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The purpose of this paper is to give an outline of existing laws that regulate each area of the Commons. With specific reference to the growing international concern for the protection of the global commons, this paper aims to re-examine to what extent present legal regime for global commons is successful. Finally, it proceeds with some way outs and suggestions that may, if adopted, play significant role to protect common areas from environmental damage.

This paper is purely analytical. Analytical approach has been applied to proceed with the write-up which is basically based on the review of primary and secondary literature studies including books, scholarly articles and laws. Internet-browsing is being used for collection of most recent literature on the subject. Relevant case studies in this regard are evaluated.

Transboundary damage is a practical and contextual matter requiring concrete rules and principles, both procedural and substantive. Here, priority is to establish minimum standards of conduct for such activities that affect the environment of global commons, at the national and international level. An expertly designed treaty with balanced contents, which are strong enough to hold the state parties liable for their activities and, at the same time, motivating enough to be bound by obligation by ratification, is to be adopted.

This paper is original in calling for the full participation of all states, rich and poor, to address damage to global commons effectively and efficiently.

In 1968, Garrett Hardin identified a class of common goods that suffer under traditional market mechanisms. As a result, institutions become pivotal in defining acceptable consumption behavior. This paper describes the results of an agent-based computer simulation used to study how institutional forces shape consumption patterns. The results suggest common-interested behaviors support a greater population at a higher quality of living; however, exclusively common-interested behaviors result in underutilized commons, and the whole is generally less well off. Overall, when populations generally act in the common-interest, the commons, the population and individuals all experience higher quality outcomes than when they act in generally or exclusively self-interested ways. The paper frames further applications in terms of managing growth for long-term sustainability.

This study assessed the technology readiness of library commons in selected universities in Ghana from the perspectives of both clients and service providers.

A sample survey research design was used to carry out the study, and the study consisted of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data were collected from 157 of the 430 commons’ users and six library directors/commons librarians, using a questionnaire and an interview schedule respectively. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential analysis with SPSS Ver. 22, and structural equation modelling with AMOS Ver. 23.

The study found significant relationships between the availability of learning resources and users' experience, use and satisfaction with the commons. Additionally, there were significant relationships between the readiness of the commons, users' perceptions and their satisfaction levels. The library/commons managers identified key preparedness issues, including inadequate planning and poor space allocation. Furthermore, the study revealed negative feelings among library/commons managers, such as insecurity, resistance and low confidence.

The academic libraries in Ghana should evaluate their commons following the findings of this study, and use other readiness implementation tools to identify and address the gaps in their implementation of the commons.

This study was based on the opinions of the users and operators of the commons and focused primarily on technology-related factors. However, it is essential to evaluate other readiness factors, such as change and services, and institutional factors, using frameworks such as Hess and Ostrom’s (2005) Institutional Development Framework, to provide complementary results that can guide better implementation of the commons and improve the quality of services.