UPSC Prelims 2017 Q65: Environment & Ecology – Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases
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) 2 only
Explanation
Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
Launched in February 2012 to cut short-lived climate pollutants.
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. CCAC is a unique initiative of the G20 group of countries | Incorrect | It was started by UNEP and six countries, not the G20 |
| 2. The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons | Correct | These are its target pollutants |
Founding partners:
| Partner | Type |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, United States | Countries |
| UN Environment Programme (UNEP) | UN body; hosts the secretariat |
Short-lived climate pollutants:
| Pollutant | Main source |
|---|---|
| Methane | Livestock, paddy fields, waste, oil and gas |
| Black carbon | Diesel engines, cookstoves, brick kilns |
| Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) | Refrigeration and air conditioning |
India joined the CCAC in 2019.
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The CCAC is not a G20 initiative; UNEP and six countries began it.
- (b) CORRECT. The CCAC targets methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false; the G20 did not create the coalition.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2 is true; these three are short-lived climate pollutants.
Key point
CCAC (2012): started by UNEP with Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the US; targets methane, black carbon and HFCs.
Remember
CCAC = UNEP + six countries; methane, black carbon, HFCs.
Common mistakes
- Crediting a climate coalition to the G20 or G7 without checking.
- Including carbon dioxide among short-lived pollutants; it is long-lived.
- Forgetting that black carbon is soot, a particle and not a gas.
Exam tip
Short-lived climate pollutants = methane, black carbon, HFCs and tropospheric ozone. Carbon dioxide is not one.
Sources
- Climate and Clean Air Coalition — About the Coalition
- UN Environment Programme — Short-lived climate pollutants