Question 27 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Environment

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the Club of Rome.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: Analyze each statement for factual accuracy. Statement 1 incorrectly links the 2015 SDGs to the 1972 Club of Rome report. Statement 2 correctly identifies the SDG target year as 2030. Therefore, the correct option is B.

Key Info: -   **Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)**
    *   The SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to serve as a 'blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.'
    *   They were officially adopted by all United Nations Member States in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
    *   The SDGs succeeded the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which ran from 2000 to 2015.
    *   The target year for achieving the SDGs is 2030.
    *   The 17 goals address global challenges including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment, and social justice.

-   **Club of Rome**
    *   The Club of Rome is a global think tank that was founded in 1968.
    *   It is best known for its 1972 report, 'The Limits to Growth,' which explored the consequences of continued exponential economic and population growth on a finite planet.
    *   While 'The Limits to Growth' was a seminal work that contributed significantly to the global discourse on environmental sustainability and resource management, it did not propose the specific framework later known as the Sustainable Development Goals.

-   **Evolution of Sustainable Development Concept**
    *   **1987:** The World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) released its report 'Our Common Future,' which popularized the definition of sustainable development as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.'
    *   **1992:** The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro, leading to the adoption of Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action for sustainable development.
    *   **2000:** The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were adopted, focusing on poverty reduction and development issues primarily in developing countries.
    *   **2012:** The Rio+20 Conference (UN Conference on Sustainable Development) initiated the process to develop a set of SDGs.
    *   **2015:** The SDGs were formally adopted by the UN General Assembly.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements: The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the Club of Rome. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the Club of Rome.

The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?