International Environmental Conventions

1.UN Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm (1972)

• Stockholm Conference and Its LegacyImportance 4/5UPSC 2001
  Where and when was the first major UN conference on the environment held, and what documents did it adopt? Remember its link to World Environment Day. Which UN body and which Indian government bodies followed from it? Remember the years and the changes in the ministry's name.
• Stockholm Declaration PrinciplesImportance 3/5
  What is the Declaration's other name? Understand its main themes: the environment as a right, resources for present and future generations, the development needs of developing countries, a State's right to use its own resources together with its duty not to cause harm across borders, and liability and compensation for victims of pollution.

2.United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• UNEP: Establishment and RoleImportance 4/5
  Remember when UNEP was set up and its standing within the UN system. Understand the kinds of work it does: assessing environmental trends, helping build policy and law, and strengthening the institutions that govern the environment.
• UN Environment Assembly (UNEA)Importance 3/5
  How does UNEA differ from UNEP? Remember the latest session (Nairobi, December 2025) and the subjects of its main resolutions, such as glaciers, coral reefs, minerals and artificial intelligence. When is the next session due?
• Bodies and Treaty Secretariats Linked to UNEPImportance 4/5
  Which panel did UNEP found with the WMO, and in which year? Remember the funds it serves as an implementing agency for, and the treaty secretariats it hosts. Be clear why the Montreal Protocol and the Minamata Convention are cited as UNEP successes.
• UNEP Flagship ReportsImportance 4/5
  Remember what each UNEP report assesses and how often it appears: Emissions Gap, Adaptation Gap, Global Environment Outlook, Frontiers, Global Waste Management Outlook, Global Resource Outlook, Protected Planet, Global Cooling Watch and State of Finance for Nature. Which edition of the Global Environment Outlook is the latest?
• UNEP Campaigns and InitiativesImportance 3/5
  Remember the purpose of each campaign and initiative: Beat Pollution, Beat Plastic Pollution, the International Methane Emissions Observatory, the Methane Alert and Response System, the Global Peatlands Initiative and Faith for Earth. How do the Observatory and the Alert System differ?

3.Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro (1992)

• Earth Summit and the Rio ConventionsImportance 4/5
  What was the full name of the Earth Summit, and how does it link to the Stockholm Conference? Which conventions were opened for signature at the summit? How did the UNCCD come out of the summit later?
• Rio Declaration, Agenda 21 and Forest PrinciplesImportance 4/5UPSC 2016
  What documents came out of the Earth Summit besides the conventions? Understand how their legal force differs from that of the conventions. What did Rio+5 review? Be clear which summit Agenda 21 came from, since it is sometimes wrongly tied to a later one.

4.Sustainable Development and the SDGs

• Brundtland Commission and Sustainable DevelopmentImportance 4/5UPSC 2010
  Remember the Commission's formal name, its 1987 report and how the report defined sustainable development. Understand the problem the Commission was set up to address: the supposed conflict between economic development and protecting the environment.
• Follow-Up Summits: Rio+5, Rio+10 and Rio+20Importance 5/5UPSC 4 Years
  Remember the year, city and formal name of each follow-up to the Earth Summit, and the main output of Rio+10 and Rio+20. Understand why Rio+20 matters for the SDGs.
• Millennium Development GoalsImportance 2/5
  When were the MDGs set, when did they run to, and what replaced them? Know the eight goals in outline, including the one on environmental sustainability.
• Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)Importance 3/5UPSC 2018
  Which summit did PAGE come out of, and in which year? Understand its purpose of helping countries move to greener and more inclusive economies, and the SDG it focuses on most.
• Agenda 2030 and the SDG FrameworkImportance 4/5UPSC 2016
  How many goals and targets do the SDGs have? Remember who adopted them, in which year, and for which deadline. Be clear about where the idea came from, since a think tank is sometimes wrongly credited.
• High-level Political Forum on Sustainable DevelopmentImportance 3/5
  Which UN body does the Forum work under, and how often does it meet under the General Assembly and under that body? Which outcome set it up, and which Commission did it replace? Understand its role today: reviewing progress on the SDGs, including the Voluntary National Reviews.
• Environment-Related SDGs (Goals 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15)Importance 4/5
  Remember the number and title of each of these six goals. Know their key environmental targets: integrated water resources management, the share of renewable energy, food waste, fossil fuel subsidies, the UNFCCC, ocean acidification and invasive alien species.
• Social, Economic and Institutional SDGsImportance 3/5UPSC 2017
  Remember the number and title of each remaining goal: Goals 1 to 5, 8 to 11, 16 and 17.
• Carrying Capacity and Sustainable DevelopmentImportance 3/5UPSC 2010
  Understand what the carrying capacity of an ecosystem means and why it matters for planning a region's development. Know the Indian examples: metropolitan cities, the Punjab–Haryana agroecosystem, the Western Ghats and the Himalayas (Joshimath).

