Global Commons And Antarctica

Question 1

What is a global common?

Answer 1

Areas that aren’t owned by any one country, belong to everyone

• Antarctica
• high seas
• atmosphere
• outer space

Question 2

describe ‘‘tragedy of the commons’

Answer 2

where countries or organisations think they can exploit global commons without dealing with the consequences (as costs are shared)

Question 3

3 causes of increased pressure on global commons

Answer 3

industrialisation and development
- increasing demand for resources (that can be extracted from global commons)

increased waste (due to development)
- polluting commons, atmospheric or oil spills

new technology
- easier access to commons eg Antarctica or high seas
- more vulnerable to exploitation

Question 4

impacts of exploitation of commons

Answer 4

over fishing - taking more fish tan sustainable
- knock on effect in food chain
- unsustainable, less resources in future

atmospheric pollution
- contributes to climate change

acidification of seas (CO2 in atmosphere)
- effects marine organisms

Question 5

describe climate of Antarctica

Answer 5

• cold, dry and windy
• average -49c
• most precipitation falls as snow

Question 6

what is wildlife like in Antarctica?

Answer 6

low temperatures, little water, sun and soil = little plants and animals

• lichen and mosses
• insects
• rich variety of marine creatures
  fragile environment - effects to one population effect all

Question 7

4 threats to Antarctica

Answer 7

1. climate change
2. fishing and whaling
3. search for minerals
4. research and tourism

Question 8

outline climate change as a threat

Answer 8

• facing loss of ice - Antarctic Peninsula
• air temperatures +3c in last 50 years
• ice shelves melting - Ross Ice Shelf

decline in species
- Adelie penguins adapted to sea ice
- krill population declined by 80% since 70s
effects whole food chain

causes ocean acidification
- CO2 reacts with sea water, affects marine life

Paris climate agreement?

Question 9

outline fishing and whaling as a threat

Answer 9

fishing is main economic use of the seas
exploitation has led to overfishing (unsustainable)
whaling common in 20th century

krill is most fished, affects whole food chain
- 2013 - over 200,000 tonnes

however legal limits in place to keep it sustainable - still occurs, hard to monitor

IWC banned commercial whaling
- population slowly increasing
but Japan started again, hard to monitor and some do for scientific reasons

Question 10

outline search for minerals as a threat

Answer 10

eg coal, oil and gold

currently banned in Antarctic Treaty (reduces impact)
but may change in future due to increased pressure (and treaty runs out in 2048)

Question 11

outline tourism as a threat

Answer 11

advances in transport and technology made it more accessible
1980 - 2000
2020 - 75,000

attracted by landscapes and wildlife

• impacts on fragile ecosystem
• impacts on wildlife
• pollution from oil spills

however small scale and limited = more sustainable
Antarctic Treaty has rules:
- one ship landing
- limit of 100 tourists ashore at once
- waste removed

Question 12

outline research as a threat

Answer 12

• home to 50 research stations
• important research - has shown past climate conditions and cycles
• requires facilities
• produces waste

but
research monitored and managed by Antarctic Treaty - more sustainable

Question 13

significance of each threat

Answer 13

climate change
- damaging
- global impacts

fishing and whaling
- Japan recently whaling, hard to enforce
+ IWC and whaling moratorium

minerals
- increased pressure in future
+ mining banned in Antarctic Treaty (for now)

research and tourism
- damaging
+ regulated by rules in Antarctic Treaty, regulated by IAATO

Question 14

Who is involved in governance

Answer 14

International government organisations
- UN environmental programme
- IWC (+ whaling moratorium)
- Antarctic Treaty (+ Madrid protocol)

NGOs
- ASOC
- WWF
- IAATO

Question 15

what is the Antarctic Treaty?

Answer 15

international agreement
between 56 countries

• only used for peaceful reasons
• cooperate on scientific research

includes Madrid Protocol
- protects fragile environment
- bans mining

Question 16

evaluation of Antarctic Treaty (+ Madrid Protocol)

Answer 16

+ many countries involved - 56
+ been peaceful cooperation
+ successful in protecting environment

• slow and difficult decision making
• no system to check people following rules
• runs out in 2048 - pressure on minerals

Question 17

what is the Madrid Protocol?

Answer 17

part of the Antarctic Treaty
- bans mining
- protects fragile environment

Question 18

what is the International Whaling Commission?

Answer 18

responsible for regulating whaling and ensuring population at sustainable level
- whale sanctuary in Southern Ocean - 1994

includes
Whaling Moratorium
- banned all commercial whaling
- helped whale population to increase

Question 19

evaluation of IWC

Answer 19

+ helped increase whale population, sanctuary

• monitoring of population based on sightings - need to be properly registered
• some countries continue to whale eg Japan
• poorly enforced - hard to monitor

Question 20

role of NGOs in protecting Antarctica

Answer 20

• monitoring threats
• protecting environment

work alongside governments
- provide expertise
- campaign
- draw attention to anyone not following rules

eg WWF and ASOC

Question 21

what is the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition? (NGOs)

Answer 21

group of NGOs
- campaigned to make AT meetings more transparent, NGOs invited

• protects environment against mining and fishing
• monitors environmental changes, such as effects of climate change
• monitors other countries, call attention to any exploitation

Question 22

evaluation of role of NGOs

Answer 22

+ independent, don’t act on behalf of a country
good at observing countries sticking to rules, call international attention to those who aren’t

+ helpful in protecting environment, no interest in exploiting

• have little direct impact
  can’t make and enforce laws themselves

Question 23

what is the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators?

Answer 23

self regulation of the tourism industry
- ensures tourism conducted in environmentally friendly way

+ reduces impact on environment
- not all tour operators signed up

Question 24

How does the UN help govern Antarctica?

Answer 24

UN Environment Programme
- governs environment globally
- reports activity back to UN

• run by CCAMLR
• aims to stop illegal fishing
• conserve Antarctic ecosystem
  eg setting up protected areas

impact limited by countries protecting own interest
- 5 years to negotiate protected area round Ross sea

Question 25

how does governance of Antarctica affect the world?

Answer 25

1. monitoring melting ice
   - created efforts to combat climate change
   eg renewable energy, less cars
2. governance may slow short term economic growth in some countries
   - limits of fishing and whaling, limits profit
   but more resources long term
3. governance allows greater scientific research
   - people from anywhere can do research
4. allows safe tourism to Antarctica

Question 26

successes of governance in Antarctica

Answer 26

+ AT recognised as one of most successful international agreements

+ has been peaceful cooperation

+ helps protect Antarctica from many threats

+ helped advance scientific research in the area, sharing findings and pooling resources

Question 27

limitations of governance in Antarctica

Answer 27

• decision making in AT difficult - slow and can veto
• no legal penalties and hard to monitor and enforce rules, trust in countries