climate change.