5.United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• UNFCCC: Origin, Objective and Legal NatureImportance 5/5UPSC 2010
  Where was the UNFCCC negotiated and where was it signed? Remember the year, its objective, and the current number of Parties, which changes. Is the Convention a binding treaty? Does it itself set binding emission limits? Understand its role as a framework.
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective CapabilitiesImportance 5/5
  Be clear what "common" and "differentiated" mean in this principle. Understand what it asks of developed countries, of developing countries and of least developed countries, and which of these duties are binding. How does it link to finance and technology support?
• Historical Responsibility and Climate InjusticeImportance 3/5
  Why does the build-up of CO₂ over time matter more than today's emissions in the debate on responsibility? Remember the comparisons used: historical shares and per capita emissions of India, China, the US and the EU. Understand climate reparations as an extension of the polluter pays principle.
• ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change (2025)Importance 4/5
  Who asked the International Court of Justice for this opinion, and when was it given? Understand its main findings on States' obligations: treaties, customary law, due diligence, State responsibility and the human-rights link. Is an advisory opinion binding, and how does it differ from a judgment?
• Conference of the Parties and Related Bodies (COP, CMP, CMA)Importance 4/5
  Understand the COP as the Convention's supreme body: how often it meets and when it first met. Distinguish COP, CMP and CMA. Remember the two subsidiary bodies, SBI and SBSTA, and where the secretariat is based.
• Timeline of Major COPs (1995–2025)Importance 4/5
  Remember the host city and main outcome of each landmark COP from Berlin (1995) to Belém (2025). Which COP did India host? Know why Marrakech was called the "Action COP" and which agriculture initiative it launched.
• Hosts of COP31, COP32 and COP33Importance 4/5
  Which country hosts COP31, in which city and in which month? How are the roles split between the host and another country? Who hosts COP32? What did India decide about its offer to host COP33? Note that these arrangements may change.
• Negotiating Groups in Climate TalksImportance 3/5
  Know the main negotiating blocs: G77 and China, BASIC, LMDC, AOSIS, the LDC Group and the Umbrella Group. Whom does each represent, what position does it usually take, and which of them does India belong to?
• Criticisms of the UNFCCCImportance 2/5
  Understand how the consensus rule and the lack of binding emission limits in the Convention limit it. Why are the US, Canada, Japan and Russia cited as examples of developed countries escaping their responsibility?

6.Kyoto Protocol

• Kyoto Protocol: Adoption, Entry Into Force and TargetsImportance 5/5UPSC 1998, 2005
  When was the Protocol adopted, and when did it enter into force? Who was bound by its targets, and what average cut below 1990 levels was set? Understand why only these countries were bound.
• Greenhouse Gases Covered by the Kyoto ProtocolImportance 4/5
  Which six gases or groups of gases does the Protocol cover? Are the ozone-damaging gases included, and why?
• Annex I, Annex II, Annex B and Non-Annex I PartiesImportance 4/5UPSC 2008, 2016
  Distinguish Annex I, Annex II, Annex B, Non-Annex I and least developed countries: who is in each list and what each must do. Which treaty does each annex belong to? Where do economies in transition fit? How did Annex B targets apply in the first and second periods?
• Doha Amendment and the Second Commitment PeriodImportance 3/5
  What did the Doha Amendment change, for which years, and when did it enter into force? Understand why the second period covered only a small share of global emissions: which countries stayed out, and which large emitters had no targets.
• Criticism of the Kyoto ProtocolImportance 3/5
  Understand the main criticisms: countries could buy unused allowances instead of cutting their own emissions, differentiated responsibility let some pollution rise, and large emerging emitters were left out. How does this compare with the Paris approach?
• Flexible Mechanisms and Their Expected BenefitsImportance 3/5
  Which three market-based mechanisms does the Protocol allow? Why must countries act at home first? Understand the expected benefits: green investment, a role for the private sector, and leap-frogging to cleaner technology.
• Clean Development MechanismImportance 5/5UPSC 2008, 2009, 2016
  Understand how the CDM works: who invests, where the project is, and what credit is earned. Remember the unit of that credit. Which Paris Agreement mechanism is its successor, and under which Article?
• Carbon Credits and Emissions TradingImportance 5/5UPSC 2009, 2011
  What is a carbon credit, and how much does one credit stand for? Know the ways of earning credits. Distinguish cap-and-trade from offset trading. Who sets the price of credits?
• Joint ImplementationImportance 3/5
  Understand how Joint Implementation works: between which kinds of Parties, and what unit is earned. How does it differ from the CDM?
• Kyoto Compliance and PenaltiesImportance 2/5
  Remember the consequences of non-compliance: loss of the right to earn credits through Joint Implementation, the extra amount to be made up in the next period, and a possible ban from trading.
• Problems with Carbon MarketsImportance 3/5UPSC 2023
  Understand the main criticisms of carbon markets: too many allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System, the effect of cheap CDM credits on the carbon price, the lack of measurable emission cuts, and corruption and lack of transparency.
• Carbon Tax and the Differential Global Carbon TaxImportance 3/5UPSC 2006
  What is a carbon tax, and why has it met political resistance? Understand how the proposed Differential Global Carbon Tax would work: who pays, who is compensated, and how per capita emissions decide this. Why is it seen as globally just?
• Carbon Tax and Carbon Trading ComparedImportance 4/5
  Which of the two gives certainty about price, and which about the quantity of emissions? What does each leave uncertain? Understand the hybrid model that adds a price ceiling to a cap.
• India's Coal Cess and the Carbon Tax IdeaImportance 3/5
  Understand how India's coal cess works like a carbon tax. Remember how it changed: the Clean Energy Cess of 2010-11, the GST compensation cess, and the 2025 GST Council decision. Which fund did the Clean Energy Cess feed, and where did the compensation cess go afterwards?

