UPSC Prelims 2016 Q98: Environment & Ecology – International Environmental Treaties & Summits
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?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome' | Incorrect | The Club of Rome published 'The Limits to Growth' in 1972; the SDGs were proposed at Rio+20 in 2012 |
| 2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030 | Correct | They form the 2030 Agenda |
Key facts:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Adopted | September 2015 by the UN General Assembly |
| Number | 17 goals and 169 targets |
| Replaced | The eight Millennium Development Goals (2000 to 2015) |
| In India | Tracked by NITI Aayog through the SDG India Index |
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Club of Rome did not propose the Sustainable Development Goals.
- (b) CORRECT. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false; the goals were first proposed at Rio+20 (2012).
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2 is true; the deadline is 2030.
Key point
SDGs: proposed at Rio+20 (2012), adopted September 2015; 17 goals, 169 targets, deadline 2030. Club of Rome (1972) wrote 'The Limits to Growth'.
Remember
SDGs: 17 goals, 169 targets, by 2030.
Common mistakes
- Linking the SDGs to the Club of Rome because of 1972 and sustainability.
- Confusing the SDGs (17) with the Millennium Development Goals (8).
- Forgetting the 169 targets under the 17 goals.
Exam tip
1972 gave two things: the Stockholm Conference and 'The Limits to Growth'. Neither gave the SDGs.
Sources
- United Nations — Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- NITI Aayog — SDG India Index