UPSC CSE Prelims
International Environmental Conventions & Organizations Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Answer: ✅ Option 1

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement provides a framework for international cooperation in achieving climate goals. It covers both market-based approaches (carbon markets) and non-market approaches, making it one of the most discussed and important provisions of the Paris Agreement.

✅ Statement I is Correct: Article 6 is frequently discussed because it establishes mechanisms through which countries can cooperate to achieve their climate commitments.

✅ Statement II is Correct: Article 6 lays down the framework for international carbon markets, including the transfer and trading of carbon credits.

✅ Statement III is Correct: Article 6 also promotes non-market approaches such as technology transfer, capacity building, policy coordination, and sustainable development cooperation.

✅ Statement II explains Statement I: Carbon markets are a major reason why Article 6 receives significant global attention.

✅ Statement III explains Statement I: Non-market cooperation mechanisms are also central to climate negotiations and sustainable development discussions.

Short Notes: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

• Article 6 focuses on international cooperation to achieve climate targets.

• It allows countries to trade carbon credits through market mechanisms.

• Article 6.2 deals with bilateral and multilateral carbon trading.

• Article 6.4 establishes a UN-supervised global carbon market mechanism.

• Article 6.8 promotes non-market approaches for climate action.

• It aims to reduce the cost of achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

• Proper implementation helps prevent double counting of emission reductions.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2

Both statements correctly describe the role and powers of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in India under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which implements the Nagoya Protocol objectives at the local level.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: BMCs are indeed key institutional mechanisms for realizing Nagoya Protocol objectives in India by ensuring local-level implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) provisions and involving local communities in biodiversity governance.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: BMCs have statutory powers to determine access to biological resources within their jurisdiction and levy collection fees on such access, as mandated under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Biological Diversity Rules, 2004.

📝 Short Notes: Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and Nagoya Protocol

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only two pairs

This question tests the geographical location of important Ramsar wetlands in India. Out of the four pairs given, only two pairs are correctly matched: Renuka Wetland with Himachal Pradesh and Rudrasagar Lake with Tripura.

✅ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Hokera Wetland is located in Jammu & Kashmir (near Srinagar), not Punjab. It is a natural perennial wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin.

✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Renuka Wetland is indeed located in Himachal Pradesh (Sirmaur district). It is a natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations.

✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Rudrasagar Lake is correctly matched with Tripura. It is a lowland sedimentation reservoir in the northeast hills, fed by three perennial streams discharging into the River Gomti.

✅ Pair 4 – Incorrect: Sasthamkotta Lake is located in Kerala (Kollam district), not Tamil Nadu. It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala.

📝 Short Notes: Important Ramsar Wetlands of India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 3 only

Only Statement 3 is correct. The Ramsar Convention does not mandate protection of all wetlands in a country's territory, only those designated as Ramsar sites. The 2010 Rules were framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, not based on Ramsar recommendations. However, the 2010 Rules do include drainage areas and catchment regions in the definition of wetlands.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Ramsar Convention requires contracting parties to designate suitable wetlands for international importance and promote their wise use, but does not mandate protection of all wetlands in the entire territory.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, not based on specific recommendations of the Ramsar Convention.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The 2010 Rules explicitly include the drainage area or catchment regions of wetlands as determined by the authority in the definition of 'wetland'.

📝 Short Notes: Wetlands Conservation Framework in India

• Ramsar Convention (1971): International treaty for conservation and wise use of wetlands; India is a signatory since 1982.
• Ramsar Sites in India: Countries designate specific wetlands of international importance; not all wetlands are covered.
• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010: Framed under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; included catchment areas in wetland definition.
• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017: Replaced 2010 Rules; streamlined regulatory process and strengthened wetland conservation.
• Definition of Wetland: Includes areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water (natural or artificial, permanent or temporary) with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water.
• Wise Use Concept: Maintenance of ecological character of wetlands through sustainable use compatible with conservation goals.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro

The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) was established in response to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) 2012, also known as Rio+20, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This conference reaffirmed global commitment to sustainable development and emphasized the transition to green economies that promote environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and economic growth. PAGE was launched as a UN collaborative initiative involving UNEP, ILO, UNDP, UNIDO, and UNITAR to support countries in developing policies and strategies for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

