Global Commons/Antarctica

Question 1

Define global commons

Answer 1

-Earths shared resources such as deep oceans, outer space,/supranational online space, atmosphere and Antarctica (only land mass).
-No national governance so used jointly by nations.
-Due to no single jurisdictions, tragedy of commons/over exploitation of resources.
-All have the right to benefit from these and it’s in the best long term interest of all to ensure we use these sustainability - damage them and we all bear the consequences.

Question 2

Where is Antarctica

Answer 2

Southern hemisphere, South Pole, surrounded by southern ocean. A continent. Vulnerable to environmental/political change.

Question 3

Describe 4 physical features

Answer 3

-90% of all ice on earth
-Little sunshine for portions of year and largest desert system.
-Upwelling of nutrient rich cold water where it meets with other oceans = krill.
-Mosses and lichens are main specially adapted plants. Fragile marine ecosystems, heavily dependent on other species survival.

Question 4

Give 3 climate change potential impacts (can talk about acidification and ice shelves too)

Answer 4

-4km ice sheets thick grave threat from climate change. But, interior has become thicker.
-Temp in Antarctic peninsula has risen up to 3 degrees Celsius over past 50 years - more extreme than rest of world in a small area. More ice bergs means shipping threat
-Ice algae declines leading to reduced significantly reduced Krill and thus whales.

Question 5

Give 3 tourism impacts

Answer 5

-Unspoilt nature being a tourist attraction for rich which is a negative feedback loop. Relatively small scale tourism on large area of land. Seals and penguins not been largely impacted. 95% landing sites not affected.
-Over 100k visitors 2023 and usually short stay. From shrinking world effect. Invasive species risk from ships eg Mediterranean mussels
-Risk of litter and waste causing water pollution/air.Legally have to take all waste home. How to enforce effectively? Slow decomposition due to cold of -49. Is it negligible compared to scientists waste potential who live there year round?
-MS vessel crashes in 2007 and major oil leak.
-Grwoing demand for services due to affluence eg kayaking here.

Question 6

Search for resources: Describe this

Answer 6

-Coal and oil reserves here. Weddell sea Potential for future exploitation of other stores are depleted. But, difficult to transport resources to extract.
-Has been banned by Protocol on environmental protection.

Question 7

Fishing and whaling threats

Answer 7

-Whaling still occurs but populations of whales are slowly recovering due to slow reproduction.
-Fish stocks have partly recovered. But patogonian toothfish at risk. This has wider impacts on food chain and mammals that depend on these.
-Antarctic treaty issued quotas. But, illegal fishing occurs- 5x greater than suggested figures. Only put restrictions in place at a crucial point

Question 8

Describe the Antarctic treaty 1959 purpose and scope

Answer 8

-Has special status. 52 nations signed. Peace and science. Madrid protocol in 1991 till 2048
-Nobody owns Antarctica. Success.
-No indigenous people here so has made decisions easier.

Question 9

Antarctic treaty enforcement and evaluation of success

Answer 9

-Little problem enforcing due to global governance.
-But, no fines and slow decisions.
-Norway/UK want parts of it to be under their jurisdiction. UK even tried to assert a claim but it was rejected.

Question 10

Protocol on environment protection purpose 1991

Answer 10

-Mining banned here.
-Not to be reviewed until 2041

Question 11

Protocol on environment protection 1991 enforcement and evaluation to success

Answer 11

-Strictly enforced internationally.
-Could change in future if countries need oil reserves.

Question 12

Describe UNEP 1972 purpose

Answer 12

-Founded in 1972. Governs atmospheric, marine and terrestrial systems and reports these to UN.
-UNEP personnel participate in Antarctic treaty meetings.

Question 13

Describe UNEP enforcement and evaluate its success

Answer 13

-Heavily involved with both Antarctic and arctic management.
-Meetings on an ad hoc basis to decide on policies to pursue. Also, some countries only protect their own interests.

Question 14

IWC whaling Moratorium purpose 1982. IGO

Answer 14

-Many whale species previously hunted to extinction
-Partly recovered due to an indefinite ban on commercial whale hunting.

Question 15

How to enforce 1982 IWC whaling moratorium and evaluate overall success

Answer 15

-Shift attitudes and planetary norms.
-Norway still slaughters whales as it is part of their norm. Poorly enforced. Japan does for “scientific research”.

Question 16

Describe the NGO ASOC

Answer 16

-Doesn’t act on behalf of a country
-Coalition of over 150 environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace.
-Though, due to so many stakeholders, time consuming and compromised decisions.
-Speaks up against exploitation/talks about climate change mitigation/regulating tourism, biodiversity.

Question 17

Describe scientific research here

Answer 17

Lots of environmental data. Research bases have damaged local environment and need to be managed due to fragile ecosystems. Eg dogs such as huskies were used for transportation and sometimes fed seals. Risked infecting the seals so have now been permanently removed.
Ice core drilling.

Question 18

Another benefit of Antarctic Treaty

Answer 18

The Arctic Council was made - thus it has become an example for other regions

Question 19

Drawback of dealing with global commons

Answer 19

Often only take international action at critical points. Makes the challenge much harder to manage

Question 20

Who monitors fishing

Answer 20

CCAMLR

Question 21

Evaluate tourism

Answer 21

Could be educational for long run sustainability

Question 22

Do warning oceans increase or decrease phytoplankton?

Answer 22

Reduce for cold environments