Global commons and Antartica case study Flashcards
Concept of the global commons
The global commons refers to areas that lie otuside the polticial reach and national jurastictions of any one nation state, they are shared resouces and domains.
International law recognises the 4 global commons as the high seas, the atmosphere, antartica and outer space.
Tragedy of the commons
People act in their own interests and these resources become over exploited, if individuals act independantly and accoding to their self interest then these resources will become depleted.
Location and geography of Antarctica
- Most of antartica is located in the antarctic ciricle, with exeception of some parts of the east antarctic coastline.
- Much of the continents coastline is fringed by ice shelves. The largest ice shelf is called the Ross ice shelf in the ross sea and the Rhone ice shelf in the Weddel sea.
- 97% of its Mountainous and rocky terrain is covered by glacial ice.
- The contient can be unevenly divided into east antartica and west antarctica by the transantarctic mountains.
- Highest continent above sea level, thick ice sheet and high mountains.
Climate of antarctica
- Average temperture is -49 degrees, can reach lows of -89 degrees.
- Very low precipitation, less than 50mm per year.
- Polar desert.
Threats to antartica
- Climate change
- Fishing and whaling
- Search for mineral resources
- Tourism and scientific research
Threats to antartica -Climate change
- In the past five decades areas along the west coast of Antarctica have warmed by as much as 3 degrees , one of the fastest temperature rises on earth.
- Warming has caused ice shelves to melt around the Weddell Sea and Ross Sea, as they retreat the enviroment dramatically changes.
- Species of penguin have adapted to the sea ice, Adelie penquin population has declined as sea ice melts.
- Antarctica Krill depend on the enviroment sea ice provides, the population has declined by 80% since the 1970s as the sea ice has melted, Krill remain the main food source for penguins, whales and seals so the decline in the number of krill is leading to declines in the populations of these animals as well.
- Melting sea ice has impacted global sea levels, which have risen around 3mm a year since the 1990s.
- Climate change also causes ocean acidifcation around the continent, when carbon dioxide in the air reacts with saltwater it creates carbonic acid, which depletes the amount of calcium carbonate in the water.
Threats to antartica - Fishing and whaling
- Whaling for blue whales.
- Whaling population in the sourthern ocean is now only 1% of its size before
- Krill underpin the entire food chain of the southern ocean, whales, seals and birds are dependant on krill.
- 100,000 tonnes of krill are caught in antartica each year.
- Illegeal, unregulated and unreported fishing also threatens fish stocks in some areas of the southern ocean and the nearby seabirds and marine mammals that depend on them.
- Patagonian fish is being fish unsustainably making it vulnerable to extinction, Antarctic krill are the most fished creature, in 2013 over 200,000 tonnes of Krill is vulnerable to extinctoon.
Threats to antartica - Search for mineral resources
- Commercial mining in antarctica is completely banned by the Antarctic treaty.
- Future demand for resources will eventually put pressure on the vast reserves that are available.
- Not currently economically viable
- Large amounts of coal and iron ore depositis in the Transantarctica mountains, oil under the southern ocean.
- Mining WOULD damage the enviroment.
Threats to antartica - Tourism and scientific research
- Camping trips for naturalists, photographers and jounalists.
- Over flights and ship board visits.
- Antartica ecosystem is very fragile and disturbances can leave their inprint for a long time.
- Summer toursist season coincides with peak wildife breeding season.
- Demand for fresh water is difficult to meet.
- with the accompanying pollutants that accompany ships and aircraft, the possibility of oil spills and the effects of lots of people and infrastructure on wildlife and the wider environment.
- Until the 1980s waste from scientific centers were either burned, thrown in the sea or dumped.
Threats to antartica - Evasive species
-Organisms that are not native to Antarctica are being taken there in various ways, on ships, or attached as seeds to boots and clothing, some of these are now able to survive there as a consequence of climate change.
- Rats in particular are a potential threat to Antarctica’s many species of ground nesting birds on sub-Antarctic islands which are particularly vulnerable as there are no native ground based predators for them to have any experience in defending themselves against.
Ocean acidification
Co2 enters the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels and other emissions, this creates carbonic acid which makes the slightly alkaline ocean become a little less alkaline.
Loss of organisms such as krill disrupts the food chain.
ATS
- Antarctic treaty system
- Solution for international governance of antarctica
The Antarctic treaty 1959
The issue over who owned the common was resolved in December 1959 when 12 countries inluding Japan, France, US and the UK signed.
- Applies to all areas south of the 60 degree south latitude.
- Antartica should be used peacefullly, prohibits military activities.
- Garuntees freedom to conduct sicentific reaserch.
- Prevents the disposal of radioactive waste.
- Provides inspection on ships and stations so they comply.
The protocol on enviromental protection to the Antartic treaty (Madrid protocol) 1991
- Negotiated by the UN and treaty members at the antartica treaty conference in 1991.
- Devotes antartica as a natural reserve that is ‘devoted to peace and science’
- Prohibits mining or any mineral resource exploration including the exploration of the continetnal shelf.
- Established a committe of enviromental protection and elaborates on rules relating to liabilitty for any enviromental damage.
- Waste is returned to the country of origin.
International Whaling commision 1946
- Governs the conduct of whaling around the world.
- Complete protection of a number of whale species
- Designated specific areas as whale sanctuaries, the southern ocean whale sanctuary.
- Prescribed seasons for whaling and established limits on the number and sizes.
