Antarctica

Question 1

which SDG links to overfishing?

Answer 1

14 Life below water

Question 2

what SDG links to tourism?

Answer 2

12 Responsible consumption and production

Question 3

what SDG links to scientific research?

Answer 3

15 life on land

Question 4

what SDG links to whaling?

Answer 4

14 life below water

Question 5

what SDG links to climate change?

Answer 5

13 climate action

Question 6

what SDG links to mineral extraction?

Answer 6

15 life on land

Question 7

how many tonnes of krill are caught on average each year?

Answer 7

100 000

Question 8

why is there large amounts of krill present in the southern ocean?

Answer 8

cold water holds more krill as there is more carbon

Question 9

what type of fish is largely overfished?

Answer 9

Patagonian Toothfish

Question 10

what is the overfishing referred to as?

Answer 10

illegal, unregulated and unreported

Question 11

in what year was the IWC moratorium introduced?

Answer 11

1986

Question 12

by what fraction has the meltwater from the Antarctic increased global sea levels since 1993?

Answer 12

1/3

Question 13

what is an issue with the Madrid Protocol?

Answer 13

it is only until 2048

Question 14

what are the threats to Antarctica?

Answer 14

overfishing, tourism, scientific research, whaling, climate change and mineral extraction

Question 15

what divides the west and east ice sheets?

Answer 15

transatlantic mountains

Question 16

what creates high levels of marine productivity and why?

Answer 16

Antarctic convergence zone (cold northward flowing waters from the Antarctic meet with warmer sub-Antarctic waters)
—> this causes upwelling due to cold water sinking

Question 17

what IGO’s protect Antarctica?

Answer 17

ATS
IWC
UNDP/UNEP: SDGs

Question 18

what NGO’s protect Antarctica?

Answer 18

CCAMLR
ASOC
IAATO

Question 19

what are the main roles of CCAMLR?

Answer 19

• ecosystem based management approach
• work alongside scientists and fishing industry
• improve fishing financially and environmentally
• lowered seabird deaths (weighted nets/ better hooks)
• anti IUU

Question 20

how many members in CCAMLR?

Answer 20

25 members + 11 agreeing

Question 21

efficacy of CCAMLR?

Answer 21

(-) very small scale
(+) work alongside UN - global reach?

Question 22

what are the main roles of ASOC?

Answer 22

• only one working full time
• preserve Antarctic continent and surrounding southern ocean
• creates marine protected areas
• negotiation of legally binding Polar code

Question 23

efficacy of ASOC?

Answer 23

(-)(+) coalition: different stakeholders but could lead to disagreement which reduces ability to take meaningful action
(-) non legally binding
(-)(+) cover all threats, but could limit efficacy

Question 24

how many members in ASOC?

Answer 24

coalition of over 15 NGOs

Question 25

what is the role of the IAATO?

Answer 25

- promote the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel - voluntary members - established extensive procedures and guidelines

Question 26

how many members of IAATO?

Answer 26

100 Antarctica tour operators

Question 27

efficacy of IAATO?

Answer 27

(+) meet at least once a year (-) industry based: self preservation/ interest (-) not all tour members are part of it (+) over 100 members

Question 28

why is overfishing a threat?

Answer 28

- IUU - e.g Patagonian toothfish or krill - began in 1970s as large scale trawler fleets - creates extensive imbalance within the ecosystem and extinction

Question 29

why is tourism a threat?

Answer 29

- wealthy pay around £20 000 to visit on holiday - lack of education = damage and pollution - increased pollution from planes - visit the ‘Antarctic Peninsula’ which is warming the fastest

Question 30

why is scientific research a threat?

Answer 30

- can introduce bacteria e.g Lake Vostok - pristine environment - no way of controlling / monitoring scientists work - pollutants through drilling - scientific research allows country to move into quarternary sector and core of core-periphery model - only few countries have resources for this : reinforces inequality on gini-coefficient

Question 31

why is whaling a threat?

Answer 31

- was the initial reason for exploration - Japan and Norway continue through ‘scientific reasons’ (one whale = $1mn market value in restaurant) - global impact as whales migrate during seasons - long term impact as generation time is 31 years (blue whales) so will take a long time to recover

Question 32

in what year did the IWC suspend commercial whaling in the moratorium?

Answer 32

1986

Question 33

why is climate change a threat?

Answer 33

- largest ice sheet in the world - meltwater caused by rising temps is responsible for 1/3 of global average SL rise since 1993 - if ice shelf melts, ice sheet no longer held back - creates exposure of minerals: possibility of exploration in future - effects are irreversible

Question 34

why is mineral extraction a threat?

Answer 34

- Madrid Protocol only bans this until 2048 - becoming economically viable due to increasing temps exposing land - will exacerbate climate change

Question 35

what is the ATS?

Answer 35

- it bans military action and prevents higher income countries from exploiting - scientific testing encouraged - 53 members - Madrid Protocol: environmental protection and prevention of exploitation

Question 36

evaluation of ATS?

Answer 36

(+) legally binding (+) combats global climate change (+) landmark at height of cold war so is the true definition of global governance (+) covers all threats (-) only 53 members (-) doesn’t protect the oceans

Question 37

what is the purpose of the IWC?

Answer 37

- 88 members - protect against whaling and sealing - introduced whaling moratorium: suspended all commercial whaling, commissioned in 1982 but implemented in 1986 - legally binding