Environment and Ecology

71. The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, has been developed for

The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, has been developed for

[amp_mcq option1=”assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world” option2=”enabling commercial farming entities around the world to enter carbon emission trading” option3=”enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries” option4=”assessing the overall carbon footprint caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in a unit time” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
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Option A is the correct answer. The ‘Common Carbon Metric’ was developed to provide a standard approach for measuring and reporting the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with building operations.
Developed by the UNEP Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative (SBCI), the Common Carbon Metric aims to enable consistent assessment and benchmarking of the carbon footprint of buildings globally.
This metric focuses specifically on the operational phase of buildings (energy consumption for heating, cooling, lighting, etc.), which is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. It is not designed for carbon trading by farming entities, assessing national footprints broadly, or assessing the total global fossil fuel footprint in general.

72. Which of the following are detritivores? Earthworms Jellyfish Mill

Which of the following are detritivores?

  1. Earthworms
  2. Jellyfish
  3. Millipedes
  4. Seahorses
  5. Woodlice

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 4 only” option2=”2, 3, 4 and 5 only” option3=”1, 3 and 5 only” option4=”1, 2, 3, 4 and 5″ correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
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Option C is the correct answer. Detritivores are organisms that feed on dead organic matter. Earthworms, Millipedes, and Woodlice are well-known detritivores.
Detritivores play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down dead plant and animal material, thus recycling nutrients.
Earthworms consume decaying plant matter in soil. Millipedes feed on decaying leaves and wood. Woodlice (also known as roly-polies or pill bugs) feed on dead plant material. Jellyfish are carnivorous predators. Seahorses are predatory fish that feed on small crustaceans.

73. In case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weath

In case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks is the main source of release of nutrient to enter the cycle?

[amp_mcq option1=”Carbon cycle” option2=”Nitrogen cycle” option3=”Phosphorus cycle” option4=”Sulphur cycle” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021
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Option C is the correct answer. In the phosphorus cycle, the main reservoir of phosphorus is in rocks and minerals. Weathering of these rocks releases phosphorus into the soil and water.
The phosphorus cycle is unique among major biogeochemical cycles in that it does not have a significant atmospheric gaseous phase. The primary source of phosphorus for ecosystems is the slow weathering of phosphate-bearing rocks.
The carbon cycle involves atmospheric CO2, oceans, biomass, and fossil fuels. The nitrogen cycle primarily involves atmospheric nitrogen (N2) fixed by microbes, as well as organic matter decomposition. The sulphur cycle involves minerals (sulfates), atmospheric gases (SO2, H2S), and biological processes. While rocks can be a source in other cycles (e.g., sulfates in gypsum), rock weathering is the fundamental initial step that makes phosphorus available in most ecosystems.

74. Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodegenerative problems, ar

Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodegenerative problems, are generated as environmental pollutants from which of the following?

  • 1. Brakes of motor vehicles
  • 2. Engines of motor vehicles
  • 3. Microwave stoves within homes
  • 4. Power plants
  • 5. Telephone lines

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2, 3 and 5 only” option2=”1, 2 and 4 only” option3=”3, 4 and 5 only” option4=”1, 2, 3, 4 and 5″ correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
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Magnetite (Fe3O4) particles are a form of iron oxide that can be generated from various industrial and environmental processes, particularly those involving high temperatures or friction/wear of ferrous materials. Recent research has linked exposure to fine airborne magnetite particles to potential neurodegenerative health risks.
Let’s examine the potential sources:
1. Brakes of motor vehicles: Brake pads and rotors (often made of cast iron, rich in iron) undergo friction at high temperatures during braking. This process releases wear particles, a significant portion of which are iron oxides, including magnetite. This is a known source of airborne particulate matter in urban environments.
2. Engines of motor vehicles: Internal combustion engines operate at high temperatures, and combustion processes can produce various metal oxides as part of particulate emissions. Friction within the engine can also contribute wear particles. While complex, motor vehicle exhaust is a source of fine metallic particles.
3. Microwave stoves within homes: Microwave ovens heat food using electromagnetic radiation. They do not involve combustion or significant friction/wear in a manner that would generate airborne magnetite particles as an environmental pollutant.
4. Power plants: Combustion of fossil fuels (especially coal and heavy fuel oil) in power plants involves high temperatures and the burning of materials containing trace metals, including iron. Power plants are a significant source of various particulate emissions, including metal oxides like magnetite.
5. Telephone lines: Traditional copper telephone lines are made of copper, not iron. Modern fiber optic cables are made of glass/plastic. Neither involves processes that would generate airborne magnetite particles.
Based on the known sources of magnetite particles from combustion and friction/wear processes, brakes of motor vehicles, engines of motor vehicles, and power plants are plausible sources. Microwave stoves and telephone lines are not.
Airborne magnetite particles are often generated from high-temperature combustion or friction and wear involving iron-containing materials.
Other sources of environmental magnetite particles can include industrial processes like welding, mining activities, and even natural sources like soil dust (though anthropogenic sources are often more directly linked to neurodegenerative concerns). Research on the precise links between environmental magnetite exposure and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s is ongoing but suggests a potential connection for ultra-fine particles entering the brain.

75. With reference to the New York Declaration on Forests’, which of the f

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.

