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Global Governance 2 (climate change (ice shelves around Weddell Sea and…
Global Governance 2
climate change
- ice shelves around Weddell Sea and Ross Sea are melting
- As ice melts, Adelie penguins decrease and are replaced by Chinstrap penguins who are more suited to open sea
- global sea levels risen by 3mm a year since the 90s due to melting ice which creates unstable ice shelves
- climate change increases the acidity of the sea. Co2 and saltwater create carbonic acids which decrease calcium carbonate and affects shell making creatures e.g Plankton
- In the past 5 decades, areas on the coast have increased by 3 degrees which is one of the largest on the Earth
- krill population decreased by 80% since 1970. They are the main food source for penguins, whales and seals
GEOGRAPHY
FLORA AND FAUNA- little vegetation- lichens, mosses and terrestrial algae.
In the ocean- phytoplankton, krill, whales, leopard seals and penguins
CLIMATE- in winter goes from -10 degrees to -30 degrees and in summer it averages at 0 degrees
50-1000mm and little snowfall per annum
Antarctic desert is one of the driest deserts in the world as the little snowfall does not melt
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY- east ice sheer is older, larger and thicker
- transantarctic mountains extend E-W across the continent
- ross ice shelf and ronne ice shelf- highest surface elevation of all continents (2000m above sea level)
- nunataks- high mountain peaks and high winds prevent accumulation of ice
GEOLOGY- East Antarctica is igneous and metamorphic rocks and West Antarctica volcanic and sedimentary rocks are part of the pacific ring of fire
fishing and whaling
- over-fishing threatens species such as Patagonian toothfish (verge of extinction). 200,000 tonnes of Arctic Krill caught in 2013
- illegal fishing is difficult to monitor
- although laws have been brought to ban whaling, some countries continue for scientific research. Whales are slow breeders so take time to recover
- other species can get caught in fishing nets e.g Albatrosses which can die
mineral extraction
- currently banned. Unprofitable so little interest but as demand increases and technology improves, laws may come under pressure
- many minerals e.g coal and iron ore in the Transantarctic Mountains have extreme economic value
- large oil reserves under the Southern ocean
- any mining has considerable negative impacts
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Future
National Interest v Common Good
- countries are not interested in Global impacts e.g Donald Trump and Japan fishing
- countries become increasingly in need of resources e.g oil
Loop Holes and Outdated Policies
- countries will exploit policies
- Antarctic Treaty made in 1959 so it is outdated and arguments can be made against it
Improved Technology
- better ships and research making areas more accessible
- climate change also makes it more accessible
Globalisation
- increasing demand for products and resources
ASOC
- Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition- 30 NGOS e.g Greenpeace and WWF
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prevent oil, gas and mineral exploitation
1950s till now
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3) Hole in the ozone was discovered due to scientific research- lead to the banning of CFCs- lead to better understanding of climate change
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MADRID PROTOCAL
- give extra protection to the environment of Antarctica especially against mineral exploitation
- Antarctic Mineral Convention- proposed mining could go ahead but France and Australia refused
- Environmental protocal only modifies if all parties agree
- inspection and observation of all observations is compulsory under the Treaty
- No permanent government so no citizenship or government
- no single unifying legal system
- environmental audits carried out around bases, land and sea
- less focus on maritime areas (internal waters)
WHALING MARATORIUM
- responsible for regulating whaling and ensuring the whale levels are at a sustainable level
- 1994- whale sanctuary in Southern Ocean and around Antarctica
- criticised for not properly monitoring them
- success is monitored by estimating populations
- NGOs e.g Greenpeace have said it is poorly enforced
- countries like Japan have continued to kill large numbers of Antarctic whales for 'scientific ruling'
pressures
- issues raised by the tragedy of the commons may make countries think they can exploit Antarctica without potential consequences e.g Russia
- continued industrialisation puts increasing pressure on commons. Exploitation creates secondary effects such as increased Co2 e.g in India
- improvements in technology making it easier to exploit the most inaccessible places
ANTARCTIC TREATY 1959
- agreement on how to sustainably manage the continent
- been signed by 53 countries
- 1) should only be used for peaceful means- no military equipment or military bases
- 2) countries should co-operate on scientific research
- 3) should remain a global common and no country can make a claim
- no system of enforcement
- laid foundations for other treaties e.g outerspace treaties
- found the hole in the ozone
Antarctica is a global common as no one owns it, it has scientific importance and it has no native population
pressures faced:
- Antarctica is untouched so far
- Global depletion of resources- some remaining under the sea/ice
- improvements in technology and climate change makes it more accessible
- globalisation means more resources are needed