Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
The International Solar Alliance is an alliance of 121 countries. It was initiated by India and was founded in 2015. Most of the members being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The headquarters of the International Solar Alliance is situated at Gurugram, Haryana.

Notes:
According to the Sustainable Development Goal 13, we should take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts because climate change is presently the biggest threat towards development.

Notes:
Bioenergy is defined as renewable energy which is made available from materials derived from biological. The sources the sources of bio-energy include:
1. organic residue
2. farm organic residue
3. forest residue
4. organic urban residue
5. Algal residues

Notes:
India aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from the 2005 level. India aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by increasing forest and tree cover by 2030.

Notes:
Energy Conservation Building Code was launched in 2007. It addresses the issues pertaining to design of new, large commercial buildings to optimize the buildings’ energy demand based on their location in different climatic zones. However, compliance with ECBC norms is voluntary in nature at present.

Notes:
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic i.e. it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It is caused by emissions of oxides of sulphur (SO2 or SO3) and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

Notes:
The most abundant organic compound in the terrestrial environment is cellulose. A type of carbohydrate, cellulose contains chains of glucose rings. Providing strength and rigidity, cellulose forms the cell walls of plants. Cellulose is the primary constituent of wood, making this organic compound the most abundant one on the surface of the Earth.

Notes:
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with other living and nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. The nature of the organisms—the species, functional groups and trophic levels to which they belong—dictates the sorts of actions these individuals are capable of carrying out, and the relative efficiency with which they do so.

Notes:
The Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world’s largest coral reef system, spanning 2,300 kilometers and covering 344,400 square kilometers. It is home to 10% of the world’s fish species, 400 types of coral, and six of the seven species of marine turtles. The reef is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, with the widest sections reaching up to 65 kilometers. It is visible from space and supports a diverse array of marine life, including whales, dolphins, and sharks. The reef has been listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World since 1997. Despite its natural beauty, the reef faces threats from climate change, coral bleaching, and pollution, with UNESCO recommending it for the In Danger list due to these impacts.

Notes:
The Okavango Delta in Botswana was inscribed as the 1000th UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. This inland delta, formed by the Okavango River, spans 6-15,000 square kilometers undergoing seasonal flooding. It is a refuge for over 260,000 mammals and 400 bird species, including endangered species. The delta’s unique ecosystem provides a source of fresh water, food, and job opportunities through tourism while supporting indigenous communities. Ensuring biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods is the focus of the 2008 Okavango Delta Management Plan. With over 150,000 islands, Chief’s Island is the largest, demonstrating the delta’s exceptional natural beauty and ecological significance.