📝 Short Notes: Major UN Conferences on Sustainable Development

• PAGE Partner Agencies: UNEP (lead), ILO, UNDP, UNIDO, UNITAR
• PAGE Objective: Support countries in reframing economic policies and practices around sustainability
• Focus Areas: Green industrial policy, sustainable consumption and production, green fiscal reform, ecosystem services, and inclusive growth

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 only

TRAFFIC is a joint initiative of WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), not a bureau under UNEP. Its mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten the conservation of nature.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: TRAFFIC is not a bureau under UNEP; it is a joint programme of WWF and IUCN established in 1976.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: TRAFFIC's mission is indeed to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature and works to promote sustainable and legal wildlife trade.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only

The Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) is a flagship initiative of the European Union launched in 2007 to support developing countries, particularly LDCs and SIDS, in addressing climate change challenges. It provides both technical and financial assistance to help integrate climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into national development policies and budgets.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The GCCA is indeed an initiative of the European Union, established to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with developing countries on climate change.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: A primary objective of the GCCA is to provide technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The GCCA is coordinated by the European Commission, not by the World Resources Institute (WRI) or the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 3 only

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The UNCCD promotes effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships, providing a framework for countries to collaborate on combating desertification and mitigating drought effects.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Convention has a particular focus on Africa, not South Asia and North Africa. Its full name is 'United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa'. Additionally, the Secretariat does not allocate the major portion of financial resources—financial mobilization is primarily handled through the Global Mechanism and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The UNCCD is unique among environmental conventions for its commitment to a bottom-up approach, emphasizing the participation of local communities, land users, and non-governmental organizations in designing and implementing programmes to combat land degradation.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched by India and France on November 30, 2015, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris. The Alliance aims to promote solar energy deployment and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, particularly in developing countries.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Initially, ISA membership was limited to 121 countries located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. However, in 2018, the Alliance was expanded to include all UN member states through an amendment to its Framework Agreement. Despite this expansion, not all UN member countries have joined ISA; membership remains voluntary and countries must formally sign and ratify the Framework Agreement to become members.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Agenda 21 is a comprehensive global action plan for sustainable development adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It addresses environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development across 40 chapters covering issues like poverty, consumption patterns, atmospheric protection, deforestation, desertification, oceans, biodiversity, and waste management.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Agenda 21 originated at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, not at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002. The Johannesburg Summit (Rio+10) reviewed progress on Agenda 21 implementation and produced the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, which reaffirmed and built upon the original commitments.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 3 only

❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Annex-I Countries are listed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, not the Cartagena Protocol. The Cartagena Protocol deals with biosafety and the safe handling of living modified organisms.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) are carbon credits issued under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, not the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol concerns access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing.

✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is indeed a mechanism established under the Kyoto Protocol. It allows developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries and earn CERs as offsets against their emission reduction commitments.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: BirdLife International is a global partnership of over 100 conservation NGOs working to conserve birds, their habitats, and biodiversity.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The biodiversity hotspots concept was originated by British ecologist Norman Myers (1988), later promoted by Conservation International, not BirdLife International.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: BirdLife International identifies and monitors Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), a global network of critical sites for bird conservation and broader biodiversity.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership involving governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: FCPF does not provide financial aid to universities or individual scientists for research; it focuses on country-level REDD+ readiness and implementation support.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: FCPF assists developing countries in REDD+ efforts by providing financial and technical assistance for capacity building and implementation.

Detailed Explanation:

The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) is managed by the World Bank.

The World Bank's Carbon Finance Unit serves as the permanent trustee and handles the day-to-day operations of the BioCarbon Fund, which includes the ISFL programme focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: IUCN is an independent membership organization, not a UN organ. It includes governments, NGOs, and scientific institutions as members.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: IUCN runs thousands of field projects worldwide for better management of natural environments and biodiversity conservation.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: CITES is legally binding on States that have ratified it, but it does not replace national laws – each country implements it through domestic legislation.