Environmental Issues MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Environmental Issues - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is 'The Bonn Challenge'

Key Points

• The Bonn Challenge:
  • The Bonn Challenge is a global effort launched in 2011 with the goal of restoring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded lands by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.
  • This initiative was spearheaded by the Government of Germany and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
  • The Bonn Challenge promotes forest landscape restoration (FLR) as a way to regain ecological integrity and enhance human well-being.
  • As of recent updates, over 70 countries have pledged to restore vast areas of degraded landscapes as part of this global effort.

Additional Information

• The Paris Agreement:
  • The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, is a global climate accord aimed at limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees.
  • While it addresses climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance, it does not specifically focus on restoring degraded landscapes and forests.
• The Rio Declaration:
  • The Rio Declaration, adopted during the 1992 Earth Summit, outlines 27 principles guiding sustainable development.
  • It emphasizes the need to balance environmental protection with economic and social development but does not specifically target landscape restoration.
• The Nagoya Protocol:
  • The Nagoya Protocol, adopted in 2010, focuses on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.
  • It is part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) but does not address large-scale landscape restoration goals.

Important Points

• The Bonn Challenge is seen as a significant step towards achieving global biodiversity and climate goals, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The challenge emphasizes not just tree planting but restoring entire ecosystems, ensuring benefits for both people and nature.

The correct answer is: 3, 1, 2, 4.
Key Points

• Minnamata Disaster (1956)
  • The Minnamata disaster in Japan was a severe mercury poisoning event that occurred in the city of Minamata.
  • It was caused by industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which contaminated the water with methylmercury.
  • First identified in 1956, it led to severe health issues and birth defects among the local population, highlighting the dangers of industrial pollution.
• Bhopal Gas Disaster (1984)
  • The Bhopal Gas Disaster occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, in Bhopal, India.
  • It involved the accidental release of methyl isocyanate gas from the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant.
  • This disaster is considered one of the worst industrial accidents in history, with thousands of people dying immediately and many more suffering from long-term health effects.
• Chernobyl Disaster (1986)
  • The Chernobyl Disaster was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union).
  • It resulted from a reactor explosion, leading to significant radioactive contamination over a large area.
  • The Chernobyl disaster had far-reaching environmental, health, and social consequences and remains one of the most infamous nuclear disasters in history.
• Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster (2011)
  • The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster occurred on March 11, 2011, following a massive earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan.
  • This disaster led to the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in the release of radioactive materials.
  • It is considered the second most serious nuclear accident after Chernobyl and had a profound impact on global energy policy.

Additional Information

• Environmental Impact:
  • Each of these disasters had long-lasting environmental impacts, from mercury contamination in Minnamata to radioactive fallout in Chernobyl and Fukushima.
• Lessons Learned:
  • These events have highlighted the importance of safety regulations, industrial accountability, and disaster preparedness.
• Global Awareness:
  • The international community has used these incidents as case studies for improving global environmental and safety standards.

The correct answer is: 2, 3, 1.
Key Points

• Yamuna Action Plan (1993)
  • The Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) was initiated in 1993 as one of the largest river restoration projects in India.
  • It aimed at reducing pollution in the Yamuna River, particularly in the stretch passing through Delhi, by implementing sewage treatment and other pollution control measures.
  • The project was funded by the Government of Japan and the Government of India.
• National River Conservation Plan (1995)
  • The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) was launched in 1995 as an extension of the Ganga Action Plan.
  • It was aimed at improving water quality and addressing pollution in various rivers across India through the establishment of sewage treatment plants and other pollution control measures.
  • This plan covered major rivers beyond the Ganges, expanding efforts to conserve water bodies nationwide.
• Namami Gange (2014)
  • The Namami Gange programme was launched in 2014 by the Government of India to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga River.
  • It is a comprehensive project that addresses pollution, solid waste management, and ecological restoration in the Ganga basin.
  • The project includes collaboration with state governments and various stakeholders to ensure sustainable conservation of the river.

