Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change Archives

1. Climate change is

Climate change is

a positive good as ice-capped lands are clearing

a negative good as sea water is rising

a global negative externality caused by Green House Gas emissions

a local positive externality caused by afforestation

This question was previously asked in

UPSC SO-Steno – 2017

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Climate change is best described as a global negative externality caused by Green House Gas emissions.

Climate change is driven primarily by the emission of greenhouse gases (like CO2) from human activities. The costs associated with the impacts of climate change (such as sea-level rise, extreme weather events, etc.) are not borne by the emitters alone but by the entire global community, making it an externality. Since these impacts are largely harmful, it is a negative externality. Its effects are global in scope, affecting all regions.

Options A and B describe potential outcomes or consequences, not the fundamental nature or cause. Option D describes a positive externality (afforestation) which is a mitigation measure against climate change, not climate change itself.

2. Which of the following statements is not correct as per the Climate

Which of the following statements is *not* correct as per the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)-2023 ?

India has jumped 2 spots higher in CCPI-2023.

India is placed at the 8th rank in CCPI-2023.

India is amongst the top 5 best performing countries in the world on climate change.

India is placed lower in rank in this index than Norway and United Kingdom.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023

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The incorrect statement as per the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)-2023 is D) India is placed lower in rank in this index than Norway and United Kingdom.

In the CCPI 2023, India was ranked 8th. The UK was ranked 11th, and Norway was ranked 16th. A lower rank number indicates better performance. Therefore, India (rank 8) is placed *higher* in rank (performing better) than the United Kingdom (rank 11) and Norway (rank 16). Statement D is the inverse of the reality.

Statement A is correct: India jumped 2 spots from its 10th rank in CCPI 2022 to 8th rank in CCPI 2023. Statement B is correct: India is indeed placed at the 8th rank. Statement C is correct: The CCPI report leaves the first three ranks empty, considering no country is performing well enough across all categories. Ranks 4-15 are categorized as “High” performance. India, at rank 8, is well within this “High” performance category and is among the top countries ranked (specifically among the top 5 countries that *actually occupy a rank* from 4 onwards: Denmark (4), Sweden (5), Chile (6), Morocco (7), India (8)).

3. Which one of the following gases is not responsible for global warming

Which one of the following gases is not responsible for global warming ?

Water vapour

Chlorofluorocarbons

Nitrogen

Methane

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2018

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Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect and thus global warming. Common greenhouse gases include water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Nitrogen (N2), despite being the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere, is a diatomic molecule that does not significantly absorb infrared radiation and is therefore not considered a greenhouse gas.

Nitrogen (N2) is not a greenhouse gas.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process essential for maintaining the Earth’s temperature, but human activities have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases, leading to enhanced warming. While N2 is not a greenhouse gas, some nitrogen compounds like N2O are potent greenhouse gases.

4. Which of the following statements about the Paris Agreement on Climate

Which of the following statements about the Paris Agreement on Climate Change is/are correct ?

1. The Agreement recognizes the developing countries’ right to development and their efforts to harmonize development with environment, while protecting the interests of the most vulnerable.
2. The objective of the Agreement ensures that it is mitigation-centric.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2017

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Statement 1 is correct. The Paris Agreement, within the framework of the UNFCCC, acknowledges the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, recognizing the developmental needs of developing countries while also addressing climate change impacts and vulnerabilities. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Paris Agreement is not solely mitigation-centric. It also has strong components on adaptation, finance, technology transfer, capacity building, and transparency.

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming, and its objectives cover mitigation, adaptation, and support mechanisms like finance and technology.

The central aim of the Paris Agreement is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

5. Consider the following statements: Statement-I : The atmosphere is h

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I :
The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.
Statement-II :
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2024

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Statement-I is incorrect. The atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming shortwave solar radiation, which primarily reaches and heats the Earth’s surface. The heated surface then emits longwave terrestrial radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, are effective absorbers of this longwave radiation. The absorption of terrestrial radiation by greenhouse gases is the primary mechanism by which the atmosphere is heated. Therefore, the atmosphere is heated more by terrestrial radiation than by incoming solar radiation directly.
Statement-II is correct. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (like water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide) are indeed good absorbers of longwave (infrared) radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface. This absorption and subsequent re-emission of longwave radiation is the fundamental process of the greenhouse effect, which warms the lower atmosphere.
Since Statement-I is incorrect and Statement-II is correct, option D is the correct choice.

The greenhouse effect describes the process where atmospheric gases trap heat (longwave radiation) radiated by the Earth’s surface, warming the atmosphere. The atmosphere receives energy directly from the sun (shortwave) and indirectly from the Earth’s surface (longwave).

While the atmosphere does absorb some incoming solar radiation (e.g., ozone absorbs UV), the bulk of the atmospheric heating, particularly in the troposphere, comes from the absorption of terrestrial longwave radiation.

6. One of the following regions has the world’s largest tropical peatland

One of the following regions has the world’s largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region?

Amazon Basin.

Congo Basin

Kikori Basin

Rio de la Plata Basin

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2024

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The description points to the location of the world’s largest tropical peatland complex. Recent scientific studies, particularly research published around 2017, identified the vast peatlands located in the central Congo Basin as the world’s largest contiguous tropical peat complex. These peatlands store an enormous amount of carbon, estimated to be equivalent to roughly three years of global fossil fuel emissions. Their potential destruction due to climate change, drainage, or land-use change poses a significant risk of releasing this stored carbon, with detrimental effects on the global climate.

