UPSC Prelims 2016 GS Paper I · Q30 of 100 Environment & Ecology medium

Consider the following pairs : Terms sometimes seen in the news : Their origin 1. Annex-I Countries : Cartagena Protocol 2. Certified Emissions Reductions : Nagoya Protocol 3. Clean Development Mechanism : Kyoto Protocol Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 2 and 3 only
  3. (c) 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3

Why the answer is (c)

• Pair 3 is correct: the Clean Development Mechanism, letting developed countries earn credits by funding emission-reduction projects in developing countries, was created by the Kyoto Protocol (1997).

• Pair 1 is wrong: 'Annex-I countries' (industrialised nations with emission commitments) originate in the UNFCCC/Kyoto Protocol; the Cartagena Protocol concerns biosafety of living modified organisms.

• Pair 2 is wrong: Certified Emission Reductions are the credits issued under the CDM (Kyoto), not the Nagoya Protocol, which deals with access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources.

• Hence 3 only, option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1 and 2 only
Pairs 1 and 2 are wrong: Cartagena is biosafety, Nagoya is benefit-sharing.
(b) 2 and 3 only
Pair 2 is wrong: CERs come from Kyoto's CDM.
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Pairs 1 and 2 are wrong.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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