7.UNFCCC Summits from Kyoto to Paris

• Poznań, Copenhagen and Cancún Summits (2008–2010)Importance 4/5
  Remember the main outcome of each summit. Poznań: what did it decide on the Adaptation Fund? Copenhagen: the temperature goal and the finance promise. Cancún: the new fund, the review of the temperature goal, and carbon capture in the CDM.
• Durban Platform (2011)Importance 3/5
  What did Durban decide about a universal legal agreement and its deadline? What did it secure for the Kyoto Protocol, and which fund's governing instrument did it approve?
• Warsaw and Lima Summits and the INDCs (2013–2014)Importance 4/5UPSC 2016
  Which summit coined the term INDC, and what did countries agree to do under it? What did Lima urge countries to finalise, and by when? Remember what the Warsaw Mechanism was meant to provide.

8.Paris Agreement

• Adoption, Entry Into Force and Parties of the Paris AgreementImportance 5/5UPSC 2016
  Remember where it was adopted, the condition for entry into force, the year it came into force and the year India ratified it. Understand what ratification means. Know the current number of Parties, which has changed after the US exit.
• Temperature Goal and Long-Term GoalsImportance 5/5
  What temperature limits does the Agreement set? Understand what the effort to reach 1.5°C implies for CO₂ emissions and for other gases such as methane.
• Paris Agreement and Kyoto Protocol ComparedImportance 4/5
  Compare who must act under each treaty and how targets are set. Understand how far Paris can be said to have replaced Kyoto.
• United States Withdrawals from the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCCImportance 4/5
  Understand the sequence of US exits from and return to the Paris Agreement, with the years. When does the US exit from the UNFCCC take effect, and under what notice rule?
• Nationally Determined Contributions and the Ambition CycleImportance 5/5UPSC 2016
  What is an NDC, and how is it different from an INDC? Understand why NDCs are called bottom-up and how often they are updated. What is the current round (NDC 3.0) about? Has India submitted its NDC, and roughly how many Parties have?
• Article 6: Carbon Markets and Non-Market ApproachesImportance 5/5UPSC 2025
  Distinguish Articles 6.2, 6.4 and 6.8: which involves trading of ITMOs, which is a central mechanism and which is non-market? When were the rules settled? How is double counting avoided? Which name is now in use for the Article 6.4 mechanism, and why does an older label still appear?
• Enhanced Transparency Framework and the Paris RulebookImportance 4/5
  Understand what the Enhanced Transparency Framework requires of countries and how the Paris rulebook holds them accountable. Remember what Biennial Transparency Reports cover and when they began.
• Global StocktakeImportance 4/5
  Understand the purpose of the Global Stocktake and how often it is held. In which year did the first one conclude? What is the timeline of the second?
• Global Goal on Adaptation and National Adaptation PlansImportance 4/5
  Which Article sets the Global Goal on Adaptation? Understand the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience and its thematic and dimensional targets. What are National Adaptation Plans, and what do they set out?
• Loss and Damage: Warsaw Mechanism and Santiago NetworkImportance 4/5
  Understand what loss and damage means and why AOSIS and the least developed countries pressed for action. When was the Warsaw International Mechanism created? What do the Santiago Network and the Glasgow Dialogue do?
• Long-Term Low-Emission Development StrategiesImportance 3/5
  What are long-term low-emission development strategies? Remember the Article of the Paris Agreement that asks for them, and the date by which COP26 urged Parties to submit them.
• India's INDC (2015)Importance 4/5
  Remember India's three INDC targets: emission intensity of GDP, non-fossil share of electricity capacity, and an additional carbon sink. Know the target year of each, and the base year of the emission-intensity target.
• India's Updated NDC (2022)Importance 5/5
  What are the three targets of India's updated NDC for 2030? How do they differ from the INDC and from Panchamrit? Which target has already been met, and what is the current position?
• India's NDC for 2031–2035Importance 5/5
  When was India's NDC for 2031–2035 submitted? Know its targets for emission intensity, non-fossil capacity and carbon sink. How do they differ from the 2022 targets? Know the exact figures.
• India's Long-Term Low Emission Development StrategyImportance 4/5
  Remember the four considerations behind India's strategy and the net-zero year it is built around. Understand its main directions for transport, cities and energy efficiency. At which COP was it submitted?

9.Net Zero and the Emissions Gap

• Climate Neutral NowImportance 3/5UPSC 2018
  Which body launched Climate Neutral Now, and in which year? Remember the three steps it asks of individuals, companies and governments.
• Net Zero and Carbon NeutralityImportance 4/5UPSC 2024
  Distinguish net zero from carbon neutrality. Remember the target years of the EU, China and India, and whether the EU target is legally binding. What does the Net Zero Stocktake show about the number of countries and companies with targets?
• Pathways to Net ZeroImportance 2/5
  Know the main routes to net zero: clean coal technology, carbon sequestration, forests as sinks, geoengineering, electric mobility with renewable energy, and carbon trading and tax. Which are short-term and which long-term measures?
• Emissions Gap Report: Purpose and Latest FindingsImportance 4/5
  What gap does the Emissions Gap Report measure, and how often is it issued? Remember the latest findings: projected warming with current pledges and with current policies, and the cuts needed by 2035 for the 2°C and 1.5°C pathways.
• India in the Emissions Gap ReportImportance 3/5
  What does the latest report say about India's total emissions, its rate of increase and its per capita level? Understand what the "climate justice trap" means.

