The Global Commons Flashcards
What is a global common?
The global commons are areas that aren’t owned by any one country or organisation- they belong to everybody, and so should be available for everyone’s use and benefit.
What are the four global commons?
> Antarctica
The high seas- areas of the sea that do not belong to any country. Most are more than 200 miles from land.
Earth’s atmosphere- the gases that surround the Earth and support life.
Outer space- the moon, the rest of the solar system and beyond.
Why do the global commons face many pressures?
> Countries and organisations may feel as though they can exploit the global commons without dealing with consequences, as the costs of exploiting the global commons are shared by everyone. This is known as the ‘tragedy of the commons’.
> Industrialisation and development are increasing the demand for resources- many of these are extracted from global commons. Industrialisation and development also create waste that is pumped into the atmosphere(co2) or into oceans (chemical waste).
> New technology has made it easier to get to areas like the high seas, Antarctica or outer space- this makes these areas more vulnerable to exploitation.
How do the pressures of the global commons affect the planet as a whole?
> The high seas have been victims of overfishing - taking more fish than is sustainable. This has knock-on effects on other animals in the food chain.
> Atmospheric pollution is causing climate change.
> Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also causes acidification of the oceans, which affects marine organisms.
Why is there a need to protect the Global commons?
> Institutions around the world have begun to acknowledge that countries’ right to development must be balanced by the need to protect the global commons.
> NGOs have called for the global commons to be protected by making sure that any development and use of these areas is sustainable.
