UPSC Prelims 2016 Q30: Environment & Ecology – Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases
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?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 3 only
Explanation
Climate and biodiversity terms and their origin
| Pair | Verdict | Actual origin |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Annex-I Countries : Cartagena Protocol | Incorrect | UNFCCC (1992); Annex I lists industrialised countries |
| 2. Certified Emissions Reductions : Nagoya Protocol | Incorrect | Kyoto Protocol; they are credits earned under the CDM |
| 3. Clean Development Mechanism : Kyoto Protocol | Correct | Kyoto Protocol (1997), Article 12 |
The protocols compared:
| Protocol | Parent convention | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto (1997) | UNFCCC | Emission cuts; CDM, Joint Implementation, emissions trading |
| Cartagena (2000) | Convention on Biological Diversity | Biosafety; living modified organisms |
| Nagoya (2010) | Convention on Biological Diversity | Access and benefit sharing of genetic resources |
Answer: (c) 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Neither pair is right; both terms come from the climate regime.
- (b) Incorrect. Certified Emissions Reductions come from the Kyoto Protocol, not Nagoya.
- (c) CORRECT. Only the Clean Development Mechanism - Kyoto Protocol pair is correctly matched.
- (d) Incorrect. Pairs 1 and 2 mix climate terms with biodiversity protocols.
Key point
Annex I = UNFCCC; CDM and Certified Emissions Reductions = Kyoto Protocol; Cartagena = biosafety; Nagoya = access and benefit sharing.
Remember
CDM and its credits = Kyoto; Cartagena and Nagoya = biodiversity.
Common mistakes
- Mixing climate terms with biodiversity protocols.
- Not knowing that Certified Emissions Reductions are the credits of the CDM.
- Placing Annex I in the Kyoto Protocol; the list comes from the UNFCCC.
Exam tip
Cartagena and Nagoya belong to the biodiversity convention. Any carbon term paired with them is wrong.
Sources
- UNFCCC — Kyoto Protocol: Clean Development Mechanism
- Convention on Biological Diversity — Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols