GS + GG - Case Studies

• Antarctica's climate is unique and one of the most extreme environments on the planet
• Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth, with temperatures averaging around -40 °C
• Antarctica is considered a desert, scientifically speaking the largest desert in the world
• The winds of Antarctica are very strong, known as katabatics, with gales of 60-70 mph occurring around 40 days in the year
• Antarctica's winter occurs during our summers, with 6 months of darkness and 6 months of constant sunlight at the South Pole
• Climate change in Antarctica can lead to melting ice sheets, rising sea levels, disruption of animal and plant life, and the release of CO2 into the atmosphere
• All mining is banned in Antarctica, but mineral and fossil fuel exploitation could pose major threats to the habitat if allowed in the future
• Scientific research in Antarctica is crucial for collecting environmental data, but it also brings scientific equipment and facilities that can impact the environment
• Dogs, such as Huskies, used to assist with scientific research in Antarctica for companionship and transportation
• Dogs were sometimes fed seals and penguins when there was no other food available
• Dogs brought the threat of infecting seals, leading to their permanent removal from the continent
• Antarctica is governed by global institutions to ensure sustainable management as a global common
• The UN has the potential to set global laws and regulations to protect Antarctica
• The main UN organization associated with Antarctic protection is the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• The UNEP indirectly contributes to the governance of Antarctica through its legislation and research into global environmental problems
• UN Peacekeeping Forces have been criticized for crimes against vulnerable citizens, including sexual assault, human trafficking, child prostitution, and murder
• The UN has been accused of being inactive in cases where aid or intervention is desperately needed, leading to further injustice
• Examples of criticism include the UN's failure to prevent the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide and the peacekeeping forces' inactivity in the DR of Congo in 2014
• Saudi Arabia's election to the UN Human Rights Council, influenced by the UK through secret voting trade deals, showcases the UN's lack of power and potential dangerous consequences for those affected by inequality or injustice