https://globalcommonsalliance.

org/global-commons/

What are the global commons?

The global commons are the resources we all need to survive, thrive and prosper. These
resources, which include the ocean and freshwater, the climate and biodiversity, and forests and
wetlands, are being overused. But the global commons also represents a management approach
based on systems thinking, transformation and self-organisation to bring out the best in people.
We want to bring out the best in people, cities, companies and countries. This is the foundation
for our plan for the planet.

There are two definitions of the global commons: One is based in geopolitics. In this definition
the global commons are areas – and their potential economic resources – that lie beyond national
jurisdiction: the atmosphere, the high seas, Antarctica and outer space.

The second definition has its roots more in economics than geopolitics and relates to how shared
resources can be overused by some at the expense of others, regardless of national jurisdiction.
Both definitions are relevant to the Global Commons Alliance but we are more concerned with
this second definition.

In this definition, the global commons are things we all share – all 7.8 billion people – and that
we all need them to thrive and prosper. They include the atmosphere and land, the ocean and ice
sheets, a stable climate and abundant biodiversity, the forests, the gigantic flows of carbon,
nitrogen, water and phosphorus and more.

While we all need and share these global commons, they are being overused by some at the
expense of others. This has now reached a critical point. Ultimately, we are jeopardizing the
stability of a planet that has supported civilization for 10,000 years.

In 2009, researchers for the first time quantified Earth’s boundaries that keep our planet in a
relatively stable state. They identified nine boundaries and concluded three have been
transgressed: climate, biodiversity and biogeochemical flows (fertilizer use).

In 2015, the researchers announced a fourth boundary had been transgressed: deforestation and
changes to our land. But work needs to be done with a much broader group of scientists to
establish a safe corridor for humanity. This is the work of the Earth Commission, established in
2019.

Also in 2009, the Nobel Committee awarded Elinor Ostrom the Nobel Prize for economics for
her work in identifying principles for effective management of common resources. Towards the
end of her life, Ostrom, who died in 2012, and colleagues explored how these principles might
be adapted for managing the global commons. The first principle is to identify clearly defined
boundaries.
This is a summary of Ostrom’s principles, adapted for
the global commons:
(The term “resource user” could refer to nations, cities, companies or citizens)

1. Resource users need well-defined boundaries

2. Users need accurate information of the state of the resource and share a similar view of
how the resource operates and how their actions affect it.
3. Users need to be persuaded that the benefits of collective responsibility outweigh the
costs.
4. Resource users have some autonomy to modify the rules to manage the commons.
5. Monitoring and graduated sanctions reduce free riding.
6. Low-cost and fast conflict resolution mechanisms have been shown to support effective
stewardship.
7. High levels of trust are needed to reduce costs of sanctioning and monitoring. This means
investing in relationship building
8. Government (or higher authority) recognition of the legitimacy of the arrangement is
important. Or more generally, the arrangements created to manage a resource are not
challenged or undermined by other authorities.

9. In the last decade, science and technology has progressed to a point where it is possible to
envisage a management approach to the global commons based to some extent on these
principles and adopted by cities, citizens and companies as well as countries.

10. With time running out to protect our common home, the Global Commons Alliance is,
for the first time, adopting a systematic approach to applying Ostrom’s principles at a
global scale  and alongside other frameworks. This can complement existing efforts to
deliver strong international agreements.

11. Our work starts with the most critical global commons, identified by a large international
group of experts: climate, ocean, freshwater, biodiversity and land.