2017 Prelims GS-I Environment Questions (Part II)

The following questions in 2017 Prelims were the more difficult and obscure ones. I have given below the questions, answers, and explanations where necessary.

1. 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:

                  (a) 1 and 2 only

                  (b) 3 only

                  (c) 2 and 3 only

                  (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation (from www.gcca.eu):

The GCCA was established by the European Union (EU) in 2007 to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with developing countries, in particular least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). With a budget of more than €300 million it is one of the most significant climate initiatives in the world. By 20It supports 51 programmes around the world and is active in 38 Countries, 8 regions and at the global level. 

By fostering effective dialogue and cooperation on climate change, the Alliance helps to ensure that poor developing countries most vulnerable to climate change increase their capacities to adapt to the effects of climate change, in support of the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Where this benefits their poverty reduction objectives, the Alliance also helps such countries to participate in the global climate change mitigation effort.

2. 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:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 only

Answer: (b)

Explanation (from www.unhabitat.org):

UN-Habitat is the UN programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.

The mandate of UN-Habitat is further derived from other internationally agreed upon development goals, including those established in the UN Millennium Declaration — in particular the target on achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by the year 2020 and the target to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by the year 2015.

UN-Habitat relies almost entirely on voluntary contributions from governments, local authorities, multi-donor trust funds, intergovernmental institutions and the private sector.

(See also Chap. 15, P.534 of the book for information on UN-Habitat Conferences.)

3. 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?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b)

Explanation (from www.ccacoalition.org):

The Climate & Clean Air Coalition is the only global effort that unites governments, civil society and private sector, committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate in next few decades by reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) across sectors.

Recognising that mitigating the impacts of short-lived climate pollutants is critical for addressing near-term climate change and that there are many cost-effective options available, the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the United States, along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), came together to initiate the first effort to treat these pollutants as a collective challenge. Together, they formed a unique initiative to support fast action and make a difference on several fronts at once: public health, food and energy security and climate.

The CCAC is reducing SLCPs by focusing on practical action in key areas such as diesel, oil & gas, waste, bricks, hydrofluorocarbons, household energy, and agriculture. These initiatives were chosen to ensure rapid delivery of climate and clean air benefits by reducing key short-lived climate pollutants, including methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). They seek to promote near-term reductions of SLCPs at a substantial scale worldwide, and to engage high-level stakeholders.

4. The term ‘Domestic Content Requirement’ is sometimes seen in the news with reference to

(a) Developing solar power production in our country

(b) Granting licences to foreign T.V. channels in our country

(c) Exporting our food products to other countries

(d) Permitting foreign educational institutions to set up their campuses in our country

Answer: (a)

Explanation (from www.mnre.gov.in and other reports):

The Government of India launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in 2010. JNNSM aims at deploying solar power across the country but it also mandates to ensure that development across the entire value chain. Hence, developing domestic manufacturing capacity across value chain is also one of the thrust areas of the Mission. To ensure the development of domestic manufacturing, provision of Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) was introduced under the mission in Phase II.

In 2014, the US filed a second complaint against India and the second phase of its National Solar Mission at World Trade Organization (WTO). It said India's programme violated trade agreements between the two countries by restricting US companies from doing business in India. The complaint alleged that the DCR mandate put into place by India discriminated against US exports and favoured Indian manufacturers of solar panels and cells. In 2015, WTO ruled that DCR in India's solar power development programme did conflict with international rules of imports.

5. From the ecological point of view, which one of the followings assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats?

(a) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

(b) Nallamala Forest

(c) Nagarhole National Park

(d) Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve

Answer: (a)

Explanation (from Wikipedia):

Sathyamangalam forest range is a significant wildlife corridor in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve between the Western Ghats and the rest of the Eastern Ghats and a genetic link between the four other protected areas which it adjoins, including the Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Sigur Plateau, Mudumalai National Park and Bandipur National Park.

6. 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?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b)

Explanation (from www.traffic.org):

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

TRAFFIC’s mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. TRAFFIC's vision is of a world where wildlife trade is: managed in a way that maintains healthy wildlife populations and ecosystems; contributes to meeting human needs; supports local and national economies; and helps motivate commitments to conserve wild species and habitats.

7. In the context of solving pollution problems, what is/are the advantage/advantages of bioremediation technique?

1. It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation process that occurs in nature.
2. Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation using microorganisms.
3. Genetic engineering can be used to create microorganisms specifically designed for bioremediation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c)

Note: (d) could also be deemed correct. Bioremediation has been used for removing heavy metals, but it is not clear whether ‘heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation.’

8. Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its likely consequence or consequences?

1. Pollination of some plants could be adversely affected.
2. There could be a drastic increase in the fungal infections of some cultivated plants.
3. It could lead to a fall in the population of some species of wasps, spiders and birds.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c)

Explanation: Butterflies pollinate some wild flowers. Since some species of wasps, spiders and birds are predators of butterflies, decline of the latter could lead to a fall in the population of the predators.

9. It is possible to produce algae based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry?

1. Production of algae based biofuels is possible in seas only and not on continents.
2. Setting up and engineering the algae based biofuel production requires high level of expertise/technology until the construction is completed.
3. Economically viable production necessitates the setting up of large scale facilities which may raise ecological and social concerns.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)