Topic

1. Environment v/s Development: defn of envirnmnt,

Environmentalism,Environmental protection policy, Environmentalpolicy
instruments
Environment vs Development

Environmental policy instruments are measures taken by governments to address the pollution of
air, water, solid waste, and the depletion of natural resources and to achieve environmental
governance

environmental policy, any measure by a government or corporation or other public or private

organization regarding the effects of human activities on the environment, particularly those
measures that are designed to prevent or reduce harmful effects of human activities on ecosystems.

Environmentalism is a movement that arose in response to global environmental crises. It

encompasses theories about the nature and causes of environmental problems, moral views about
our relation to nature, and attempts to define and bring about an environmentally sound society.
Environmentalism as a movement covers broad areas of institutional oppression, including for
example: consumption of ecosystems and natural resources into waste, dumping waste into
disadvantaged communities, air pollution, water pollution, weak infrastructure, exposure of organic
life to toxins, mono-culture,

Environment can be defined as a sum total of all the living and non-living elements and their effects
that influence human life. While all living or biotic elements are animals, plants, forests, fisheries,
and birds, non-living or abiotic elements include water, land, sunlight, rocks, and air.

1. Environmental science is defined by which of the following statements?

a) study of the interactions between the environment’s and humans only

b) study of the interactions between the environment’s and physical components

c) study of the interactions between the environment’s and chemical components

d) study of the interactions between the environment’s physical, chemical, and biological
components

Ans: d

Explanation: Environmental science is the study of the interactions between the environment’s
physical, chemical, and biological components.
When was the United States Environmental Protection Agency Established?

(a) March 1979 (b) January 1985

(c) December 1980 (d) December 1970

RRB NTPC 11.02.2021 (Shift-I) Stage First

Ans. (d) :

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent executive agency of the United States
federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon
proposed the establishment of EPA on 9 July 1970. It began to operate on 2 December 1970, after
Nixon signed an executive order.

. When was the National Green Tribunal (NGT) established?

(a) 2006 (b) 2005

(c) 2000 (d) 2010

R.R.B. JE- Stage - II 31-08-2019 (Shift -I)

Ans. (d) :

For the conservation of environment and regulations related to it, the NGT (National Green Tribunal)
was established in 2010.

The precautionary principle was first introduced in ___.

(a) The First International Conference on Protection of the North Sea

(b) Kyoto Protocol

(c) The Earth Summit

(d) Vienna Convention

RRB JE CBT-II 28–08–2019 (evening)

Ans : (a)

The Precautionary principle was first introduced in the first International conference on protection
of the North sea.
. World Summit on sustainable development was held in 2002 in ___.

(a) Argentina (b) Sweden

c) Brazil (d) South Africa

R.R.B. JE. Stage - II 30-08-2019 (Shift - III)

Ans. (d) :

World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 was held in Johannesburg (South Africa) from 26
August to 4 September.

Which of the following statements are correct about the Johannesburg Summit?

1. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation was agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development or the Earth

Summit 2005.

2. It affirmed UN commitment to ‘full implementation’ of Agenda 21, alongside achievement of the

Millennium Development Goals and other international agreements.

Select the correct option from the codes given below:

[A] Only 1

[B] Only 2

[C] Both 1 & 2

[D] Neither 1 & 2

Hide Answer

Correct Answer: B [Only 2]

Notes:
The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation was agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development or the Earth

Summit 2002. It affirmed UN commitment to ‘full implementation’ of Agenda 21, alongside

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and other international agreements.

Which of the following statements are correct regarding Local Agenda 21?

1. All national and state governments have legislated or advised that local authorities take steps to
implement the plan locally, as recommended in Chapter 28 of the document.

2. Such programmes are often referred to as ‘Local Agenda 21’ or ‘LA21’.

Select the correct option from the codes given below:

[A] Only 1

[B] Only 2

[C] Both 1 & 2

[D] Neither 1 & 2

Hide Answer

Correct Answer: B [Only 2]

Notes:

Some national and state governments have legislated or advised that local authorities take steps to
implement the Agenda 21 locally, as recommended in Chapter 28 of the document. Such
programmes are often referred to as ‘Local Agenda 21’ or ‘LA21’.

Consider the following:

Convention on Biological Diversity

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Kyoto Protocol

The United States Government has ratified which among the above?
[A] Only 1

[B] Only 1 & 2

[C] Only 2 & 3

[D] Only 2

Hide Answer

Correct Answer: D [Only 2 ]

Notes:

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international environmental

treaty which was adopted in 1992. It became effective in 1994. The location of the organization is in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Which among the following plant has been prohibited from cultivation and planting in India via the
Willd Life protection Act?

[A] Killer weed (Parthenium hysterophorus)

[B] Dragon Plant (Dracaena draca)

[C] Belladona (Atropta Belladona )

[D] Ladies slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum spp. )

Hide Answer

Correct Answer: D [Ladies slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum spp. )]

Notes:

The lady’s slipper orchids are extremely rare in the Himalayas at present. It used to be found
abundantly. The cultivation and planting of lady’s slipper orchids in India are prohibited by the Wild
Life protection Act.
In recent times, the Wildlife and zoo managers have focussed on conserving endangered species
such as Nilgiris Tahr, Nilgiris Langur and Lion Tailed Macaques (LTMs), which are on the verge of
becoming extinct. What is / are advantages of the Captive Breeding Programme?

1.It eliminated the need to preserve critical habitats.

2.It is comparatively easy for highly mobile species such as migratory birds

3.It can be used to enhance the genetic diversity

Choose the correct option from the codes given below:

[A] Only 1 & 2

[B] Only 2 & 3

[C] Only 1

[D] 1, 2 & 3

Hide Answer

Correct Answer: C [ Only 1]

Notes:

Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals in human controlled environments with
restricted settings, such as wildlife reserves, zoos and other conservation facilities; sometimes the
process is construed to include release of individual organisms to the wild, when there is sufficient
natural habitat to support new individuals or when the threat to the species in the wild is lessened.
Captive breeding programs facilitate biodiversity and may save species from extinction. However,
such programs may also reduce genetic diversity and species fitness. Captive breeding techniques
are usually difficult to implement for highly mobile species like some migratory birds (e.g. cranes)
and fishes (e.g. Hilsa). Species like large cetaceans (whales, dolphins, etc.) may also have some
difficulties as it would be hard to meet their biological requirements in captivity, especially the vast
amount of space required to keep large populations.