Common access resources are resources that are not owned by anyone, do not have a price and are available to anyone to use without payment. Examples of common access resources are clean air, rivers, fish in the sea, wildlife, forests, the ozone layer, the global climate and many others. Sustainability refers to the ability of maintaining or preserving something over time. Consider the following questions and implications as you begin your Webquest:

How environmental and economic goals of your country pose a threat to sustainability?

Which nations are the biggest contributors to climate change due to use of fossil fuels? Developed? Developing? Emerging economies?

What is the government of your country doing to:

• prevent further environmental degradation,
• ensure sustainable use of non-renewable energy resources
• ensure sustainable use of farmland
• ensure sustainable use of clean water
• reduce the carbon footprint of the nation