Question 12 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Environment

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique initiative of the G20 group of countries.
2. The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: The strategy focused on evaluating two distinct statements. First, the claim linking the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to the G20 was identified as highly specific and likely incorrect, given that international environmental bodies typically involve diverse nations and UN agencies rather than exclusively economic forums. Second, the listing of methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons as key pollutants was confirmed as highly plausible, aligning with the coalition's explicit focus on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants. This differential assessment led to the correct determination.

Key Info: ## Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

The CCAC is a voluntary partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions, and civil society organizations. It is committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate through actions to reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs).

-   **Formation** -- Launched in 2012 by the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States, along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
-   **Not a G20 Initiative** -- It is not an initiative of the G20. The G20 is primarily a forum for international economic cooperation.
-   **Secretariat** -- The CCAC's secretariat is hosted by UNEP in Paris, France.
-   **India's Membership** -- India joined the coalition in 2019.

## Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs)

SLCPs are powerful climate forcers that remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter period than carbon dioxide (CO2), yet their potential to warm the atmosphere can be many times greater. The main SLCPs targeted by the CCAC are:

-   **Methane (CH4)** -- A greenhouse gas with an atmospheric lifetime of about 12 years. It is a major precursor to the formation of tropospheric ozone.
-   **Black Carbon (Soot)** -- A component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. It warms the atmosphere by absorbing solar radiation and reduces the reflectivity (albedo) of snow and ice, accelerating melting.
-   **Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)** -- A group of synthetic greenhouse gases used primarily in refrigeration and air conditioning. While they represent a small fraction of current greenhouse gas emissions, their warming potential is very high, and their use is growing rapidly. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol aims to phase down HFCs.
-   **Tropospheric Ozone (O3)** -- A secondary pollutant not directly emitted but formed from chemical reactions between precursor gases (like methane, NOx, VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. It is a major component of smog and is harmful to human health and crop yields.

Answer

Option A: 1 only

Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2

Answer

Option D: Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements: Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique initiative of the G20 group of countries. The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique initiative of the G20 group of countries.

The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?