10.Climate Finance

• Global Environment Facility: Role and Conventions ServedImportance 5/5UPSC 2014
  Remember when the GEF began, whether it is a financial body or a research body, and the areas it funds. Which conventions does it serve? Is the BBNJ Agreement among them? How is it linked to the Montreal Protocol, and how does that differ from the Multilateral Fund? What are the size and period of the GEF-9 replenishment?
• Funds and Programmes Under the GEF (SCCF, LDCF, GWP, GBFF)Importance 3/5
  Remember the purpose and starting year of the Special Climate Change Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund, the Global Wildlife Programme and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund. Who leads the Global Wildlife Programme?
• Adaptation FundImportance 3/5
  Under which treaty was the Adaptation Fund set up, and when was it established? When did it begin to serve the Paris Agreement? Where does its money come from, and how is that source changing?
• Green Climate FundImportance 5/5UPSC 2015
  At which COP was the Green Climate Fund decided, and at which was its Governing Instrument approved? Where is it based? Under whose authority was it set up? Understand its purpose, and how it differs from the GEF.
• Fund for Responding to Loss and DamageImportance 4/5
  When was the Fund created, when did it become operational, and who is its trustee and interim host? Which country hosts its Board? What is its first call for funding requests (the Barbados Implementation Modalities)? Know the current pledges and how much has been paid, since these change.
• The USD 100 Billion GoalImportance 4/5UPSC 2016
  Who promised the USD 100 billion a year, when was it first promised, and how was it later extended? When did the OECD say the goal was first met? Why do developing countries dispute that claim, and what did the delay do to trust between developed and developing countries?
• New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate FinanceImportance 5/5
  What did COP29 agree under the NCQG? Remember the two amounts and their year, and the difference between them. Understand the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap and the work programme set up at COP30. Know the latest progress.
• India's Climate Finance Needs and National FundsImportance 3/5
  Know the estimates of India's climate finance needs and the gap they point to. Distinguish the National Clean Energy Fund from the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change: what each funds, and the role of NABARD.

11.COP26: Glasgow (2021)

• Coal Phase-Down and Fossil Fuel SubsidiesImportance 4/5
  What wording did the Glasgow decision use on coal and fossil fuel subsidies? Understand the dispute between "phase-down" and "phase-out", and the part India and China played in it.
• Global Methane PledgeImportance 4/5
  What is the Pledge's target and base year? Why did India not sign? Understand the idea of "survival emissions" against "luxury emissions". What is the "burp tax"?
• Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land UseImportance 3/5
  What does the Declaration commit countries to, and by when? Why did India not sign?
• PanchamritImportance 5/5
  Remember the five elements of India's announcement: the share of energy from renewables, the emission reduction in tonnes, the emission intensity of GDP, the non-fossil energy capacity, and the net-zero year. Know the value of each target. How does Panchamrit differ from the updated NDC?
• Mission LiFEImportance 4/5
  Understand Mission LiFE: where the idea was first presented, and where and when the mission was formally launched. What is the "use and dispose" economy it aims to replace, and what is its guiding principle? What does the P3 idea stand for?

12.COP27: Sharm El-Sheikh (2022)

• Major Outcomes of COP27Importance 4/5
  What did COP27 decide on loss and damage? What did India call for on fossil fuels, and why did the final text still mention only coal?
• Initiatives Launched at COP27Importance 2/5
  What are the Methane Alert and Response System and the Global Shield Against Climate Risks Initiative? Who is behind each? What did the paper on illegal wildlife trade say about its link to climate change?

13.COP28: Dubai (2023)

• First Global Stocktake Outcome and the Transition Away from Fossil FuelsImportance 4/5
  What exact words did the first Global Stocktake outcome use on fossil fuels? Understand what it avoided saying, and what it kept from Glasgow on coal.
• Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency PledgeImportance 3/5
  Remember the two targets of the pledge and their year. Did India sign the pledge? Did it accept the similar call in the first Global Stocktake outcome?
• Global Cooling Pledge and the Nuclear Tripling DeclarationImportance 3/5
  Remember the target of each pledge and its year. What was India's position on both, and why?
• Declaration on Climate and HealthImportance 4/5UPSC 2025
  Is the Declaration binding? Why did India not sign? Why is it seen as the first time health was formally placed on the climate agenda?
• Nature Solutions Finance Hub and Coal Transition AcceleratorImportance 3/5UPSC 2025
  Who launched the Nature Solutions Finance Hub, and who launched the Coal Transition Accelerator? Understand the purpose of each.
• Global River Cities AllianceImportance 3/5
  Which Indian mission leads the Alliance? How does it relate to the River Cities Alliance: which ministries run that one, and when was it launched? Who supports the Alliance?
• Green Credit InitiativeImportance 3/5
  Who co-hosted the Green Credit Initiative at COP28? Understand its idea, and how green credits differ from carbon credits.
• Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT)Importance 3/5
  Which two countries founded LeadIT, and in which year? What does LeadIT 2.0, launched at COP28, focus on?