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 4″ option2=”1, 3 and 5″ option3=”3 and 4″ option4=”2 and 5″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
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The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a non-legally binding political declaration that grew out of the 2014 UN Climate Summit. Let’s evaluate the statements:
1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014: This is correct. The declaration was launched and endorsed at the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2014.
2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests: This is correct. The NYDF includes goals to halve the rate of loss of natural forests globally by 2020 and strive to end natural forest loss by 2030.
3. It is a legally binding international declaration: This is incorrect. The NYDF is explicitly a voluntary political declaration, not a legally binding treaty.
4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities: This is correct. The NYDF is supported by a broad coalition of endorsers, including national and subnational governments, corporations, indigenous peoples’ organizations, and civil society groups.
5. India was one of the signatories at its inception: This is incorrect. While India participates in various international climate initiatives, India was not among the initial endorsers of the New York Declaration on Forests in 2014, nor has it become an endorser since.
Based on this, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.
The NYDF is a voluntary declaration launched at the 2014 UN Climate Summit with ambitious goals for reducing deforestation, supported by a wide range of actors, but is not legally binding and India is not a signatory.
The NYDF aims to mobilize action across all sectors to protect and restore forests as a key part of the climate solution and for sustainable development.

76. What is blue carbon?

What is blue carbon?

[amp_mcq option1=”Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems” option2=”Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils” option3=”Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas” option4=”Carbon present in atmosphere” correct=”option1″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021
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The correct option is A. Blue carbon refers to the carbon captured and stored by the world’s coastal and marine ecosystems.
– These ecosystems include tidal marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses.
– They are highly effective at sequestering carbon, often storing it in their soils and biomass for millennia.
– Protecting and restoring blue carbon ecosystems is considered a crucial strategy for climate change mitigation.
Carbon stored in forests and terrestrial vegetation is often referred to as green carbon. Fossil carbon is the carbon contained in fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Atmospheric carbon is primarily in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

77. With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements : 1

With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements :

  • 1. It is a product of oil refineries.
  • 2. Some industries use it to generate power.
  • 3. Its use causes sulphur emissions into environment.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021
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The correct option is D. All three statements about furnace oil are correct.
– Furnace oil is a residual fuel obtained during the refining of crude petroleum. It is the heaviest commercial fuel oil. Statement 1 is correct.
– Industries, including power plants, factories, and ships, use furnace oil as fuel in boilers and furnaces to generate heat and power. Statement 2 is correct.
– Furnace oil typically has a high sulfur content (residual fuel oils contain the sulfur that was not removed during refining). Burning furnace oil releases significant amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and acid rain. Statement 3 is correct.
Due to its high sulfur content and resulting pollution, regulations around the use of furnace oil have become stricter globally, leading to a shift towards low-sulfur fuels or alternative energy sources in many sectors.

78. Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants? 1. They may rel

Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?

  • 1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment.
  • 2. The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment.
  • 3. They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
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The correct option is B. Statements 2 and 3 are significant concerns associated with copper smelting plants, while statement 1 is less characteristic as a primary lethal pollution concern compared to sulphur dioxide emissions.
– Copper smelting often involves processing sulfide ores, leading to the release of large quantities of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a major air pollutant causing acid rain and respiratory issues. Statement 3 is correct.
– Copper slag, a waste byproduct of the smelting process, contains various heavy metals (including copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, etc.). There is a significant concern about the leaching of these heavy metals into the environment, contaminating soil and water. Statement 2 is correct.
– While carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas produced from incomplete combustion processes which might occur in some parts of smelting, it is not typically highlighted as the primary or most widespread lethal air pollution concern from large-scale copper smelting operations compared to SO2. Statement 1 is less likely to be a major *defining* concern.
Other environmental concerns related to copper smelting include particulate matter emissions, arsenic emissions (depending on ore composition), and solid waste disposal (slag). Modern smelting facilities employ technologies like sulfuric acid plants to capture SO2 and convert it into sulfuric acid, mitigating air pollution, but environmental risks remain, particularly from older plants and slag disposal.

79. ‘R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the

‘R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of

[amp_mcq option1=”environmentally responsible practices in electronics recycling industry” option2=”ecological management of ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention” option3=”sustainable practices in the cultivation of agricultural crops in degraded lands” option4=”‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ in the exploitation of natural resources” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
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The correct option is A. The ‘R2 Code of Practices’ is a voluntary standard specifically developed for the electronics recycling industry to promote environmentally sound and socially responsible practices.
– R2 stands for Responsible Recycling.
– It provides a framework for electronics recyclers to ensure worker health and safety, environmental protection, security, and proper management of materials throughout the recycling process, especially concerning hazardous materials.
The R2 Standard is managed by SCS Global Services. Adherence to the R2 Standard helps companies minimize environmental and human health risks associated with electronics disposal and recycling. Other standards exist in this domain, such as e-Stewards.

80. Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene

Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution ?

  • 1. Automobile exhaust
  • 2. Tobacco smoke
  • 3. Wood burning
  • 4. Using varnished wooden furniture
  • 5. Using products made of polyurethane

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3 only” option2=”2 and 4 only” option3=”1, 3 and 4 only” option4=”1, 2, 3, 4 and 5″ correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2020
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Benzene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) and a known carcinogen. All the listed factors contribute to benzene pollution exposure. Automobile exhaust (1) contains benzene from incomplete combustion of fuel. Tobacco smoke (2) is a major source of indoor benzene exposure. Wood burning (3) is another combustion source releasing benzene. Using varnished wooden furniture (4) and products made of polyurethane (5) can off-gas benzene and other VOCs as they may contain solvents or release byproducts containing benzene over time, especially in indoor environments.
Exposure to benzene pollution can occur through combustion sources (vehicles, smoking, burning) and off-gassing from various materials and products (solvents, paints, finishes).
Benzene is also found in crude oil and is used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, synthetic fibers, dyes, detergents, and pesticides. Industrial emissions and hazardous waste sites are other sources. Indoor sources like attached garages (from vehicles), stored fuels, glues, adhesives, paints, and cleaning products also contribute to benzene levels. Given the wide range of sources, it is plausible that all the listed factors contribute to human exposure to benzene.
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