Q.1. (a) Explain any three environmental concerns in global politics which no single government can address. [2024]
OR
(b) Explain the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’.
Ans: (a) Global concerns related to environment:
(i)
- Throughout the world, cultivable area is barely expanding any more.
- Existing land is losing fertility.
- Grasslands have been overgrazed and fisheries, overharvested.
- Water bodies have suffered extensive depletion and pollution.
- All this has severely restricted food production.
(ii) According to the Human Development Report 2016 by UNDP, 663 million people in developing countries have no access to sanitation resulting in the death of more than three million children every year.
(iii) Natural forests are being cut down and people are being displaced. The loss of biodiversity continues due to the distruction of habitat in areas which are rich in species.
(iv) A steady decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth’s stratosphere(commonly known as Ozone hole) poses a real threat to ecosystems and human health.
(v) Coastal pollution too is increasing globally due to land-leased activities. (Any three)
OR
(b) (i) There was a differences in the approach to environment between the countries of the North and the South.
(ii) The developed countries of the North want to discuss the environmental issue as it stands now and want everyone to be equally responsible for ecological conservation.
(iii) The countries of South felt that degradation in the environment is the creation of developed countries. So, they should take more responsibility.
(iv) This argument was accepted in the Rio Declaration of 1992.
(v) As per this principle, all countries should act to protect the climate on the basis of equality and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibility.
Q.2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: [2024]
India is of the view that the major responsibility of curbing emission of greenhouse gases rests with the developed countries, which have accumulated emissions over a long period of time. India pointed out that the per capita emission rates of the developing countries are a tiny fraction of those in the developed world.
(i) India signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in:
(A) August 2000
(B) August 2001
(C) August 2002
(D) August 2003
(ii) Why were some developing countries exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol?
(A) They were pioneers in developing eco-friendly technology.
(B) They were assisting some other countries to adopt clean technologies.
(C) They had already launched renewable energy programmes.
(D) Their contribution to emission of greenhouse gases was insignificant.
(iii) Where was the ‘Earth Summit’ held?
(A) Paris
(B) Rio de Janeiro
(C) Kyoto
(D) Montreal
(iv) Which one of the following is an example of ‘Global Commons’?
(A)The Great Barrier Reef
(B) The Grand Canyon
(C) The Outer Space
(D) The Sahara Desert
Ans. (i) (C) August 2002
(ii) (D) their contribution to emission of greenhouse gasses was insignificant.
(iii) (B) Rio de Janerio
(iv) (C ) Outer space
Q.3. (a) In what ways has the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ helped in addressing and overcoming the differences between the ‘Global North’ and ‘Global South’ over environmental issues? Explain. [2024]
OR
(b) Explain any three programmes initiated by the Government of India to protect and conserve the environment.
Ans. (a) (i) The countries of the North wanted everyone to be equally responsible for ecological conservation. The developing countries of the south feel that much of the ecological degradation of the world is the product of industrial development undertaken by the developed world.
(ii) The special needs of the developing countries must be taken into account in the development, application and interpretation of rules of International Environment Law. This argument was accepted in the Rio Declaration of 1992.
(iii) Developing countries were exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol , an international agreement setting targets for industrialised countries to cut the greenhouse gas emissions.
(iv) The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development.
OR
(b) (i) It initiated the National Auto Fuel policy for cleaner fuels for vehicles.
(ii) The energy conservation Act was passed in 2001 to improve energy efficiency.
(iii) The Electricity Act of 2003 was implemented to encourage the use of renewable energy.
(iv) India signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
Q.4. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow: [2024]
The growing focus on environmental issues within the arena of global politics was firmly consolidated at United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro of Brazil. This was also called the Earth Summit.
(i) In which year was the Earth Summit held?
(A) 1990
(B) 1991
(C) 1992
(D) 1993
(ii) Which one of the following countries was exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol?
(A) USA
(B) United Kingdom
(C) France
(D) China
(iii) Which one of the following was not an outcome of the Rio Summit?
(A) Agenda-21
(B) Sustainable Development
(C) Common but differentiated responsibilities
(D) Kyoto Protocol
(iv) The Ozone hole was discovered in the mid 80's over the
(A) Atlantic Ocean
(B) Pacific Ocean
(C) Antarctic
(D) Arctic Ocean
Ans. (i) (C) 1992
(ii) (D) China
(iii) (D) Kyoto Protocol
(iv) (C) Antarctic
Q.5. (a) Highlight any three environmental concerns significant to global politics. [2023]
OR
(b) Highlight any three international environmental movements and their importance.