Additional Information

• Significance:
  • These projects reflect India's ongoing efforts to combat water pollution and ensure sustainable water management practices.
• Challenges:
  • Despite the launch of these initiatives, challenges such as untreated sewage discharge, industrial effluents, and inadequate infrastructure continue to hinder their effectiveness.
• Global Perspective:
  • Water conservation and river rejuvenation projects like these are critical in the global context, as they serve as models for other nations facing similar challenges.

The correct answer is: 4) 1 and 3

Key Points

• It aims to ensure integrated water resource management:
  • This statement is correct.
  • The National Water Mission (NWM) aims to ensure comprehensive water management by promoting integrated water resource management. This involves coordinating the management of water resources across various sectors and geographical areas.
  • This approach helps in the sustainable management of water resources, addressing the needs of both the present and future generations.
• Promotion of basin-level integrated water resource management:
  • This statement is correct.
  • One of the key objectives of the National Water Mission is to promote integrated water resource management at the basin level, ensuring that water resources are managed in a holistic manner, considering the entire river basin as a unit.
  • This approach helps in better coordination and management of water resources across states and regions sharing the same river basin.
• It focuses solely on urban water needs:
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • The National Water Mission does not focus solely on urban water needs. It addresses water management in both urban and rural areas, ensuring equitable and sustainable water use across the country.
  • Urban water management is just one aspect of the mission, but it also covers irrigation, industrial water use, and rural water needs.
• It excludes groundwater management:
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • The National Water Mission does not exclude groundwater management. In fact, groundwater management is a critical component of the mission, as it aims to conserve and efficiently use groundwater resources to ensure sustainability.
  • Proper management of groundwater is essential to addressing water scarcity and ensuring long-term water availability in various regions.

Additional Information

• National Water Mission (NWM):
  • The National Water Mission is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
  • It aims to conserve water, minimize wastage, and ensure equitable distribution across the country through integrated water resource development and management.
  • The mission also focuses on increasing water use efficiency, ensuring integrated water resource management, and addressing the impacts of climate change on water resources.
• Basin-Level Integrated Water Resource Management:
  • Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) at the basin level ensures that water resources are managed holistically across states and regions sharing the same river basin.
  • This approach considers the entire river basin as a unit, helping in better coordination and management of water resources.
• Groundwater Management:
  • Groundwater management is a crucial component of the National Water Mission, focusing on the sustainable use and conservation of groundwater resources.
  • The mission promotes strategies to enhance groundwater recharge, reduce over-extraction, and ensure the long-term availability of groundwater.

The correct answer is Statement 1 is true, Statement 2 is false.

Key Points

Statement 1: Carbon sequestration involves capturing and storing atmospheric CO2 is true because,-

• Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
• This can be done naturally through processes like photosynthesis in plants and forests, where CO2 is absorbed and stored in biomass.
• Artificial methods include technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS), where CO2 emissions from industrial processes are captured and stored underground or in geological formations.
• The goal of carbon sequestration is to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, thereby mitigating the effects of climate change.
• It is considered one of the key strategies in addressing global warming and reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.

Statement 2: It is an effective method to increase greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere is false because,-

• The purpose of carbon sequestration is to decrease, not increase, greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.
• By capturing and storing CO2, carbon sequestration helps to reduce the concentration of this greenhouse gas, which is a major contributor to global warming.
• Increasing greenhouse gas levels would have the opposite effect, exacerbating climate change rather than mitigating it.
• Therefore, carbon sequestration is a critical tool in the fight against climate change, aimed at lowering atmospheric CO2 levels and stabilizing the climate.
• Other greenhouse gases, like methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), are also targeted by similar mitigation efforts, but carbon sequestration specifically addresses CO2.

Additional Information

• Natural Carbon Sinks:
  • Forests, oceans, and soil act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing more CO2 than they emit and playing a crucial role in carbon sequestration.
• Technological Advancements:
  • Advances in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology are being explored to enhance carbon sequestration and make it more efficient.
• Climate Change Mitigation:
  • In addition to carbon sequestration, other strategies like reducing fossil fuel consumption, increasing renewable energy use, and improving energy efficiency are essential for combating climate change.

