UPSC CSE Prelims
International Environmental Conventions & Organizations Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: International Environmental Conventions & Organizations
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Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?
- It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
- It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is intended to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change, providing financial support for climate resilience and emission reduction projects.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The GCF was established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at COP 16 in Cancun, 2010, not under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank, or World Bank.
What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
Detailed Explanation:
Rio+20 Conference refers to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012.
It marked the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Earth Summit and produced the outcome document 'The Future We Want', focusing on green economy and poverty eradication.
Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?
Detailed Explanation:
Montreal Protocol (1987) is the international treaty specifically designed to control and phase out ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as CFCs and halons.
Bretton Woods Conference (1944) established IMF and World Bank; Kyoto Protocol (1997) addresses greenhouse gas emissions; Nagoya Protocol (2010) deals with access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources under CBD.
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Consider the following international agreements:
- The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
- The World Heritage Convention
Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity?
Detailed Explanation:
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) aims at conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources which are essential components of agricultural biodiversity.
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) addresses land degradation in drylands, which leads to habitat loss and biodiversity decline; combating desertification directly protects terrestrial biodiversity.
World Heritage Convention (WHC) protects natural heritage sites of outstanding universal value, which often harbor significant biodiversity hotspots and endemic species.
All three conventions have direct or indirect bearing on biodiversity conservation.
Consider the following statements regarding ‘Earth Hour’:
- It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO.
- It is a movement in which the participants switch off the lights for one hour on a certain day every year.
- It is a movement to raise awareness about climate change and the need to save the planet.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Earth Hour is an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), not UNEP or UNESCO.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Participants switch off non-essential lights for one hour on the last Saturday of March every year.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The movement aims to raise awareness about climate change, energy conservation, and the need to save the planet.
With reference to a conservation organization called Wetlands International, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to the Ramsar Convention.
- It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Wetlands International is an independent, not-for-profit, global organisation, not an intergovernmental body. It is supported by government and NGO membership from around the world, but is not formed by Ramsar Convention signatories.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Wetlands International works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge and uses practical experience to advocate for better policies for wetlands conservation and restoration.
If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?
Detailed Explanation:
The Montreux Record is a register under the Ramsar Convention that lists wetlands of international importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to human interference (pollution, development, etc.).
It serves as an early warning system and triggers priority conservation attention, but does not impose any legal prohibitions on human activities or grant World Heritage status.
With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) serves as the official financial mechanism for both the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing grants and funding for environmental projects in developing countries.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The GEF is a financial organization, not a scientific research body. Scientific research on environmental issues is conducted by organizations like IPCC (climate) and IPBES (biodiversity).
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The GEF is an independent financial organization established in 1991, not an agency under the OECD. It operates as a partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
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