Ans. (a) Environmental concerns:
(i) Cultivable area is barely expanding , agricultural land is losing fertility, grasslands have been overgrazed and fisheries, overharvested.
(ii) Access to safe drinking water is not available in many area. Billions have no access to sanitation resulting in the death of more than 3 million children every year.
(iii) Natural forests are being cut and people are being displaced. It has caused climate disturbances and loss of biodiversity.
(iv) Decline in total amount of ozone in the earth stratosphere is posing a real danger to the ecosystem human health.
(v) Coastal pollution is increasing globally. It is adding to the deterioration in the quality of marine environment.
(vi) Global warming is a global concern as it affects the weather/climate of different nations, changing the physical conditions on earth.
OR
(b) Environmental movements:
(i) The forest movement started in different parts of the world such as Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Malaysia, Africa and India. It aimed at saving forest from deforestation and felling of trees.
(ii) Movement against mining started in Philippines to oppose Western Mining Corporation. It aims at stopping the extraction of earth , use of chemicals and pollution of waterways ,lands.
(iii) Anti Dam movements or pro -river movements are meant for more sustainable and equitable Management of river systems and valley's.
Q.6. (a) Highlight any four environmental concerns that have become important in global politics. [2023]
OR
(b) Highlight any four economic consequences of globalization.
Ans. (a) (i) Decreasing cultivable area.
(ii) No access to safe drinking water resulting in the death of more than 3 million children every year.
(iii) Speedy deforestation and elimination of natural forests.
(iv) Decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth’s Stratosphere.
(v) Increase in coastal pollution.
(vi) Global Warming
OR
(b) (i) Greater economic flows among different countries of the world. This flow or exchange may be in the forms like commodities, capital, people and ideas.
(ii) Increase in the trade of commodities.
(iii) Restrictions on movement of capital across the countries have been reduced.
(iv) The choices of customers have multiplied.
(v) The job avenues have increased.
(vi) Developed countries have carefully guarded their borders with visa policies to ensure that citizens of other countries can not take away the jobs of their own citizens.
(vii) It has increased the gap between the developed and developing countries.
(viii) It has widened the gap between rich and the poor, skilled and unskilled within a country.
Q.7. Read the following passage and answer the following questions :
There is a growing significance of environmental as well as resource issues in the world politics.If the various governments take steps to check environmental degradation, these issues will have political consequences. Most of them are such that no single government can address them fully. At the Rio Summit, the First World countries were pursuing a different environmental agenda than the Third World countries. The Indian government is already participating in global efforts through a number of programmes. India’s international negotiating position relies heavily on the principles of UNFCCC.
(i) How the First World countries pursued a different environmental agenda from the Third World countries?
(ii) The issue of global warming has deeply affected the world. Substantiate the statement with three examples.
Ans.(i) A. At the Rio Summit, the rich and the developed countries of the First World generally referred to as the ‘Global North’ were pursuing a different environmental agenda than the poor and developing countries of the ‘Third World’, called the ‘Global South’. The Northern states were mainly concerned with ozone depletion and global warming. They wanted to discuss the environmental issue as it stands now and wanted everyone to be equally responsible for ecological conservation.
B. The Southern states on the other hand were anxious to address the relationship between economic development and environmental management. The developing nations of the South felt that much of the ecological degradation in the world is the product of industrial development undertaken by the developed countries.
(ii) A. Throughout the world, cultivable area is barely expanding any more, and a substantial portion of existing agricultural land is losing its fertility, grasslands have been overgrazed and fisheries over harvested. Water bodies have suffered extensive depletion and pollution, severely restricting food production.
B. A steady decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth’s stratosphere poses a real danger to ecosystems and human health.
C. Natural forests, which help stabilise the climate, moderate water supplies, and labour a majority of the planet’s biodiversity on land are being cut down and people are being displaced. The loss of biodiversity continues due to the destruction of habitat in areas which are rich in species.
Q.8. Analyse any three threats to the global environment these days.
Ans. THREATS TO GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
(i) Deforestation – Natural forests which help to stabilise the climate, moderate water supplies and harbour a majority of the planets, biodiversity on land is being cut down leading to loss of biodiversity and loss of habitat.
