Environment and Sustainable Development

Total Questions: 95

1. Environment refers to: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]

(a) The natural world of land, water, air, plants and animals that exist around it.
(b) The sum total of conditions which surround human beings at a given point of time.
(c) The interacting system of physical, biological and cultural elements which are interlinked.
(d) All the above

Correct Answer: (d) All the above

Solution:The word environment is derived from the French word 'Environ' which means to 'encircle or surround'. The environment is every broad concept and involves everything that affects an organism during its life time. It is the totality of all social, biological, physical, and chemical elements individually as well as collectively that compose nature and human-made surroundings. It refers to the total of conditions which surround, affect and influence the survival, growth and development of people, animals or plants. As defined in the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,"environment includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among and between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property. Hence (d) is the correct answer.

2. Environment is a composite state of - [53ᵗʰ to 55ᵗʰ B.P.S.C.(Pre) 2011]

(a) Biotic factors
(b) Physiographic factors
(c) Abiotic factors
(d) All of the above.

Correct Answer: (d) All of the above.

Solution:The environment may be divided into biotic and abiotic environment. The biotic environment is made up of biotic factors, that is all living things in the environment. The abiotic or physical environment is made up of all the physical factors that affect organisms, e.g. temperature, light intensity, the amount of available water etc.

3. Generally, environment can be classified as following categories. Which among the following is NOT a part of such category? [U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2020]

(a) Operational Environment
(b) Physical Environment
(c) Cultural Environment
(d) Biological Environment

Correct Answer: (a) Operational Environment

Solution:Generally, environment can be classified as physical, cultural and biological environment. Physical environment includes landforms, water bodies, climate, soils, rocks, minerals, etc. Biological environment includes plants, animals, microorganisms, etc. whereas cultural environment include man-made features such as economical, social and political elements.

4. Given below are two statements, one labelled as [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

Assertion (A) and other as the Reason (R).

Assertion (A) : Sustainable development is important for well being of human society.

Reason (R) : Sustainable development is a kind of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Codes :

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is the not correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true but (R) is false
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is correct explanation of (A)

Solution:Sustainable development is important for well being of human society. Sustainable development has been defined in many ways. The most frequently quoted definition is from out common future, also known as the Brundtland Report : "Sustainable development is development that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs".

5. The discussion on 'Sustainable Development' was started after submitting a report on environment to the United nations in 1987. That report was: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

(a) First Report on Climate Change
(b) Our common future
(c) Second Report on Climate Change
(d)Fifth Assessment Report

Correct Answer: (b) Our common future

Solution:After the submissions of the report Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report, which was published by World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) in 1987, the discussion on ' Sustainable Development was started.

It is a landmark document in environmental policy and international cooperation. It was the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), established in 1983 and chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway Published in 1987, the report defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It introduced the concept of sustainable development to the international community and highlighted the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social issues.

6. Arrange the following events in chronological order and select the correct answer from the codes given below : [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

I. Rio Earth Summit

II. Publication of Brundtland Commission Report

III. Enforcement of Montreal Protocol

IV. Publication of 'The limit to Growth' Report

Codes :

(b) IV, II, III, I
(a) I, IV, III, II
(c) IV, III, II, I
(d) IV, I, III, II

Correct Answer: (b) IV, II, III, I

Solution:

Events	Year
Publication of 'The Limit to Growth' Report	1972
Publication of Brundtland Commission Report	1987
Enforcement of Montreal Protocol	January, 1989
Rio Earth Summit	June, 1992

7. Sustainably development is a matter of intergenerational sensibility in respect of the use of? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]

(a) Natural resources
(b) Material resources
(c) Industrial resources
(d) Social resources

Correct Answer: (a) Natural resources

Solution:The concept of sustainable development was emphasized by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which defined it as 'Development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their needs. Sustainable development is a matter of inter- generational sensibility in respect of the use of natural resources. The main objective of sustainable development is the just and prudent use of natural resources, it's conservation and proper management. This term was explained in the WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development) report of 1987 titled "Our common future". Sustainable development was fully supported in the Agenda-21 (Rio Declaration) declared in Earth Summit held in 1992. Sustainable development was a prominent issue of the Johannesburg Summit 2002. Notably, the United Nations has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have to be realized by 2030. A Sustainable Development Index has also been initiated to measure the progress made by different nations in the direction of achieving these goals. Importantly India was ranked 121 out of 163 nations in Sustainable Development Index 2022.

8. What is important for Sustainable Development? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]

(a) conservation of biological diversity
(b) Prevention and control of pollution
(c) Decreasing poverty
(d) All of these.

Correct Answer: (d) All of these.

Solution:Conservation of biological diversity, prevention and control of pollution, decreasing poverty, all are important for Sustainable Development. It is imperative for achieving the goal of sustainable development to make policies on information about our environment and ecology. Presently sustainable development has become an alternative approach to the theories of development. Certain information are required for policy formulation on sustainable development.

9. Which of the following is not a sustainable development goal targeted to be achieved by - [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

(a) Gender equality
(b) Space research
(c) Zero Hunger
(d) Good health and well being

Correct Answer: (b) Space research

Solution:The sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals are a collection of seventeen interlinked objectives adopted by UN in 2015 to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future". List of Proposed 17 Sustainable Development goals to be attained by 2030.
GOAL 1 : no Poverty
GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
GOAL 3: Good health and well being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 5: Gander Equality
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10 : Reduced Inequality
GOAL 11 : Sustainably Cities and Communities
GOAL 12 : Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 13 : Climate Action
GOAL 14 : Life Blow Water
GOAL 15: Life on Land
GOAL 16 : Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal.

10. Consider the following : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2014, 2011]

1. Photosynthesis

2. Respiration

3. Decay of organic matter

4. Volcanic action

Which of the above add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on Earth?

(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (c) 2, 3 and 4

Solution:The decay of organic matter, volcanic action, respiration and burning of fossil fuel etc contribute carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle, whereas plants use carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis. Thus plants do not add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle rather they release oxygen and consume carbon dioxide. Three natural allotropes of elemental carbon are fullerene, graphite and diamond. Besides, as a compound, it is found as carbon dioxide, carbonate and Hydrogen carbonate.

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