14.COP29: Baku (2024)

• Baku Outcomes on Adaptation, Indigenous Peoples and GenderImportance 3/5
  Remember the named outcomes. Adaptation: the Baku Adaptation Road Map and the High-Level Dialogue. Indigenous peoples: the Baku Workplan and the Facilitative Working Group. Gender: the Lima work programme and its extension.
• Shortcomings of COP29Importance 2/5
  Understand the main shortcomings: the gap between the finance agreed and the finance demanded, the missing fossil fuel language, the deadlock on the Global Stocktake follow-up and the Mitigation Work Programme, and little attention to food and land.
• India's Initiatives at COP29Importance 2/5
  Remember what India promoted: the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and its island programme, LeadIT with the India–Sweden Industry Transition Partnership, and the International Solar Alliance's solar target.
• India's Stances at COP29Importance 3/5
  Understand India's positions on the finance goal, the Mitigation Work Programme, adaptation indicators, the Global Stocktake follow-up and just transition. What did India demand on finance, and how much should be grants?

15.COP30: Belém (2025)

• COP30 as the Implementation COP and Its Action AgendaImportance 3/5
  Why was COP30 called the "implementation COP"? Understand the meaning of "mutirão" and the Belém Political Package. What are the six axes of the Action Agenda?
• Adaptation Outcomes at COP30Importance 4/5
  What did COP30 agree on adaptation finance, and by when? Why was this criticised? Remember the first indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation and the areas they cover, and the NAP Implementation Alliance.
• Fossil Fuel Roadmap, Global Implementation Accelerator and Belém Mission to 1.5Importance 3/5
  What was left out of the final decision on fossil fuels? What did the COP30 President announce outside the formal decision? Understand the two platforms launched instead: the Global Implementation Accelerator and the Belém Mission to 1.5°C.
• Just Transition MechanismImportance 4/5
  What does "just transition" mean? What did COP30 decide about a mechanism for it, and under which work programme? Understand its purpose and when it is due to be made operational. What was India's stand on it?
• Belém Health Action Plan and Gender Action PlanImportance 2/5
  Understand the focus of the Health Action Plan. Which years does the Gender Action Plan cover, and which earlier programme does it carry forward?
• Belém 4X Sustainable Fuels PledgeImportance 3/5
  What does the pledge aim for and by when? Which fuels does it cover? Who launched it, and what was India's role?
• Tropical Forests Forever FacilityImportance 4/5
  Understand how the Facility pays countries for results, and how forests are monitored. Remember its target size, its trustee, the share for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and India's status.
• RAIZ Initiative and Belém Declaration on HungerImportance 2/5
  What does RAIZ aim to do, and who leads it? What is the focus of the Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty and People-Centred Climate Action?
• Unilateral Trade Measures Dialogue and CBAMImportance 3/5
  What is the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism? Understand why developing countries say such measures go against CBDR-RC, why the Dialogue was started, and what India's view is.
• Other COP30 InitiativesImportance 2/5
  Remember the aim of each smaller initiative: OPIN, the Global Ethical Stocktake, FINI, the Declaration on Information Integrity, the Declaration on Fertilisers, the Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator, the Ocean Taskforce with the Blue NDC Challenge, and ARISE.
• Shortcomings of COP30Importance 2/5
  Understand the main shortcomings: no fossil fuel roadmap, unclear finance, delayed adaptation finance, weak adaptation indicators, the absence of official US representation, the gap in NDC ambition, trade disputes and limited action on deforestation.
• India's Stance at COP30Importance 4/5
  Why did India call Article 9.1 finance a legal obligation of developed countries? Understand India's positions on equity and CBDR-RC, adaptation, the just transition mechanism and unilateral trade measures such as CBAM.

16.Other Climate Initiatives and Partnerships

• UN-REDD Programme and REDD+Importance 4/5UPSC 2015, 2016
  Distinguish UN-REDD from REDD+: which agencies run the programme, when it began, where it is based, and who developed the approach. What does the "plus" add? Which other bodies help countries with REDD+?
• Forest Carbon Partnership FacilityImportance 3/5UPSC 2015
  Who are the partners in the Facility, and what is the World Bank's role? Understand its objectives. Does it give money to universities and scientists for forestry research?
• BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest LandscapesImportance 3/5UPSC 2015
  Which institution manages the Fund? Understand what it aims at in the land sector: REDD+, sustainable agriculture and better land-use planning.
• Climate and Clean Air Coalition and Short-Lived Climate PollutantsImportance 3/5UPSC 2017
  When was the Coalition formed, and with which UN body? Which pollutants count as short-lived climate pollutants, and how long do they stay in the air? Understand why cutting them matters for warming and for crops.
• Cool CoalitionImportance 2/5
  What does the Cool Coalition aim to do? Remember the year of its launch and the four bodies that lead it.
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient InfrastructureImportance 4/5
  Which country launched the Coalition, and where in 2019? What is the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States, and whom does it serve?
• Three Per Cent ClubImportance 2/5
  What annual target does the Three Per Cent Club promote, and what kind of members does it have?
• Global Climate Change Alliance PlusImportance 3/5UPSC 2017
  Whose initiative is the Alliance? Which groups of countries does it help, and what does it support them with? Be clear how it differs from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
• Global Alliance for Climate-Smart AgricultureImportance 4/5UPSC 2018, 2021
  Which organisation promotes the Alliance? Understand its three aims. Does membership create binding obligations? Is it an outcome of the Paris summit?
• Greenhouse Gas ProtocolImportance 3/5UPSC 2016
  What is the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and which two organisations built it? Is it a treaty between countries?
• Arctic CouncilImportance 3/5
  Understand what the Council is for. Which eight states are its members? Which non-Arctic countries are observers, and is India one?

