TED: An economic case for protecting the planet | Naoko Ishii

The video discusses the concept of the commons, both local and global, and the historical practices communities used to manage shared resources sustainably. It highlights the shift from local to global commons and the resulting environmental challenges, such as greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. The speaker shares personal insights on the lack of awareness about global commons in economic decisions and emphasizes the need for systemic changes in cities, energy, production-consumption, and food systems. The video concludes with a call to action for global stewardship and collaboration to preserve the commons.

What was the main strategy used by Japanese fishing villages to prevent overfishing?

• Developing a social contract

• Increasing the number of fishing boats

• Using advanced fishing technology

• Importing fish from other regions

What is the 'tragedy of the commons' as discussed in the video?

• A decrease in greenhouse gas emissions

• A situation where shared resources are depleted due to individual self-interest

• A successful management of shared resources

• An increase in global biodiversity

What is one consequence of moving away from local economies?

• Increased local biodiversity

• Stronger connection to the commons

• Decreased greenhouse gas emissions

• Neglect of the global commons

What did the scientists propose in 2009 regarding the global commons?

• A new type of energy source

• Nine planetary boundaries

• A new economic model

• A global fishing agreement

What did the speaker realize about the global commons during their career?

• It was a frequent topic of discussion

• It was the main focus of public finance

• It was often included in state budgets

• It was largely ignored in economic decisions

What is the speaker's profession?

• Biologist

• Economist

• Environmental activist

• Conservationist

Which of the following systems is NOT mentioned as needing change to protect the global commons?

• Energy

• Cities

• Food

• Healthcare

What percentage of today's water is used to grow crops?

• 90%

• 50%

• 70%

• 30%

What is the main goal of the new coalitions mentioned in the food system example?

• Enhance food packaging

• Expand agricultural land

• Reduce the food system's footprint on the global commons

• Increase palm oil production

What is the speaker's main call to action regarding the global commons?

• To ignore the global commons

• To focus solely on local issues

• To wait for others to take action

• To embrace and steward the global commons