The correct answer is Leadership in Energy and Environment Design.  

 Key Points

• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an ecology-oriented building certification program run under the auspices of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
• LEED concentrates its efforts on improving performance across five key areas of environmental and human health: energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, sustainable site development and water savings.
• LEED has special rating systems that apply to all kinds of structures, including schools, retail and healthcare facilities.
• Rating systems are available for new construction and major renovations as well as existing buildings. 

Therefore, the correct answer is Leadership in Energy and Environment Design.

The correct answer is SOx families.

Key Points

Ozone destruction in the stratosphere is enhanced by catalytic reactions that can be represented as follows:

X + O₃ → XO + O₂

and, XO + O → X + O₂

• Where X is a free radical such as Cl, Br, H, OH, or NO. 
• X radical that enters the first reaction is released in the second, freeing it to go on and participate in another catalytic cycle.
• The net result of the preceding pair of reactions is the destruction of one ozone molecule.
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a major source of ozone-destroying chlorine.
• Bromine in the stratosphere is another potent ozone-depleting gas.
• Nitrous oxide, like CFCs, is stable when emitted at ground level, but breaks down when it reaches the stratosphere to form other gases, called nitrogen oxides, that trigger ozone-destroying reactions.
• In the stratosphere and mesosphere, OH is a key catalyst of ozone destruction. 

Thus, in the stratosphere, ozone is removed by the catalytic activities of HOx, NOx, and BrOx families.

Therefore, the correct answer is SOx families.

The correct answer is B and D only. 

Key Points

• ​POPs are a set of toxic chemicals that are persistent in the environment and able to last for several years before breaking down.
• POPs circulate globally and chemicals released in one part of the world can be deposited at far distances from their source through a repeated process of evaporation and deposition.
• This makes it very hard to trace the source of the chemical.
• In 1995, the United Nations Environment Programme expanded its research and investigation on POPs with an initial focus on what became known as the “Dirty Dozen”. 
• These were a group of 12 highly persistent and toxic chemicals: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and toxaphene.
• These are the persistent organic pollutants grouped according to their use and origin:
  • Pesticides: Aldrin, Dieldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex and Toxaphene.
  • Industrial chemicals: Polychlorinated biphenyls and Hexachlorobenzene.
  • Unintended industrial by-products:  Dioxins and Furans.

Therefore, the correct answer is B and D only. 

Explanation:

Landslides

• It is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope.
• These are a type of mass wasting that has down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.
• These are caused mainly by disturbances in the natural stability of a slope.
• They can accompany heavy rains or follow droughts, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions.
• The vulnerability in these geologically young and unstable steep slopes has increased due to anthropogenic activity such as road construction and widening, communication facilities, expansion of settlements and other allied development activities, deforestation, and changes in agriculture pattern.
• Seasonal rainfall is responsible for less than 10% of landslides in the Himalayan region.

Hence, option 2 is the correct answer.

Additional Information

• Road construction has destabilizing effects. It undercuts slopes, while inadequate spoil disposal increases weight and alters the natural drainage system thereby, concentrates water flow in a steeply sloped terrain.
• Deforestation of steep slopes may temporarily reduce evapotranspiration and lessen root reinforcement thus potentially enhancing landslide susceptibility.

The correct answer is All of the above

Key Points

• Deforestation refers to the removal of trees resulting in cleared land.
• Deforestation is the removal of trees or plants life on a large scale due to natural, deliberate, or accidental causes.
• The consequences of deforestation are fatal and include climate change, soil erosion, desertification, flooding, fewer crops, and increased greenhouse gases.
• Deforestation results in habitat loss for a wide range of flora and fauna.
• Deforestation also causes biodiversity loss owing to habitat destruction.
• In severe circumstances, it can lead to desertification.

