UPSC Prelims 2021 Q24: Environment & Ecology – Environmental Governance & Legislation

UPSC Prelims 2021, General Studies Paper I · Environment & Ecology

With reference to the ‘New York Declaration on Forests’, which of the following statements are correct? 1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014. 2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests. 3. It is a legally binding international declaration. 4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities. 5. India was one of the signatories at its inception. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1, 3 and 5
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 5

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4

Explanation

New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF)

Statement	Claim	Verdict	Detail
1	Endorsed at 2014 UN Climate Summit	TRUE	Launched at the UN Climate Summit, New York, September 2014.
2	Endorses a global timeline to end forest loss	TRUE	Set voluntary goals to halve natural forest loss by 2020 and end it by 2030, and to restore 350 million hectares.
3	Legally binding	FALSE	NYDF is a voluntary, non-legally binding political declaration.
4	Endorsed by governments, big companies, indigenous communities	TRUE	Signed by 200+ endorsers: governments (40+), companies (60+), NGOs and indigenous groups.
5	India signed at inception	FALSE	India did NOT sign the NYDF in 2014. Nor did Brazil, China or Russia.

Correct: 1, 2 and 4. Answer: (a).

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) CORRECT. NYDF was endorsed at UN Climate Summit 2014 (1), sets timeline to end forest loss by 2030 (2), and has multi-stakeholder endorsement (4). Not legally binding (3 wrong), and India did not sign (5 wrong).
(b) Incorrect. NYDF is NOT legally binding (statement 3 wrong) and India did NOT sign (statement 5 wrong).
(c) Incorrect. Statement 3 is wrong.
(d) Incorrect. Statement 5 is wrong - India did not sign.

Key point

NYDF (2014, UN Climate Summit) = voluntary declaration to end forest loss by 2030 + restore 350M ha. Multi-stakeholder: governments, companies, indigenous groups. NOT legally binding. India, Brazil, China, Russia did NOT sign.

Remember

New York Declaration on Forests (2014) was endorsed at UN Climate Summit, sets timeline to end forest loss by 2030, has multi-stakeholder endorsement. But it is NOT legally binding, and India did NOT sign at inception. Answer: 1, 2 and 4.

Common mistakes

Assuming India signs every environmental declaration. India rejected NYDF because it was seen as constraining forest management sovereignty.
Confusing NYDF (2014, voluntary, forests) with Paris Agreement (2015, legally binding, climate) or Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests (2021, which India also did not sign initially).
Not knowing NYDF failed - 2020 goal was missed. 2020 assessment showed tropical deforestation was still rising.

Exam tip

Forest declarations India has NOT signed: NYDF (2014), Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests (COP26, 2021). India argues these constrain sovereign forest management. India IS part of Bonn Challenge and REDD+ framework.

Sources

UN Climate Summit 2014 - New York Declaration on Forests (Text)
NYDF Progress Assessment 2020 - Forest Trends Report

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