Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?
- (a) Bretton Woods Conference
- (b) Montreal Protocol ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Kyoto Protocol
- (d) Nagoya Protocol
Why the answer is (b)
• The Montreal Protocol (1987) on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer phases out CFCs, halons and HCFCs; its Kigali Amendment (2016) adds HFCs — option (b).
• It is the most successful environmental treaty, ratified universally, and the ozone layer is on track to recover by mid-century.
• Bretton Woods (a) created the IMF and World Bank; Kyoto (c) is on greenhouse gases; Nagoya (d) on genetic-resource benefit-sharing.
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Bretton Woods Conference
- Bretton Woods concerned the post-war monetary system.
- (c) Kyoto Protocol
- Kyoto targets greenhouse gases, not ozone depleters.
- (d) Nagoya Protocol
- Nagoya concerns genetic resources.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.