Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change

41. The ‘Paris Agreement’ adopted in Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in

The ‘Paris Agreement’ adopted in Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in December 2015 will be effective provided the document is signed by:

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51 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 51% of global greenhouse gas emission
51 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emission
55 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emission
75 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 51% of global greenhouse gas emission
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
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The correct answer is C.
The Paris Agreement adopted in December 2015 required ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession by at least 55 Parties to the UNFCCC which together account for at least 55% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions for it to enter into force. This specific condition was met in October 2016, leading to the Agreement’s entry into force on November 4, 2016.
This dual requirement (number of Parties and percentage of emissions) was designed to ensure that the agreement had broad support and covered a significant portion of global emissions before becoming legally binding.

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42. Which one among the following substances is NOT a ‘green house’ gas ?

Which one among the following substances is NOT a ‘green house’ gas ?

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Water vapour
Chlorofluorocarbon
Methane
Nitrogen
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2015
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Nitrogen (N₂) is the most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere, making up about 78%. However, it is not considered a greenhouse gas because its symmetrical diatomic molecule does not absorb and re-emit infrared radiation effectively, unlike gases with three or more atoms (like water vapour, methane) or asymmetrical diatomic molecules (like carbon monoxide) or complex molecules like CFCs.
Greenhouse gases absorb and emit infrared radiation, trapping heat in the atmosphere. Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), water vapour (H₂O), and fluorinated gases (like CFCs, HFCs, PFCs, SF₆).
While nitrogen does not directly contribute to the greenhouse effect, nitrogen oxides (like N₂O, which is a powerful greenhouse gas, and NO₂) are significant air pollutants and can be formed from nitrogen and oxygen under high temperatures. However, the question specifically asks about ‘Nitrogen’ (referring to N₂).

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43. It is reported that there is an ongoing decrease in the pH value of oc

It is reported that there is an ongoing decrease in the pH value of ocean water because of global warming. It happens due to :

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larger uptake of CO₂ by ocean water
lesser uptake of CO₂ by ocean water
larger uptake of atmospheric nitrogen by ocean water
lesser uptake of atmospheric nitrogen by ocean water
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2015
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The correct answer is A. The decrease in ocean pH (ocean acidification) is primarily caused by the ocean absorbing increasing amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is linked to global warming.
Global warming is largely caused by increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, particularly CO₂, resulting from human activities. The ocean acts as a significant sink for atmospheric CO₂, absorbing about a quarter of the anthropogenic emissions. When CO₂ dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃). Carbonic acid then dissociates, releasing hydrogen ions (H⁺), which lowers the pH of the water, making it more acidic. Increased CO₂ in the atmosphere due to factors causing global warming leads to increased CO₂ uptake by the ocean, driving this acidification process.
Ocean acidification has significant impacts on marine ecosystems, particularly on organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as corals, shellfish, and plankton. Lower pH makes it harder for these organisms to build and maintain their structures. Atmospheric nitrogen uptake does occur in the ocean (nitrogen fixation), but it does not directly cause large-scale ocean acidification; it is related to nutrient cycles and marine productivity.

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44. Methane is a very potent green house gas. It is converted to carbon di

Methane is a very potent green house gas. It is converted to carbon dioxide to ease its overall effect on global warming. This process is known as :

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Blocking
Ceiling
Flaring
Stooping
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2014
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The correct answer is Flaring.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Methane flaring is a process where methane (typically waste gas like natural gas from oil/gas extraction, landfills, or wastewater treatment) is burned. Burning methane converts it primarily into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor. While CO2 is also a greenhouse gas, methane has a much higher global warming potential (GWP) than CO2 over relevant time scales (e.g., GWP of methane is about 25-28 times that of CO2 over 100 years). Therefore, converting methane to CO2 through flaring reduces the overall warming impact compared to releasing the same amount of methane into the atmosphere.
Flaring is a common practice to dispose of unwanted methane, especially when it’s not economically viable to capture and utilize it. While flaring reduces the GWP compared to venting methane, it still produces CO2, which contributes to global warming. Alternatives include capturing methane for use as fuel or converting it to other chemicals.

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45. Which one among the following is not a goal of National Action Plan fo

Which one among the following is not a goal of National Action Plan for Climate Change?

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To promote the development and use of solar energy
To reduce energy consumption through supply side management
Afforestation of degraded forest lands
Improvement in water-use efficiency through pricing and other measures
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
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The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) encompasses eight missions focused on various aspects of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Promoting solar energy (National Solar Mission), afforestation (National Mission for Green India), and improving water-use efficiency (National Water Mission) are explicit goals of the NAPCC. While reducing energy consumption is a goal (National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency), the specific method mentioned, “supply side management,” is not the primary or exclusive focus. The mission aims at improving efficiency across sectors, including demand-side actions and overall system efficiency, not just supply-side management. Therefore, B is the goal that is not as directly or exclusively stated as the others within the core objectives of NAPCC missions.
NAPCC consists of eight missions addressing climate change.
Key missions include solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, water, green India, etc.
The Enhanced Energy Efficiency mission focuses broadly on improving energy efficiency, not specifically or exclusively on supply side management.
The eight missions of NAPCC are National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for a Green India, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change. Supply-side management relates to energy production and distribution, while energy efficiency missions often focus on reducing energy demand or improving efficiency across end-use sectors.

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46. Which one among the following is not a greenhouse gas?

Which one among the following is not a greenhouse gas?

