Issues on Environment, Biodiversity & Climate Change (Part-II)

Total Questions: 50

41. Which of the following statements regarding 'Green Climate Fund' is/are correct? [2015-1]

1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.

2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCCC founded as a mechanism to redistribute money from the developed to the developing world, in order to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.

The Fund is governed by the GCF Board. The assets of the GCF will be administered by a trustee only for the purpose of, and in accordance with, the relevant decisions of the GCF Board. The World Bank was invited by the COP to serve as the interim trustee of the GCF, subject to a review three years after operation of the Fund.

42. With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements: [2015-11]

1. The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum.

2. Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:The bio-toilets are fitted underneath the lavatories and the human waste discharged into them is acted upon by a particular kind of bacteria that converts it into CO₂, CH₃, and non-corrosive neutral water. The new-age green toilets have been designed by Railways along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) keeping in mind the requirements of Indian trains.

Terms associated with Bio-Toilets

• Bio-digesters: The term biodigester is used for the shells made up of steel for the anaerobic digestion of human waste.
• Bio tank: The term bio tank is used for the tanks made up of concrete for the anaerobic digestion of human waste.
• Aerobic Bacteria: Aerobic bacteria are those which flourish in the presence of free dissolved oxygen in the wastewater and consume organic matter for their food, and thereby oxidising it to stable end products.
• Anaerobic Bacteria: Anaerobic bacteria flourish in the absence of free dissolved oxygen, and survive by utilizing the bonded molecular oxygen in compounds like nitrates (NO3) and sulphates (SO4) etc. thereby reducing them to stable end products along with evolution of foul-smelling gases like H2S (hydrogen sulphide), CH4 (methane).
• Facultative Bacteria: Facultative bacteria can operate either as aerobically or as anaerobically.
• Anaerobic Microbial inoculums: a mixture of different types of bacteria responsible for the breakdown of complex polymers into simple sugars which are further broken down into low chain fatty acids and finally into biogas.

43. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? [2016-1]

1. It is a Public Limited Government Company.

2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:IREDA is a Public Limited Government Company which was established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987 under the administrative control of MNRE to promote, develop and extend financial assistance for renewable energy and energy efficiency /conservation projects with the motto: "ENERGY FOR EVER".

44. Consider the following pairs: [2016-1]

List-I (Terms sometimes seen in the news) List-II (Their origin) 
1. Annex-I CountriesCartagena Protocol
2. Certified Emissions ReductionsNagoya Protocol
3. Clean Development MechanismKyoto Protocol

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (c) 3 only
Solution:(i) The Kyoto Protocol separates countries into two groups. Annex I includes developed nations, while Non-Annex I refers to developing countries.

A CER is a certificate which is issued every time the United Nations prevents one tonne of CO₂, equivalent being emitted through carbon projects registered with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

(ii) All three terms are associated with Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, answer "c" 3 only.

45. With reference to an initiative called 'The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)', which of the following statements is/are correct? [2016-1]

1. It is an initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World Economic Forum.

2. It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity.

3. It presents an approach that can help decision-makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
Solution:(i) The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) is a study led by Pavan Sukhdev. It is an international initiative to draw attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity.

Its objective is to highlight the growing cost of biodiversity loss and ecosystem and to draw together expertise from the fields of science, economics and policy to enable practical actions.

(ii) As per the official page of the organization. 2 and 3 are correct, but there is no mention of their association with UNEP, IMF. Hence 1 statement is wrong. Accordingly answer is "c".

46. Which of the following statements is/are correct? [2016-1]

Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+

Programme can significantly contribute to :

1. protection of biodiversity

2. resilience of forest ecosystems

3. poverty reduction

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:

As per the official webpage of UN-REDD+ program their explicit objectives are only 1 and 2. While REDD++ can help removing the poverty, in an indirect manner, but it's not explicitly mentioned in their objectives. So, after the exam, experts were divided between A and D, But, in its official Answer key, UPSC has kept "D" as the answer.
The features of REDD+ are as follows:
• Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• It creates a financial value for the carbon stored in forests by offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development.
• Developing countries would receive results-based payments for results-based actions.
• REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest degradation and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
• REDD+ incorporates important benefits of livelihood improvement, biodiversity conservation, and food security services.

47. What is 'Greenhouse Gas Protocol'? [2016-1]

Correct Answer: (a) It is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
Solution:(i) The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. A decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol is working with businesses, governments.

(ii) A is correct according to their "ABOUT US" page.

48. With reference to 'Agenda 21', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements: [2016-1]

1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development.

2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regards to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Therefore, only first statement right.
Agenda 21 - Significance
• Agenda 21 addresses today’s pressing issues while also preparing the world for the challenges of the next century.
• It reflects a global consensus and high-level political commitment to development and environmental cooperation.
• Governments are primarily responsible for its successful implementation. National strategies, plans, policies, and processes will be essential in accomplishing this.
• Such national efforts should be supported and supplemented by international cooperation.
• The United Nations system plays an important role in this context. Other international, regional, and subregional organizations are also being asked to help with this effort.
• The broadest possible public participation, as well as the active participation of non-governmental organizations and other groups, should be encouraged.

49. Consider the following statements: [2016-1]

(1) The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.

(2) The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:(i) The COP-21 Climate Conference was held in Paris, France from 30 November to 12 December 2015. During this conference, India and France have launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA). International Solar Alliance includes an alliance of 121 countries located between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.

(ii) While ISA was launched on Sidelines of Paris Summit, therefore first statement right but it includes only the 121 countries between Capricorn and Cancer receiving sunlight for 300 days or more. Hence 2nd statement is wrong.

50. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? [2016-1]

1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.

2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2 °C or even 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.

3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate S 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:(i) The agreement emphasized on urgent need to address the significant gap between the aggregate effect of Parties' mitigation pledges in terms of global annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 and aggregate emission pathways consistent with holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.

(ii) Paris Summit-not all nations have signed the agreement and there is no deadline to ratify it. hence, statement 1 is wrong. This eliminates a and b. And developed countries committed to give $100 billion by 2020. But, for future, there is no mention of giving $1,000 billion dollars. Therefore, third statement wrong. We are left with Answer (b) only.