What is meant by the global commons? How are they exploited and polluted?

Commons are the resources that do not belong to anyone but a whole community, for example- parks, common rooms etc. Similarly, global commons are areas or regions of the earth which do not belong to any one nation but to the world as a whole. Example – atmosphere, outer space and ocean floor. They do not come under the jurisdiction of any sovereign. They come under common governance of an international body. They include earth’s atmosphere, Antarctica, ocean floor and the outer space. They are exploited and polluted because-

• The global commons have been used extensively by the developed countries during their industrialisation. Greater technology has also lead to greater exploitation of the global commons. It has exploited atmosphere and the ocean floor.

• There is inequality between the north and the south countries which makes it difficult to reach to a common consensus.