 Additional Information

• Deforestation can be defined as the large-scale removal of trees from forests (or other lands) for the facilitation of human activities.
• Deforestation is also a contributor to climate change and global warming.
• Global warming is the long-term warming of the planet's overall temperature.
• Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. ​
• It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. 
• Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts.

The correct answer is Statement I is true but Statement II is false.

Key Points

• Halons are generally utilized as fire extinguishing chemicals in both built-in and portable fire extinguishers.
• All halons contain bromine, which is 40-100 times more powerful than chlorine at damaging ozone.
• Complementary interactions in the stratosphere between bromine, produced primarily from halons and methyl bromide, and chlorine are responsible for 30-40% of the Antarctic ozone hole.

​Thus the statement I is true.

• The Montreal Protocol was proposed in 1987 to prohibit the use, production, and import of ozone-depleting substances and to reduce their concentration in the atmosphere to protect the earth's ozone layer.

 Thus statement II is false.

Therefore, the correct answer is that statement I is true but statement II is false.

The correct answer is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

 Key Points

• Prerak Dauur Samman has been announced as part of Swachh Survekshan 2021. 
• The Prerak Dauur Samman has a total of five additional sub-categories -Divya (Platinum), Anupam (Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze), and Aarohi (Aspiring) - with the top three cities being recognized in each.
• Swachh Survekshan was launched as a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, it is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in cities and towns across India.

Therefore, the correct answer is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The correct answer is Mosquitoes.

 Key Points

• Invasive species frequently change the ecosystems where they are introduced, e.g., by affecting species interactions and population densities of native species. 
• Due to globalization, increasing numbers of organisms are being transported around the globe.
• Seeds, eggs, dormant stages, parasites or pathogens can be unintentionally introduced as contaminants of intentionally introduced species.
• Climate change has already been shown and predicted to substantially alter biodiversity, causing changes in species distributions, species interactions and ecosystem processes.
• The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is an unintentionally introduced species in many parts of the world, and climate change likely further increases its range.
• This invader also acts as a transmission vector for several human diseases (e.g., Dengue virus, West Nile virus). 
• Invasive species often have broad climatic tolerances, which enables them to compete effectively with native species. 
• Climate warming will favour exotic species from warmer regions and climates.
• Mosquitos are hence the most significant fingerprint of climate change concerning biotic invasion.

Therefore, the correct answer is mosquitoes.

The correct answer is both ClNO3 + HCl → Cl2 + HNO3 and Cl + O3 → ClO + O2.

Key Points

• Stratospheric temperatures in the polar vortex may drop to below - 90°C, which is cold enough to form polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) even though the air is very dry.
• The ice crystals that make up polar clouds play a key role in the Antarctic phenomenon by providing reaction surfaces that allow chemical species to stay together long enough to react with each other.
• Several reactions take place on the surfaces of polar stratospheric cloud particles that result in the formation of chlorine gas. For example,
  • ClONO₂ + H₂O → HOCl + HNO₃
  • ClONO₂ + H₂O →  HOCl + HNO₃
  • ClONO₂ + HCl →  Cl₂ + HNO₃
• ​Once the sun rises in the Antarctic spring in September, the chlorine gas formed during the darkness of winter photolytically decomposes into atomic chlorine:
  • Cl₂ + hv →  2 Cl
• which then destroys ozone by reinitiating the catalytic destruction process.
  • (Cl + O₃ →  ClO + O₂₎ + (ClO + O →  Cl + O₂) = O + O₃ →  2 O₂

Therefore, the correct answer is both ClNO3 + HCl → Cl2 + HNO3 and Cl + O3 → ClO + O2.

Explanation:

UNFCCC

• It is the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change.  
• The Convention has near universal membership (198 Parties) and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
• The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep the global average temperature rise this century as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
• It is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
• The ultimate objective of all three agreements under the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame that allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development.
• Subsidiary Body for Implementation(SBI) has a role in the assessment and review of the effective implementation of the convention. 

Hence, the option 2 is the correct answer