UPSC Prelims 2017 Q52: Environment & Ecology – International Environmental Treaties & Summits
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) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA)
Launched by the European Commission in 2007.
It helps poor, climate-vulnerable countries, mainly Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. It is an initiative of the European Union | Correct | Set up by the EU in 2007; renamed GCCA+ in 2014 |
| 2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets | Correct | This is its main work |
| 3. It is coordinated by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development | Incorrect | WRI and WBCSD run the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, not the GCCA |
Two pillars of the GCCA:
| Pillar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dialogue | Policy exchange between the EU and developing countries |
| Support | Money and expertise for adaptation and mitigation |
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The GCCA is an EU initiative that gives technical and financial support.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 3 is false; WRI and WBCSD do not coordinate the GCCA.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 3 is false and statement 1, on the European Union, is true.
- (d) Incorrect. The GCCA is run by the European Commission, not by WRI and WBCSD.
Key point
GCCA (2007): European Union initiative; supports LDCs and small island States; WRI and WBCSD run the Greenhouse Gas Protocol instead.
Remember
GCCA = European Union, 2007, for LDCs and island States.
Common mistakes
- Linking WRI and WBCSD to every climate initiative; their joint work is the GHG Protocol.
- Thinking the GCCA is a UN body because of the word 'Global'.
- Forgetting that it targets LDCs and small island States, not all developing countries.
Exam tip
WRI + WBCSD = Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Seeing them elsewhere is usually a trap.
Sources
- European Commission — Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+)
- World Resources Institute — Greenhouse Gas Protocol