Q. Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now is an initiative launched by (UPSC Prelims 2018)
Answer: The UNFCCC Secretariat
Notes: The correct answer is [C] The UNFCCC Secretariat. Launched in 2015, this initiative is a central pillar of the United Nations' efforts to encourage non-state actors to take climate action.

• UNFCCC Secretariat (Statement C – Correct): The "Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now" initiative was established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. Its primary goal is to encourage individuals, companies, and governments to measure, reduce, and offset their greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Three Pillars: The initiative operates on a simple three-step method:
  1. Measure: Quantify the carbon footprint.
  2. Reduce: Implement strategies to lower emissions as much as possible.
  3. Offset: Compensate for remaining emissions by purchasing UN-certified carbon credits.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Option A – Incorrect): The IPCC is a scientific body that provides assessments on climate change. It does not typically launch operational "initiatives" or "campaigns" for carbon neutrality; its role is primarily data-driven and advisory.
• UNEP Secretariat (Option B – Incorrect): While the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) leads many green initiatives, "Climate Neutral Now" is specifically tied to the UNFCCC's mandate of implementing the Paris Agreement.
• World Meteorological Organization (Option D – Incorrect): The WMO focuses on the state and behavior of the Earth's atmosphere and its interaction with the oceans.

Historically, this initiative gained massive traction following the Paris Agreement (COP21), as it provided a clear framework for the private sector and civil society to contribute to the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C.