Question : Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is:

the sale of credits set out in Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol that permit a certain level of carbon dioxide emission with the goal of reducing overall emissions
a carbon-pricing system proposed for imports into the European Union (EU)
an initiative of UNFCCC that works within the existent system to alter the carbon footprint of the world’s highest emitting companies
an international agreement set up by UNDP which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of items containing more than 50% carbon

• With carbon neutrality being the byword to a sustainable world, a host of countries — Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Japan, Germany, Canada, Costa Rica, the United States, Brazil, India, and China among others — have set for themselves net-zero targets for the middle and later part of the century.
• At the forefront of the commitment to net-zero is the European Union, which wants to be the first carbon-neutral region in the world by 2050. It brought out the ‘European Union Green Deal’ in July last year to focus on a new growth strategy that aims to transform the EU society into a fair and wealthy one with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy.
• To attain carbon neutrality, the EU has set forth immediate targets and has brought out the ‘Fit-for-55’ package, a communication of its 2030 climate targets. A provision in the policy plan is the introduction of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a carbon-pricing system proposed for imports into the EU. The CBAM suggests taxing the imported goods-based difference between carbon used in the production of domestic and imported goods.
• Proposed to be complementary to the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EUETS), during the transition phase of CBAM — beginning January 1, 2023 — importers will only have to report emissions embedded in the production of goods and are not obliged to pay a financial penalty. The CBAM, however, will come completely into force from January 1, 2026 and the measure will see a gradual reduction of free EUETS allowance coverage of 10 percentage points per year and a complete phase-out by 2035. In the initial phase, five CITE (Carbon Intensive and Trade Exposed) sectors such as iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizers and electricity will be taxed under CBAM.
• The EU claims that CBAM is intended to reduce carbon leakage, create a level playfield for EU producers and encourage producers in other countries to adopt cleaner technologies. But several discussions have cropped up around CBAM. Developing countries have raised their concern on the legality of CBAM pointing out its conflict with World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) norms, and are afraid that it encourages protectionism.

Source: India-EU: Global dynamics - The Hindu

Question : Which of the following is home to the only white grayheaded swamphen in the world?
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
Chilika Lagoon
Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary

• The only white grayheaded swamphen in the world has been found in the Mangalajodi wetland, on the northern edge of the Chilika lagoon.

Question : Consider the following statements about the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park :

1. Dibru-Saikhowa is a National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve
2. It is the largest swamp forest in north-eastern India.
3. White-winged wood ducks are endemic to this national park.
4. It is also known for its huge population of feral horses.
5. The park is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and Dibru River in the south. 

Which of the following statements are correct?

Only 1, 2, and 4
Only 1, 3, 4 and 5
Only 2, 3, 4 and 5
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a national park located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, Assam, India. It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997 with an area of 765 km2 (295 sq mi).
• It is located at about 12 km (7.5 mi) north of Tinsukia town at an average elevation of 118 m (387 ft), ranging from 110 to 126 m (361 to 413 ft). 
• The park is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and Dibru River in the south. 
• It mainly consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, canebrakes and grasslands. It is the largest salix swamp forest in north-eastern India, with a tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet summer and cool and usually dry winter. 
• Annual rainfall ranges from 2,300 to 3,800 mm (91 to 150 in). 
• It is a haven for many endangered species and rich in fish diversity.
•  It is also known for its huge population of feral horses.
• It is an identified Important Bird Area (IBA), notified by the Birdlife International. It is most famous for the rare white-winged wood ducks as well as feral horses.
• Mammals found in the Park include Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Bears, Small Indian Civet, Squirrels, Gangetic Dolphin, Hoolock Gibbon, etc. Maguri Motapung wetland is a part of the Reserve.

Question :
1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c
1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-d
1-d, 2-a, 3-b, 4-c
1-a, 2-c, 3-d, 4-b

Correct Match:

Question : The Chipko Andolan or the Chipko movement is a movement that practiced methods of Satyagraha. One of Chipko Movement's most salient features was the mass participation of brave female villagers who started hugging trees & saving from felling. On which of the following date Gaura Devi with 27 other women of Reni village led Chipko movement?

25 March 1973
24 April 1973
26 March 1974
20 June 1974

• In 1974, the forest department marked trees for felling in the Peng Murenda forest, near Reni village in Joshimath block, badly affected by the massive Alaknanda flood of 1970.
• More than 680 hectare were auctioned to a contractor from Rishikesh. But the women of Reni women drove out the contractor's labourers on March 26, 1974.
• This was a turning point for Chipko, as it marked the first time that the initiative by women, especially when their menfolk were not around. 

Question :

1. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 
2. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) 
3. National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

3 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

• To achieve its goal, the study by IIT Delhi urges for the “successful implementation” of three government programmes: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) for reducing household emission, and National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to tackle ambient air pollution.

Question : Consider the following statements:

1. On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.
2. 3 March 1973 is the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973

Which among the statement/s given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

UN World Wildlife Day

• On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March – the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973 – as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.
• The UNGA resolution also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar. 

Question : With reference to India’s biodiversity Crytodactylus exercitus, Cyrtodactylus lungleiensis and Cyrtodactylus siahaensis are new species of:

Monkey
Tortoise
Lizard
Frog

• They are lizard.
• It belongs to class Reptile.
• Reptiles are turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators and crocodiles.

Question :
Sanjay National Park
Manas National Park
Anshi National Park
Navegaon National Park

• Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
• The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. Manas is famous for its population of the wild water buffalo.
• The Manas National Park was declared a sanctuary on 1 October 1928.
• Manas Bio Reserve was created in 1973.  In 1973, it was declared as Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.
• It was declared a World Heritage site in December 1985 by UNESCO.
• Manas was declared as a National Park in 1990.
• In 2003, Manas was declared as Chirang – Ripu Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant. Total area of the park is about 500 Km2.

Question :

1. Consider the following statements regarding the Ramsar Sites: 
2. The convention was held in the city of Ramsar, Iran, in February 1971 and was originally contracted by seven countries when it came into force on 21 December 1975. 
3. The country with the most sites is the United Kingdom with 175. 
4. With 49 Ramsar sites, India is the country with the highest sites in South Asia

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?
1 only
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Some Facts About Ramsar Sites

• Any wetland site which is listed under the Ramsar Convention that intends to preserve it and advance sustainable utilization of its natural resources is known as a Ramsar Site.
• On 2 February 1971, the International Treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands was signed at a city of Iran called Ramsar, hence the name Ramsar Sites.
• It was originally contracted by seven countries when it came into force on 21 December 1975. 
• Today, there are 172 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention.
• India signed the Ramsar Convention on 1 February 1982.
• Ramsar Convention has two fold objectives viz. Conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands; and stop the encroachment and loss of wetlands.
• This treaty is not a legal binding treaty and is not a part of UN & UNESCO conventions.
• As per the Ramsar Convention, Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres. 
• For example, marine and coastal areas; Estuaries; Lakes and rivers; Marshes and peatlands; Groundwater and human-made wetlands such as rice paddies, shrimp ponds, and reservoirs.
• The country with the most sites is the United Kingdom with 175. 
• On the eve of the World Wetlands Day, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands designated Khijadia Bird Sanctuary near Jamnagar in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh as wetlands of international importance. 
• With the addition of these two wetlands, the number of Ramsar Sites in India has gone up to 49, the highest for any country in South Asia.