Mark scheme

Award one mark each for points of knowledge or understanding. Allow extra marks for developed points (d).

Notes for answers

Allow credit for specific knowledge of what the ‘global commons’ are and why they need protection. Candidates must outline the concept andexplain why we they need protection for full marks.

Max 1 mark for list of examples without elaboration.

The global commons refers to the Earth’s shared resources (1), such as the deep oceans and atmosphere (1) (d).
The global commons includes those areas that have no national governance but are used jointly by all people (1). The only land-mass considered to be part of the global commons is Antarctica (1).
Some people define the commons to be even broader to include resources that are shared by all but not controlled by any single country (1) for example, cyber-space, language and science (1) this is referred to as the ‘common heritage of humanity’ (1) (d).
Access to such shared resources has historically been difficult but advances in technology mean that such resources are in danger of being over exploited (1) for example the potential oil reserves in Antarctica (1).
The notion of the tragedy of the commons (1) as there is no single jurisdiction there is always the potential for overexploitation (1). If an individual country / group acts independently this will be contrary to the whole group and the shared resource becomes depleted (1) (d).
As current resources become depleted there will be an increasing need for the global commons to meet the needs of the world’s population (1).

The Global Commons (AQA A Level Geography)

Topic Questions