UPSC 2016 Environment and Ecology Questions with Answers

Explanation

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), also known as Gadgil Committee was chaired by Prof. Madhav Gadgil. It was established by the Ministry of Environment & Forests in 2010 and submitted its report in 2011. The panel was constituted to primarily demarcate ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats and recommended measures for the management of these ecologically sensitive areas. The Kasturirangan committee was constituted to examine the WGEEP report in 2012. The key recommendations were:

Declaring the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). Dividing the region into three zones (Ecologically Sensitive Zones 1, 2, and 3), with strict regulations on mining, industries, and land-use changes. Implementing bottom-up democratic decision-making by involving local communities in conservation efforts. Banning large-scale developmental projects in sensitive zones.

Explanation

Green India Mission is one of the eight missions launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with the aim to maintain, restore, and improve India’s dwindling forest cover and combating climate change through a combination of adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Statement 1 and 2 are incorrect: Green accounting is an approach that incorporates environmental costs into financial assessments. The primary goal of green accounting is to help businesses balance economic objectives with environmental considerations. It is not part of the Green India Mission. Facing serious challenges like overproduction of crops like rice and wheat, soil degradation, and food price volatility, the country would need the Second green revolution to focus on the interconnectedness of agriculture, water, and energy to make farming more climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable. Both the statements are irrelevant to the Green India Mission.

Statement 3 is correct: The mission intends to increase forest/ tree cover; improve/enhance ecosystem services and increase the forest-based livelihood income of about 3 million households.

Explanation

There are six AQI categories, namely Good + Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. Each of these categories is decided based on ambient concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints). AQ sub-index and health breakpoints are evolved for eight pollutants, namely:

Ground-level Ozone or O₃ Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM 2.5) Carbon Monoxide or CO Sulphur Dioxide or SO₂ and Nitrogen Dioxide or NO₂ Ammonia (NH₃) Lead (Pb)

Explanation

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (IN-DCs) are planned reductions in greenhouse gas emissions outlined by countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The UNFCCC, in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report, has called for more ambitious climate action plans by the countries in order to achieve the Paris Agreement target of containing global temperature rise to 2°C by the end of the century (ideally it is 1.5°C).

Explanation

GHG Protocol is developing standards, tools and online training that helps countries to measure and manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private and public sector operations, value chains and mitigation actions. The GHG Protocol arose when the World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) recognized the need for an international standard for corporate GHG accounting and reporting in the late 1990s.

Explanation

Paris Summit COP21-2015 is a legally binding Inter-national Treaty on Climate Change. It was adopted by 195 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 & entered into force on 4 November 2016. It requires all parties to put forward their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which are voluntary in nature.

Statement 2 is correct: Paris Summit COP21 aims to limit global warming due emission of green house gas emissions to below 2 degree Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. It requires all parties to put forward their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which are voluntary in nature. Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect: The Treaty was only "agreed" by 195 Parties in Paris at the conference. The agreement will en-ter into force only after 55 countries that account for at least 55% of global emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification. Developed countries will work to define a clear roadmap on ratcheting up climate finance to USD 100 billion (not USD 1000 billion) by 2020.

Explanation

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals address various global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice, with a target to achieve them by 2030. The SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, which started a global effort in 2000 to tackle the indignity of poverty.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Club of Rome, established in 1968, is known for its 1972 report titled "The Limits to Growth," which discussed the potential consequences of unchecked economic and population growth. While this report highlighted the need for sustainable practices, it did not propose the SDGs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were born at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Devel-opment in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. The SDGs were formulated through a United Nations-led process, culminating in their adoption in 2015.

Statement 2 is correct: In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly approved 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) with 169 associated targets which are to be achieved by 2030.

Explanation

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994. It is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. There are 197 Parties to the Convention, including 196 country Parties and the European Union. The Convention, based on the principles of participation, partnership and decentralization, is a multilateral commitment to mitigate the impact of land degradation. Its flag-ship publication includes Global Land Outlook.

Statement 1 is correct: Its 197 Parties aim, through innovative national schemes and global partnerships, to implement the Convention and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The end goal is to protect the land from overuse and drought, so it can continue to provide food, water and energy.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the dry-lands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and people can be found. It is not particularly focussed towards South Asia and North Africa region.

Statement 3 is correct: The UNCCD emphasizes a bottom-up approach, recognizing that sustainable land management is most effective when local communities are actively involved. It promotes the participation of local populations, particularly women and youth, in decision-making processes related to land management and desertification mitigation.

Explanation

Pairs 1 is incorrectly matched: Annex-I countries refer to developed countries listed under the Kyoto Protocol with binding commitments to reduce emissions. The Cartagena Protocol deals with biosafety and regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs), not emissions reduction. Pairs 2 is incorrectly matched: Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) are issued for emission reductions under the Kyoto Protocol, not the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol focuses on access to genetic resources and fair sharing of benefits, not emission reductions.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the UNFCCC enables developing countries to receive funds from developed nations for adopting technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CDM is the main source of income for the UNFCCC Adaptation Fund, which was established to finance adaptation projects and programmes in developing country Parties to the Kyoto Protocol that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

Explanation

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) was launched by Germany and the European Commission in 2007. It is a global effort to raise awareness of the economic advantages of biodiversity. TEEB’s objective is to raise attention to the rising costs associated with biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and to bring together experts in science, economics, and policy to facilitate actionable solutions.

Statement 1 is incorrect: It is an international initiative, launched by Germany and the European Commission. The second phase of the TEEB study is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with support from a number of other organizations.

Statement 2 is correct: It is an international initiative to draw attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity. Its principal objective is to mainstream the values of biodiversity and ecosystem services into decision-making at all levels.

Statement 3 is correct: Its objective is to highlight the growing cost of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. It follows a structured approach to valuation that assists decision-mak-ers in recognizing, demonstrating, and capturing the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.