Climate Change & Conventions

Lake Faguibine in Mali is a prime example of increasing aridity . Here's how it changed over the years, as seen through false-color Landsat satellite images - Initially, it was one of the largest lakes in West Africa, fed by the Niger River during floods. - In 1974, it spanned approximately 590 square kilometers (230 square miles). - A decline in precipitation from the late 1980s led to its gradual drying. - By the late 1990s, traditional livelihoods like fishing , agriculture , and livestock herding became impractical. - Despite the resumption of normal rainfall after 2000, the lake has remained nearly dry. Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and remains filled with water.
Lake Oguta is located in Nigeria and is still a freshwater lake.
Lake Volta is one of the largest artificial lake by surface area in the world and remains filled with water from the Volta River.

Statement 1 is correct. The CLIMATE GROUP is an international non-profit organization founded in 2003, with offices in London, New York, New Delhi, Amsterdam, and Beijing. Its mission is to drive rapid climate action. This group builds and runs networks. Statement 2 is incorrect. EP100 is a global initiative led by The Climate Group and the Alliance to Save Energy (not by the International Energy Agency). Statement 3 is correct. The Climate Group's global EP100 initiative brings together a growing cohort of energy-smart companies committed to improving their energy productivity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By incorporating ambitious energy targets into their business strategies, leading companies are fostering innovation in energy efficiency, enhancing competitiveness, and achieving emissions reduction goals. Statement 4 is correct. EP100 has a global reach, with member companies operating in over 130 markets worldwide. India's Mahindra Group is among the frontrunners in the ongoing efforts to decrease energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by transitioning to renewable energy sources. Statement 5 is incorrect. The Climate Group serves as the Secretariat for the Under2 Coalition and collaborates with governments to expedite climate action through four main workstreams - Pathways, - Policy Action, - Transparency, and - Diplomacy.

The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement aim of holding warming well below 2C, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. A collaboration of two organisations, Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute, the CAT has been providing this independent analysis to policymakers since 2009. CAT quantifies and evaluates climate change mitigation targets, policies, and actions. It also aggregates country action to the global level, determining likely temperature increases during the 21st century using the MAGICC climate model. CAT further develops sectoral analysis to illustrate the required pathways for meeting the global temperature goals.

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) includes a method called Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) which is a form of controlled irrigation of the rice crops. The benefits from the program include 1. Reduction in methane emissions as compared to traditional rice cultivation. 2. Reduction in water consumption . 3. Reducing fuel consumption . 4. Increase paddy yields . 5. Reduce required seeds for transplanting. 6. Reduce use of chemical fertilizers and agrichemicals . 7. Reduce irrigation demand . 8. Reduce production costs . 9. With increased output and reduced costs, farmers net income is increased .

The correct statements about the New York Declaration on Forests are: 1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2. It does endorse a global timeline to end the loss of forests, aiming for significant reduction by 2020 and ending deforestation by 2030.
4. It is endorsed by a multi-stakeholder group, including governments, companies (big and small), and indigenous communities. Incorrect statements:
3. The New York Declaration on Forests is not a legally binding international declaration. It's a voluntary political declaration.
5. The Declaration is currently endorsed by over 190 entities but it is not endorsed by India. Therefore, the correct answer is A. 1, 2, and 4.

The Common Carbon Metric (CCM) is a protocol developed by the United Nations Environment Program's Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative (UNEP-SBCI) for measuring energy use and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from building operations. Its purpose is to support GHG emissions reductions through accurate measurement of energy efficiency. It is a universal method of measuring a building's carbon footprint and allows emissions from buildings around the world to be consistently assessed and compared. Therefore, it is used for assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world.

Statement 1 is correct. The Climate-Smart Village (CSV) approach is an initiative under the CCAFS program, which focuses on improving climate resilience in agriculture through research and innovation. CCAFS operates in multiple countries, including India, and works on sustainable farming practices, resource efficiency, and climate adaptation strategies in rural areas. Statement 2 is correct. CCAFS is a global research initiative under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which is a network of international agricultural research organizations. However, CGIAR’s global headquarters is in Montpellier, France, making the statement factually accurate. Statement 3 is correct. ICRISAT, based in Hyderabad, India, is a major research institute focusing on improving dryland agriculture. It is indeed one of the CGIAR’s 15 global research centers, working on climate resilience, crop improvement, and food security in semi-arid regions.

"Blue Carbon" designates carbon that is fixed via coastal ocean ecosystems , rather than traditional land ecosystems, like forests . Although the ocean's vegetated habitats cover less than 0.5% of the seabed, they are responsible for more than 50%, and potentially up to 70%, of all carbon storage in ocean sediments.

The term 'Social Cost of Carbon' is a measure of the economic damages, in dollars, that would result from emitting one additional ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is used to value the climate impacts of rulemakings and helps policymakers understand the economic impacts of decisions that would increase or decrease emissions. Therefore, it is best described as the long-term damage done by a tonne of carbon dioxide emissions in a given year.

Statement 1 is correct: Zero tillage is a method of farming that involves sowing crop seeds directly into the soil without disturbing it. This method has several advantages.
In zero tillage, the residue of the previous crop is left on the field, which acts as a natural mulch, reducing soil erosion and improving soil fertility. Therefore, there is no need to burn the residue of the previous crop before sowing wheat. Statement 2 is correct: In zero tillage, seeds are directly planted into the soil, eliminating the need for a nursery of rice saplings. This not only saves time and labor but also reduces the cost of cultivation. Statement 3 is correct: Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide. In zero tillage, the carbon in the crop residue is returned to the soil, which helps in carbon sequestration. Therefore, all three statements are correct.