UPSC Prelims PYQs – Environment – Conventions | Protocols | Initiatives

1. With reference to perfluoroalkly and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements:

1. PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and food packaging materials.
2. PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment.
3. Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[UPSC CSE – 2024 Prelims]

2. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.

Statement-II: Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

[UPSC CSE – 2024 Prelims]

3. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently.

Statement-II: The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

[UPSC CSE – 2024 Prelims]

4. Invasive Species Specialist Group’ (that develops Global Invasive Species Database) belongs to which one of the following organizations? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]

5. “Climate Action Tracker” which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a:

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

6. ‘R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

7. The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, had been developed for

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

8. With reference to the ‘New York, Declaration on Forests’, which of the following statements are correct?

1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests.
3. It is a legally binding international declaration.
4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities.
5. India was one of the signatories at its inception.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

9. In the context of India’s preparation for Climate-Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements:

1. The ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach in India is a part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme.
2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France.
3. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s research centres.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

10. Consider the following statements:

Statement 1: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World.

Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

11. Consider the following statements:

1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.
2. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention.
3. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

12. “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]

13. Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC):

1. TRAFFIC is a bureau under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

14. Consider the following statements:

1. Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique initiative of G20 group of countries.
2. The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

15. With reference to ‘Global Climate Change Alliance’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is an initiative of the European Union.
2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

16. Consider the following statements:

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?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

17. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?

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 $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

18. Consider the following statements:

1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the ‘Club of Rome’.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

19. With reference to an initiative called “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)” which of the following statements is/are correct?

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.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

20. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 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.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

21. What is Greenhouse Gas Protocol?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

22. With reference to ‘Agenda 21’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:

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?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

23. The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

24. What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’?

1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

25. Consider the following pairs

Terms sometimes                                 Their origin
seen in the news

1. Annex-I Countries                     :    Cartagena Protocol
2. Certified Emissions Reductions  :    Nagoya Protocol
3. Clean Development Mechanism  :    Kyoto Protocol

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

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

26. With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples.
2. It provides financial aid to universities, individual scientists and institutions involved in scientific forestry research to develop eco-friendly and climate adaptation technologies for sustainable forest management.
3. It assists the countries in their ‘REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+)’ efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance.

Select the correct answer using the code” given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

27. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

28. Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?

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.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

29. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.
2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

30. With reference to an organization known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization.
3. It identifies the sites known/ referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

31. With reference to a conservation organization called ‘Wetlands International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention.
2. 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.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

32. With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

33. If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

34. Consider the following international agreements

1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
3. The World Heritage Convention

Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

35. Consider the following statements:

Chlorofluorocarbons, known as ozone-depleting substances, are used.

1. in the production of plastic foams
2. in the production of tubeless tyres
3. in cleaning certain electronic components
4. as pressurizing agents in aerosol cans

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]

36. Regarding “carbon credits”, which one of the following statements is not correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2011 Prelims]