UPSC Prelims 2014 Q79: Environment & Ecology – Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases
Consider the following statements regarding 'Earth Hour':
1. It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO.
2. It is a movement in which the participants switch off the lights for one hour on a certain day
every year.
3. It is a movement to raise the awareness about the climate change and the need to save the
planet.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Earth Hour
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO | Incorrect | It is organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) |
| 2. It is a movement in which the participants switch off the lights for one hour on a certain day every year | Correct | 8:30 to 9:30 pm, usually on the last Saturday of March |
| 3. It is a movement to raise the awareness about the climate change and the need to save the planet | Correct | Its stated purpose |
Key facts:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Began | Sydney, Australia, 2007 |
| Symbol | '60+': sixty minutes and beyond |
| Different from | Earth Day on 22 April, started in 1970 |
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false; it is a WWF initiative.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 3 is also true: it raises awareness about climate change.
- (c) CORRECT. Lights go off for one hour, to raise awareness about climate change.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false; UNEP and UNESCO do not run it.
Key point
Earth Hour: WWF initiative begun in Sydney (2007); lights off 8:30-9:30 pm on the last Saturday of March. Earth Day is 22 April.
Remember
Earth Hour = WWF, Sydney 2007, lights off.
Common mistakes
- Crediting Earth Hour to UN bodies.
- Confusing Earth Hour (March) with Earth Day (22 April).
- Forgetting where it began: Sydney.
Exam tip
Earth Hour = WWF. Earth Day = 22 April. World Environment Day = 5 June (UNEP).
Sources
- World Wide Fund for Nature — Earth Hour
- UN Environment Programme — World Environment Day