1. 1.

   India created institutions after the 1972 Stockholm Conference motivated countries to set up environmental ministries and agencies. Consider the following pairs:

   Indian body	Year
   1. Department of Environment created	1980
   2. Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) created	1985
   3. MoEF renamed Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change	2019

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

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
2. 2.

   Consider the following statements about the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
   1. UNEP and the World Meteorological Organisation established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 1988.
   2. UNEP was established in 1992 as an outcome of the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro.
   3. UNEP is an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility but has no role in the Multilateral Fund for the Montreal Protocol.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
3. 3.

   The 1987 report 'Our Common Future', which popularised the modern idea of sustainable development, was produced by which one of the following?

   1. AThe United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
   2. BThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
   3. CThe World Commission on Environment and Development
   4. DThe High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
4. 4.

   Consider the following statements regarding the Earth Summit and its follow-ups:
   1. The Rio+10 summit of 2002 at Johannesburg was formally called the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
   2. Rio+20 (2012) was held in Rio de Janeiro as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
   3. The 1992 Earth Summit was held on the 20th anniversary of the Stockholm Conference.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
5. 5.

   Consider the following statements:
   Statement-I: Agenda 21 was released as part of the 1992 Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro.
   Statement-II: Agenda 21 is a legally binding action plan of the United Nations on sustainable development.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
6. 6.

   Consider the following statements:
   1. The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 goals with 169 targets, set by the UN General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030.
   2. The Sustainable Development Goals were born at the Rio+20 conference.
   3. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by the Club of Rome.
   4. The Millennium Development Goals were established following the UN Millennium Summit in 2000.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
7. 7.

   The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, created by the Rio+20 outcome 'The Future We Want', replaced which one of the following bodies?

   1. AThe Economic and Social Council
   2. BThe UN Environment Assembly
   3. CThe Council of the Global Environment Facility
   4. DThe Commission on Sustainable Development
8. 8.

   Match List I with List II:

   List I (SDG)	List II (Target)
   A. Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	1. Integrated Water Resources Management
   B. Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	2. Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
   C. Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	3. Removing market distortions such as fossil fuel subsidies
   D. Goal 14: Life Below Water	4. Reducing marine pollution and ocean acidification

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. AA-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
   2. BA-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
   3. CA-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
   4. DA-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
9. 9.

   Consider the following statements regarding the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):
   1. It was negotiated in New York in 1992 and signed at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.
   2. The Convention itself sets binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
   3. The Conference of the Parties, its supreme decision-making body, meets annually unless otherwise decided and first met in 1995.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D2 and 3 only
10. 10.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Kyoto Protocol:
    1. It was adopted on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto and was the first international treaty to set legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
    2. It required industrialised countries to reduce emissions by an average of 5 per cent below 2005 levels.
    3. It entered into force in 2005.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone
11. 11.

    Consider the following pairs:

    Category	Description
    1. Annex II	Developed countries, a subset of Annex I, that provide financial and technical support to developing countries
    2. Annex B	Annex I Parties with first-round or second-round Kyoto emission targets
    3. Non-Annex I	Parties with binding emission reduction targets in the second commitment period

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

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1 and 2 only
12. 12.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol:
    1. It set new emission-reduction targets for participating countries for the second commitment period, 2013-2020.
    2. The extension covered only about 15 per cent of global CO2 emissions.
    3. The United States stayed out of the second commitment period after having ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
13. 13.

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Under a cap-and-trade programme, the market price of carbon credits can vary.
    Statement-II: A pure carbon cap fixes the quantity of emissions that may be released.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
14. 14.

    Under the Kyoto Protocol, which one of the following mechanisms allows a Party with an emission reduction commitment to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission-reduction project in another Party that also has a commitment?

    1. AClean Development Mechanism
    2. BEmissions trading
    3. CJoint Implementation
    4. DThe Article 6.4 mechanism of the Paris Agreement
15. 15.

    Match List I with List II:

    List I (Summit)	List II (Outcome)
    A. Copenhagen (2009)	1. Developed countries promised to mobilise US$100 billion a year in long-term finance by 2020
    B. Cancún (2010)	2. Agreement to include carbon capture and storage in Clean Development Mechanism projects
    C. Durban (2011)	3. Decision to adopt a universal legal agreement no later than 2015
    D. Warsaw (2013)	4. Coining of the term Intended Nationally Determined Contributions

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. AA-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
    2. BA-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
    3. CA-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
    4. DA-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
16. 16.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Green Climate Fund (GCF):
    1. The decision to set up the GCF was taken at COP16 in Cancún (2010).
    2. Its Governing Instrument was approved at COP17 in Durban (2011).
    3. It is headquartered in Songdo, Incheon City, Republic of Korea.
    4. It was founded under the aegis of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
17. 17.