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Methane
Ozone
Chlorofluorocarbon
Sulphur dioxide
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
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Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, trapping heat in the atmosphere and contributing to the greenhouse effect. Common greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), water vapor (H2O), ozone (O3 – especially tropospheric ozone), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a significant air pollutant that contributes to acid rain and respiratory problems. While it can form aerosols (like sulfate aerosols) that can indirectly affect climate (often causing a cooling effect by reflecting sunlight), SO2 itself is not considered a primary greenhouse gas that traps infrared radiation in the same way as the others listed.
Methane, Ozone (tropospheric), and Chlorofluorocarbons are all recognized as potent greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Sulphur dioxide’s primary role in the atmosphere is related to air quality and the formation of aerosols.

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47. You placed a car in an open parking area in a summer day. After a few

You placed a car in an open parking area in a summer day. After a few hours, you noticed that the heat is trapped inside the car. This phenomenon is known as

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ozone depletion
greenhouse effect
solar effect
cosmic ray impingement
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
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The phenomenon where heat is trapped inside a car parked in the sun is known as the greenhouse effect. Sunlight (short-wavelength radiation) passes through the glass windows and is absorbed by the interior surfaces of the car. These surfaces then re-radiate the energy as infrared radiation (long-wavelength heat radiation). The glass, while transparent to visible light, is largely opaque to this infrared radiation, trapping the heat inside the car and causing the temperature to rise.
– Sunlight (shortwave radiation) enters through glass.
– Interior absorbs sunlight and re-radiates as infrared heat (longwave radiation).
– Glass traps the infrared radiation, preventing heat escape.
This process is analogous to the way greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap heat, contributing to global warming. Ozone depletion refers to the thinning of the ozone layer, which protects from UV radiation. Solar effect generally refers to effects caused by the sun’s activity. Cosmic ray impingement is related to high-energy particles from space.

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48. Why are governments of various countries finding it difficult so far t

Why are governments of various countries finding it difficult so far to agree on the ways and means to limit the greenhouse gas emission ?

  • 1. They fear that measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will have negative effects on their economy.
  • 2. The developing nations regard mandatory limits on their emissions as attempts by the richer countries to hobble their progress.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2010
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Both statements 1 and 2 provide valid reasons why governments find it difficult to agree on limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
Statement 1 is correct. Governments and industries often fear that stringent measures to reduce emissions, such as carbon taxes, cap-and-trade systems, or investments in costly clean technologies, could negatively impact economic competitiveness, lead to job losses, and slow down growth. Statement 2 is also correct. A major point of contention in international climate negotiations has been the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’, where developing nations argue that historical emissions are primarily from developed countries and that mandatory limits could hinder their necessary economic development and poverty reduction efforts. They often perceive such limits imposed by richer countries as attempts to restrict their growth.
These economic and equity concerns are central to the challenges faced in reaching comprehensive and binding international agreements on climate change mitigation, as seen in negotiations under the UNFCCC framework.

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49. Which one of the following statements best describes the ‘carbon

Which one of the following statements best describes the ‘carbon price’?

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It is the cost of carbon emissions per unit of time.
It is the price paid for carbon credits in a cap-and-trade system.
It is the economic value put on greenhouse gas emissions.
It is the price of gasoline and diesel fuel which is heavily taxed by the government.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2010
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‘Carbon price’ is an economic instrument that puts a monetary value on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This value represents the cost of the environmental damage caused by emitting one additional unit of GHGs. It aims to make emitters pay for the external costs of their pollution, thereby incentivizing them to reduce emissions. While the price of carbon credits in a cap-and-trade system (B) is a *method* of establishing a carbon price, and taxing fuels (D) can incorporate a carbon price component, the definition (C) “the economic value put on greenhouse gas emissions” best describes the concept of carbon price itself.
Carbon pricing is a policy tool designed to use market mechanisms to mitigate climate change by reflecting the cost of emissions in the price of goods and services.
Carbon pricing mechanisms include carbon taxes (a direct tax on emissions) and cap-and-trade systems (setting a limit on total emissions and allowing emitters to trade permits). The carbon price should ideally reflect the social cost of carbon.

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50. Consider the following statements: 1. Carbon markets are likely to

Consider the following statements:

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  • 1. Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tool in the fight against climate change.
  • 2. Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2010
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Both statements 1 and 2 are correct.
– Statement 1: Carbon markets (such as cap-and-trade systems or carbon taxes combined with trading mechanisms) are widely recognized by economists and policymakers as crucial tools for pricing carbon emissions and incentivizing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. They create an economic signal that encourages businesses and individuals to lower their carbon footprint, making them a significant tool in fighting climate change.
– Statement 2: Carbon markets often involve mechanisms like auctioning emission permits (in cap-and-trade) or imposing a direct tax on carbon emissions (carbon tax). In both these common scenarios, resources (money) are transferred from the private sector (companies that emit carbon) to the state (government) in the form of revenue from auctions or taxes. While private entities also trade permits among themselves, the regulatory framework and revenue generation for the state are key features of many carbon market implementations.
– Carbon markets aim to achieve emission reductions at the lowest possible cost by allowing the market to determine the price of carbon.
– Revenue generated from carbon markets can be used by governments for various purposes, including funding green initiatives, providing tax relief, or direct redistribution to citizens.
– The effectiveness and design of carbon markets are subjects of ongoing debate, but they remain a prominent policy tool under consideration and implementation globally to meet climate targets.

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