(ii) Steady decline in the total amount of Ozone in the Earth’s stratosphere.
(iii) Increase in coastal pollution because of the land–based activities. Unchecked human settlement of coastal zones leads to deterioration in the quality of marine environment.
(iv) Rapid industrialisation and intensive mining of minerals.Or any other relevant points.
Q.9. What was the Earth Summit? How far has the Summit proved to be useful? Explain.
OR
What were the outcomes of Rio Summit?
Ans. The Earth Summit was conference on environment and development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. The focus of this conference was primarily on global environment and the relationship between economics, science and the environment in the political context.
It proves to be useful through following steps :
(i) The Rio Summit produced conventions dealing with climate change, biodiversity, and forestry and recommended a list of development practices called ‘Agenda 21’.
(ii) The implementation of ‘Agenda 21’ was intended to involve action at international, national, regional and local levels.
(iii) There was unanimity on combining economic growth with ecological responsibility. This approach to development is commonly known as sustainable development.
(iv) However, some critics indicated that Agenda 21 was biased in favour of economic growth rather than ensuring ecological conservation.
(v) Forest principles is an informal name given to the non-legally binding authoritative statement of principles for a global consensus on the management, conservation and sustainable development of all type of forests. It is a non-legally binding document that makes several recommendations for conservation and sustainable development forestry.In 1994, the Montreal Process was began as a result of the forest principles.
Q.10. Explain the meaning of global commons? How are environmental concerns becoming important in global politics?
OR
Why have issues related to global environmental protection become the priority concern of states since the 1990s?
Ans. Commons are those resources which are not owned by anyone but rather shared by a community.This could be a common room, community center, river, park, etc. Similarly, there are some regions or areas of the world which are located outside the sovereign jurisdiction of any one state, and therefore require common governance by the international community. These are known as global commons. They include the Earth’s atmosphere, Antarctica, the ocean floor and the outer space.
Although, environmental concerns have a long history, awareness of the environmental consequences of economic growth acquired an increasingly political character from the 1960s onwards. The Club of Rome published a book in 1972 titled Limits to Growth, dramatising the potential depletion of the Earth’s resources against the backdrop of rapidly growing world population. International agencies began holding international conferences and promoting detailed studies to get a more co-ordinated and effective response to environmental problems. Since then, the environment has emerged as a significant issue of global politics.
The growing focus on environmental issues within the arena of global politics was firmly consolidated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. This was also called the Earth Summit. The Summit was attended by 170 states, thousands of NGOs and many multinational corporations. The Summit produced conventions dealing with climate change, biodiversity, forestry, and recommended a list of development practices called Agenda 21. But it left unresolvedconsiderable differences and difficulties. There was a consensus on combining economic growth with ecological responsibility. This approach to development is commonly known as sustainable development.
Q.11. Explain any three environmental concerns in global politics.
OR
How are the Global Commons being exploited and polluted?
Ans. Some environmental issues have been considered as the global issues.
(i) Natural resources are being depleted, i.e.,cultivable area has not been sustained any more, agricultural land lost fertility and grasslands have been overgrazed.
(ii) Water bodies have suffered both depletion and pollution.
(iii) A steady decline in ozone layer also poses a threat to ecosystem and human health.
(iv) Natural forests stabilise the climate, moderate water supply and habitat various species, which are also being lost causing destruction to biodiversity through industrial pollution, etc.
(v) Because of the land-based activities, coastal pollution is also increasing which affects fisheries.
Q.12. The most serious challenge before the states is pursuing economic development without causing further damage to the global environment. How could we achieve this Explain with a few examples.
Ans. The economic development can be achieved even without damaging global environment by following practices:
(i) In June 1992, Earth Summit provided some conservative measures for sustainable growth without damaging environment anymore.
(ii) The Antarctica Treaty of 1959 covered Global Commons for mutual economic development.
(iii) Kyoto Protocol recommended cut on greenhouse emissions from industrialised countries to protect environment and to develop industries also.
(iv) Resource geopolitics allocates and distributes natural resources among the nation states of global arena for sustainable development of nations.
Hence, the above mentioned practices protect the global environment and even though the states are developing, we could achieve this challenge only if we follow the provisions and practices mentioned in all these conferences and summits.