    As of October 2026, consider the following statements regarding the Adaptation Fund:
    1. It was set up under the Paris Agreement.
    2. It is financed partly from a 2 per cent share of the proceeds from Certified Emission Reductions.
    3. It has served the Paris Agreement since 1 January 2019.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
18. 18.

    As of October 2026, the Global Environment Facility serves as a financial mechanism for several international conventions. Which one of the following is NOT among them?

    1. AThe Montreal Protocol
    2. BThe Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
    3. CThe United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
    4. DThe Minamata Convention on Mercury
19. 19.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Paris Agreement:
    1. Under it, only developed countries are required to set emission reduction targets.
    2. It entered into force in 2016 after ratification by 55 countries accounting for at least 55 per cent of global emissions.
    3. India signed and ratified it in 2016.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D2 and 3 only
20. 20.

    As of November 2025, consider the following statements regarding the UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025:
    1. With full implementation of current Nationally Determined Contributions, it projects warming this century of 2.3-2.5°C.
    2. Under current policies alone, it projects warming of up to 2.8°C.
    3. To align with the 1.5°C pathway, emissions must be cut by 35 per cent by 2035 compared with 2019 levels.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone
21. 21.

    As of April 2026, consider the following statements regarding India's Nationally Determined Contributions:
    1. India's updated NDC of August 2022 targets a 45 per cent reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP by 2030 from the 2005 level.
    2. India's NDC for 2031-2035 targets a 47 per cent reduction in emissions intensity from the 2005 level by 2035.
    3. India's NDC for 2031-2035 sets an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
22. 22.

    Consider the following statements regarding India's Panchamrit announced at COP26:
    1. India announced a target of 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
    2. India pledged to reduce projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030.
    3. India announced a net-zero emissions target for the year 2060.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone
23. 23.

    Consider the following statements regarding the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities:
    1. The UNFCCC acknowledges the principle and makes it clear that rich countries must provide both finance and technology to developing nations.
    2. Under the principle as applied in the Kyoto Protocol, developing countries and least developed countries accepted binding limits on their greenhouse gas emissions.
    3. Historical responsibility matters because carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, so its cumulative accumulation causes global warming.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D2 and 3 only
24. 24.

    As of October 2026, which one of the following correctly describes the arrangements for the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UNFCCC?

    1. AIt is hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    2. BIt is hosted in Belém, Brazil
    3. CIt is hosted in Antalya, Türkiye, while Australia holds the role of President of Negotiations
    4. DIt is hosted in Sydney, Australia, while Türkiye holds the role of President of Negotiations
25. 25.

    Consider the following statements regarding fossil fuel language in UNFCCC decisions:
    1. The COP26 decision called for the 'phase-out of unabated coal power'.
    2. The COP28 decision called for 'transitioning away from fossil fuels' in energy systems, without timelines or binding targets.
    3. The Glasgow language on 'phase-down of unabated coal power' was reiterated at COP28.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D2 and 3 only

1. 1.

   UPSC 2023

   Consider the following statements :
   Statement-I : Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change.
   Statement-II : Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
2. 2.

   UPSC 2025

   Consider the following statements :
   Statement I : At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), India refrained from signing the ‘Declaration on Climate and Health’.
   Statement II : The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a binding declaration; and if signed, it becomes mandatory to decarbonize health sector.
   Statement III : If India’s health sector is decarbonized, the resilience of its health-care system may be compromised.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
   2. BBoth Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
   3. COnly one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
   4. DNeither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
3. 3.

   UPSC 2025

   Consider the following statements :
   Statement I : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.
   Statement II : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.
   Statement III : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
   2. BBoth Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
   3. COnly one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
   4. DNeither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
4. 4.

   UPSC 2025

   Which one of the following launched the ‘Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific’?

   1. AThe Asian Development Bank (ADB)
   2. BThe Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
   3. CThe New Development Bank (NDB)
   4. DThe International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
5. 5.

   UPSC 2024

   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 ?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
6. 6.

   UPSC 2022

   Consider the following statements :
   1. “The Climate Group” is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.
   2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative “EP100”.
   3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals.
   4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100.
   5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the “Under2 Coalition”.
   Which of the statements given above are correct ?

   1. A1, 2, 4 and 5
   2. B1, 3 and 4 only
   3. C2, 3 and 5 only
   4. D1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
7. 7.

   UPSC 2021

   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?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
8. 8.

   UPSC 2018

   With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct ?
   1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015.
   2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations.
   3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below :

   1. A1 and 3 only
   2. B2 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
9. 9.

   UPSC 2018

   The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at

   1. AThe Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg
   2. BThe United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro
   3. CThe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris
   4. DThe World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi
10. 10.

    UPSC 2018

    "Momentum for Change : Climate Neutral Now" is an initiative launched by

    1. AThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
    2. BThe UNEP Secretariat
    3. CThe UNFCCC Secretariat
    4. DThe World Meteorological Organization
11. 11.

    UPSC 2017

    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 :

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B3 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
12. 12.

    UPSC 2017

    With reference to the role of UN-Habitat in the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements is/are correct ?
    1. UN-Habitat has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all.
    2. Its partners are either governments or local urban authorities only.
    3. UN-Habitat contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below ;

    1. A1, 2 and 3
    2. B1 and 3 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1 only
13. 13.

    UPSC 2017

    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 ?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
14. 14.