The Congo Basin contains the world’s largest tropical peatland, which is a massive carbon sink.

Peatlands are wetlands characterized by the accumulation of partially decayed organic matter (peat). They are important ecosystems and carbon sinks. Tropical peatlands, while less extensive than boreal peatlands, store significant amounts of carbon and are particularly vulnerable to degradation. The Congo Basin peatlands are a critical component of the global carbon cycle.

7. Consider the following activities: 1. Spreading finely ground basalt

Consider the following activities:

1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively
2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime
3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters

How many of the above activities are often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration?

Only one

Only two

All three

None

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2023

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The correct answer is C) All three.

Let’s evaluate each activity:
1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively: This is a climate change mitigation technique known as enhanced rock weathering. Crushed silicate rocks like basalt react with CO2 from the atmosphere and soil to form stable carbonate minerals, effectively sequestering carbon. Spreading it on agricultural land also potentially improves soil health. This is considered for carbon capture and sequestration.
2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime: This is a form of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), a proposed geoengineering technique for carbon removal. Increasing ocean alkalinity enhances its capacity to absorb atmospheric CO2. This is discussed for carbon capture and sequestration.
3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters: This is a description of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). CO2 emissions from industrial sources are captured and stored underground in geological formations such as depleted oil/gas fields, saline aquifers, or, as mentioned here, abandoned mines (though less common than saline aquifers). Injecting it as carbonated water is one variation, aiming for mineral carbonation. This is a well-established concept for carbon capture and sequestration.
All three activities are actively discussed and researched as methods for carbon capture and sequestration.

These methods fall under the broader categories of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) or Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) techniques, aiming to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.

8. “System of Rice Intensification” of cultivation, in which alternate we

“System of Rice Intensification” of cultivation, in which alternate wetting and drying of rice fields is practised, results in :

Reduced seed requirement
Reduced methane production
Reduced electricity consumption

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2022

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The System of Rice Intensification (SRI), particularly the practice of alternate wetting and drying (AWD), results in reduced seed requirement, reduced methane production, and reduced electricity consumption.

– Statement 1 (Reduced seed requirement): SRI typically involves transplanting single, young seedlings at wider spacing compared to traditional methods, significantly lowering the amount of seed needed per unit area. Correct.
– Statement 2 (Reduced methane production): Methane is produced in rice paddies under continuous flooding due to anaerobic decomposition. Alternate wetting and drying cycles introduce oxygen into the soil, reducing anaerobic conditions and thus significantly lowering methane emissions. Correct.
– Statement 3 (Reduced electricity consumption): Less water is used in SRI due to AWD compared to continuous flooding. If irrigation relies on electric pumps, reduced water usage translates directly to reduced electricity consumption for pumping. Correct.

SRI is a set of practices aimed at increasing rice yields while using fewer inputs like water, seed, and fertilizers, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. AWD is a key component that achieves water savings and methane reduction. SRI also typically leads to healthier soil and stronger plants.

9. Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogen

Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide ?

Cotton

Rice

Sugarcane

Wheat

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2022

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Among the given options, rice cultivation is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide.

– Rice paddies, when flooded, create anaerobic conditions in the soil, which are ideal for methanogenic bacteria to produce methane (CH4). Rice cultivation is a significant global source of anthropogenic methane emissions.
– Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture primarily come from the application of nitrogen fertilizers and the management of manure, which stimulates nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in the soil. Rice cultivation often involves significant nitrogen fertilization.
– While other crops like cotton, sugarcane, and wheat contribute to N2O emissions (due to fertilization), they are not major sources of methane from the cultivation process itself, unlike flooded rice paddies.

Globally, agriculture is a major contributor to both methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Enteric fermentation in livestock is another dominant source of methane, while synthetic fertilizers are a leading source of N2O. Rice cultivation uniquely combines significant emissions of both gases due to the specific conditions of paddy fields and fertilization practices.

10. Consider the following statements : “The Climate Group” is an intern

Consider the following statements :

“The Climate Group” is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.
The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative “EP100”.
EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals.
Some Indian companies are members of EP100.
The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the “Under2 Coalition”.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1, 2, 4 and 5

1, 3 and 4 only

2, 3 and 5 only

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2022

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The correct option is B, as statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct.

Statement 1 is correct. The Climate Group is a reputable international non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating climate action through networks of businesses and governments.
Statement 2 is incorrect. EP100 is an initiative led by The Climate Group. While the International Energy Agency (IEA) is a key player in energy efficiency globally and interacts with such initiatives, it did not launch EP100 in partnership with The Climate Group.
Statement 3 is correct. EP100 brings together companies committed to doubling their energy productivity, driving innovation and competitiveness while reducing emissions.
Statement 4 is correct. Several major Indian companies, such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Godrej & Boyce, Infosys, etc., are members of the EP100 initiative.
Statement 5 is incorrect. The Under2 Coalition is a group of state and regional governments committed to climate action. The Secretariat for the Under2 Coalition is run by The Climate Group, not the International Energy Agency.

The Climate Group runs several initiatives focused on different aspects of climate action, including RE100 (100% renewable electricity), EP100 (energy productivity), and EV100 (electric transport). These initiatives engage major corporations globally to drive market change.