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Practice conventions-and-laws with 20 free MCQ questions covering environment-and-ecology. Detailed explanations in English and Hindi, perfect for UPSC, SSC, and competitive exam preparation.
Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.
Q1.The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987 to control the emission of ozone-depleting substances, was amended in 2016 to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This amendment is called the:
Explanation: The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was adopted in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda. It aims to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which were introduced as replacements for CFCs but are highly potent greenhouse gases contributing to global warming.
Q2.Which of the following principles lies at the core of the Kyoto Protocol, recognizing that developed nations bear a greater historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions?
Explanation: The principle of 'Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities' (CBDR) under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol mandates that while all nations must protect the environment, developed nations (Annex I) must take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to their greater historical emissions during industrialization.
Q3.The Kyoto Protocol established three market-based flexible mechanisms to help developed nations meet their emission reduction targets. Which of the following is NOT one of these mechanisms?
Explanation: The Kyoto Protocol's three flexible mechanisms are: (1) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM - project-based carbon credits in developing nations), (2) Joint Implementation (JI - project-based credits in other developed nations), and (3) International Emissions Trading (IET). GEF is a financial mechanism under UNFCCC but not a Kyoto flexible trading mechanism.
Q4.Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, what is the term used for the individual voluntary emission reduction pledges submitted by each country to combat climate change?
Explanation: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are the commitments made by each country under the Paris Agreement. They outline how much a nation plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, updated every five years.
Q5.The Cartagena Protocol, a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted in 2000, specifically regulates the safety of which of the following?
Explanation: The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty governing the movements of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another, ensuring biosafety and preventing risks to natural biodiversity.
Q6.Which procedure under the Cartagena Protocol requires exporting countries to obtain consent from importing countries before the first intentional transboundary movement of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs)?
Explanation: The Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure is a key component of the Cartagena Protocol. It ensures that importing countries have the opportunity to assess environmental and safety risks associated with an LMO before agreeing to import it.
Q7.The Nagoya Protocol, a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted in 2010, is designed to implement which primary objective of the CBD?
Explanation: The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three core objectives of the CBD: benefit-sharing.
Q8.A set of 20 ambitious biodiversity conservation goals, known as the 'Aichi Targets', were adopted under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 at which international meeting?
Explanation: The Aichi Biodiversity Targets were adopted at the Nagoya Conference (COP 10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity) in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in October 2010, establishing a global framework for conservation over the next decade.
Q9.Under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, how many 'Aichi Targets' were established to address the global crisis of biodiversity loss?
Explanation: The Aichi Targets consist of 20 targets organized under 5 strategic goals: (A) Address underlying causes of loss, (B) Reduce direct pressures, (C) Improve biodiversity status, (D) Enhance benefits to all, and (E) Enhance implementation through participatory planning.
Q10.Which of the following carbon-market concepts was created under the Kyoto Protocol to allow developed countries to earn credits by funding emission reduction projects in developing countries?
Explanation: The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), defined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows Annex I countries to implement emission-reduction projects in developing (non-Annex I) countries. Such projects earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.
Q11.The Kyoto Protocol commits industrialized nations to limit emissions of how many primary greenhouse gases?
Explanation: The Kyoto Protocol controls the emission of six primary greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) was added during the second commitment period.
Q12.In the context of the Montreal Protocol, why was the transition from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) later criticized by climatologists?
Explanation: HFCs contain fluorine instead of chlorine, so they do not destroy stratospheric ozone molecules. However, they are powerful greenhouse gases (thousands of times more potent than CO2). This led to the Kigali Amendment to phase them out in favor of eco-friendly alternatives.
Q13.Which international agreement established the goal of limiting global average temperature increase to well below 2°C, and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels?
Explanation: The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP 21 in 2015, established the landmark temperature targets to keep global warming well below 2°C, and ideally limit it to 1.5°C to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.
Q14.The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mandates which key requirement from bioprospectors before accessing genetic resources from indigenous communities?
Explanation: The Nagoya Protocol ABS framework requires bioprospectors (pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies) to obtain Prior Informed Consent (PIC) from host countries and indigenous communities, and establish Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) for benefit-sharing before genetic materials can be collected.
Q15.Under the Paris Agreement, every five years, a collective assessment is conducted to review global progress towards achieving the long-term goals of the agreement. This process is called the:
Explanation: The Global Stocktake (GST) is a process established under Article 14 of the Paris Agreement. The first GST took place at COP28 in 2023, serving as a review mechanism to assess the collective progress of all nations and inform their subsequent Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Q16.The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety regulates Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). Which of the following is a classic example of an LMO regulated under this protocol?
Explanation: LMOs are organisms that possess a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology (recombinant DNA technology). Genetically engineered Bt Cotton, containing bacterial toxin genes to resist pests, is a classic example regulated under biosafety protocols.
Q17.Which of the following international agreements is a legally binding protocol designed to protect the ozone layer, representing one of the most successful environmental treaties in history?
Explanation: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is universally ratified by all 198 UN member states. It successfully phased out 99% of ozone-depleting chemicals, allowing the ozone layer to recover slowly.
Q18.In what year did the Kyoto Protocol officially enter into force after being ratified by countries representing a major portion of global carbon dioxide emissions?
Explanation: Although adopted on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, the Kyoto Protocol did not enter into force until 16 February 2005, following its ratification by Russia, which satisfied the requirement that at least 55 parties representing 55% of 1990 Annex I emissions ratify it.
Q19.The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in December 2022, serves as the successor to the Aichi Targets. It aims to protect what percentage of the world's land and oceans by 2030?
Explanation: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework contains 4 goals and 23 targets. Target 3, commonly called the '30 by 30' target, mandates that at least 30 percent of terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas are effectively conserved and managed by 2030.
Q20.Which of the following represents the main difference between the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement regarding emission reduction obligations?
Explanation: The Kyoto Protocol followed a top-down approach with legally binding targets for developed nations (Annex I) and no targets for developing nations. The Paris Agreement uses a bottom-up approach where all countries (developed and developing) submit their own voluntary NDCs, making it universally inclusive.
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