    UPSC 2016

    The term 'Intended Nationally Determined Contributions' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of

    1. Apledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East
    2. Bplan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change
    3. Ccapital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
    4. Dplan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals
15. 15.

    UPSC 2016

    Consider the following pairs :

    	Terms sometimes seen in the news	Their origin
    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?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
16. 16.

    UPSC 2016

    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.

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B3 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
17. 17.

    UPSC 2016

    What is 'Greenhouse Gas Protocol'?

    1. AIt is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions
    2. BIt is an initiative of the United Nations to offer financial incentives to developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adopt eco-friendly technologies
    3. CIt is an inter-governmental agreement ratified by all the member countries of the United Nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to specified levels by the year 2022
    4. DIt is one of the multilateral REDD+ initiatives hosted by the World Bank
18. 18.

    UPSC 2016

    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?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
19. 19.

    UPSC 2016

    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.

    1. A1 and 3 only
    2. B2 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
20. 20.

    UPSC 2016

    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?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
21. 21.

    UPSC 2015

    What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?

    1. AIt is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
    2. BIt is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization
    3. CIt is a Conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change
    4. DIt is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity
22. 22.

    UPSC 2015

    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.

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
23. 23.

    UPSC 2015

    'BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes' is managed by the

    1. AAsian Development Bank
    2. BInternational Monetary Fund
    3. CUnited Nations Environment Programme
    4. DWorld Bank
24. 24.

    UPSC 2015

    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.

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
25. 25.

    UPSC 2014

    With reference to 'Global Environment Facility', which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. AIt serves as financial mechanism for 'Convention on Biological Diversity' and 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change'
    2. BIt undertakes scientific research on environmental issues at global level
    3. CIt is an agency under OECD to facilitate the transfer of technology and funds to underdeveloped countries with specific aim to protect their environment
    4. DBoth (a) and (b)
26. 26.

    UPSC 2011

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

    1. AThe carbon credit system was ratified in conjunction with the Kyoto Protocol
    2. BCarbon credits are awarded to countries or groups that have reduced greenhouse gases below their emission quota
    3. CThe goal of the carbon credit system is to limit the increase of carbon dioxide emission
    4. DCarbon credits are traded at a price fixed from time to time by the United Nations Environment Programme
27. 27.

    UPSC 2010

    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty drawn at

    1. AUnited Nations’ Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 1972
    2. BUN Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992
    3. CWorld Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002
    4. DUN Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen, 2009
28. 28.

    UPSC 2010

    Sustainable development is described as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In this perspective, inherently the concept of sustainable development is intertwined with which of the following concepts ?

    1. ASocial justice and empowerment
    2. BInclusive Growth
    3. CGlobalization
    4. DCarrying capacity
29. 29.

    UPSC 2009

    In the context of CO₂ emission and Global Warming, what is the name of a market-driven device under the UNFCCC that allows developing countries to get funds/incentives from the developed countries to adopt better technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions ?

    1. ACarbon Footprint
    2. BCarbon Credit Rating
    3. CClean Development Mechanism
    4. DEmission Reduction Norm
30. 30.

    UPSC 2009

    The concept of carbon credit originated from which one of the following ?

    1. AEarth Summit, Rio de Janeiro
    2. BKyoto Protocol
    3. CMontreal Protocol
    4. DG-8 Summit, Heiligendamm
31. 31.

    UPSC 2008

    Where was the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio + 10) held?

    1. ADavos
    2. BNova Scotia
    3. CJohannesburg
    4. DShanghai
32. 32.

    UPSC 2008

    Consider the following statements:
    1. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in respect of carbon credits is one of the Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms.
    2. Under the CDM, the projects handled pertain only to the Annex-I countries.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
33. 33.

    UPSC 2006

    Which one of the following countries is the first country in the world to propose a carbon tax for its people to address global warming?

    1. AAustralia
    2. BGermany
    3. CJapan
    4. DNew Zealand
34. 34.

    UPSC 2005

    Consider the following statements :
    1. Kyoto Protocol came into force in the year 2005
    2. Kyoto Protocol deals primarily with the depletion of the Ozone layer.
    3. Methane as a greenhouse gas is more harmful than carbon dioxide
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 and 2
    2. B1 and 3
    3. C1 only
    4. D3 only
35. 35.

    UPSC 2002

    A World Summit with representation from all the countries will be held in Johannesburg in September 2002 on the subject of

    1. AAIDS control
    2. BGlobal terrorism
    3. CHuman rights
    4. DSustainable development
36. 36.

    UPSC 2001

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
    List I (Important Day)
    I. World Environment Day
    II. World Forestry Day
    III. World Habitat Day
    IV. World Ozone Day
    List II (Date) A) March 20 B) June 5 C) September 16 D) October 3 E) December 10

    1. AI-B, II-A, III-D, IV-E
    2. BI-A, II-B, III-D, IV-C
    3. CI-A, II-B, III-C, IV-D
    4. DI-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
37. 37.

    UPSC 1998

    World Environment Conference to discuss global warming was held in 1997 in

    1. AStockholm
    2. BRio de Janeiro
    3. CParis
    4. DKyoto