🌍 Environmental Policies & Climate Agreements
💡 Core Concept: Critical for UGC NET Paper 1 (Environmental Studies) and Paper 2 (Public Administration/Political Science). Covers Indian environmental laws, climate policies, and global agreements with SDG linkages.
1. India's Environmental Protection Act (1986)
🔴 Key Provisions
Salient Features:
- Umbrella legislation for environmental protection
- Empowers Central Govt. to take measures for pollution control
- Establishes standards for emissions/effluents
- Provides for environmental impact assessments (EIA)
| Section | Provision | NET Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Section 3 | Power to take pollution control measures | Environmental Governance (3-5 marks) |
| Section 5 | Issue directions to industries | Case study questions |
| Section 15 | Penalties for violations | Legal aspects in Environment |
1986: EPA enacted after Bhopal Gas Tragedy
1991: EIA notification introduced
2006: Amendments for stricter compliance
2. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
🟢 8 Core Missions
Solar Mission: 100 GW solar capacity by 2022
↓
Energy Efficiency: PAT scheme for industries
↓
Sustainable Habitat: Green building codes
↓
Water Mission: National Water Policy
| Mission | Key Target | SDG Linkage |
|---|---|---|
| National Solar Mission | Renewable energy capacity | SDG 7 (Affordable Energy) |
| Green India Mission | Forest cover increase | SDG 15 (Life on Land) |
| Sustainable Agriculture | Climate-resilient crops | SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) |
Exam Tip: Remember missions using mnemonic "SHE WANTS Green Himalayan Agriculture":
- Solar
- Habitat
- Energy Efficiency
- Water
- Agriculture
- Green India
- Himalayan Ecosystem
- Sustainable Agriculture
3. Global Climate Agreements
🟣 Key International Protocols
Evolution of Climate Diplomacy:
- UNFCCC (1992): Framework Convention
- Kyoto Protocol (1997): Binding emission targets
- Paris Agreement (2015): Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
| Agreement | Key Mechanism | India's Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Protocol | CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) | Hosted 1,500+ CDM projects |
| Paris Agreement | NDCs | 40% non-fossil energy by 2030 |
| Kigali Amendment | HFC phase-down | Phasing out HFCs by 2047 |
1992: UNFCCC adopted at Rio Earth Summit
2005: Kyoto Protocol enters into force
2015: Paris Agreement adopted (COP21)
4. Linkages with Sustainable Development Goals
🟠 Policy-SDG Mapping
| Indian Policy | Primary SDG | Secondary SDGs |
|---|---|---|
| EPA 1986 | SDG 13 (Climate Action) | 3, 6, 11, 14, 15 |
| NAPCC | SDG 7 (Clean Energy) | 2, 6, 11, 12, 15 |
| NDCs under Paris | SDG 13 (Climate Action) | 7, 9, 11, 12 |
UGC NET Focus:
- Environment-Development balance (5-8 marks)
- SDG indicators in Indian context
- Policy implementation challenges
Key Interconnections:
- Climate policies → SDG 13 (Climate Action)
- Renewable energy → SDG 7 + SDG 8 (Economic Growth)
- Water missions → SDG 6 (Clean Water)
5. Case Study: UGC NET 2021 Question
Question: Which mission under NAPCC focuses on enhancing ecosystem services including biodiversity and carbon sinks?
Options:
A) National Solar Mission
B) Green India Mission
C) Sustainable Habitat Mission
D) Water Mission
Answer: B) Green India Mission
Analysis: Tests specific knowledge of NAPCC missions - frequently asked in NET Environment section. Remember: Green India Mission = Forest/Biodiversity focus.
🎯 Preparation Strategy
For UGC NET Aspirants:
- Create comparative tables of policies/agreements
- Memorize years and key numbers (e.g., 100 GW solar target)
- Practice matching questions (Policy ↔ SDG)
- Understand India's international commitments
Pro Tip: When answering environment policy questions:
- For legal aspects, recall EPA sections
- For climate missions, use the mnemonic
- For global agreements, note India's position
- Always link to SDGs where applicable
🌍 Key Environmental Agreements: UGC NET Complete Guide
💡 Core Concept: International environmental agreements form crucial part of UGC NET syllabus (People and Environment unit, 5-8 marks). These treaties demonstrate global cooperation for sustainable development.
1. Major Environmental Agreements
🛡️ Montreal Protocol (1987)
Key Provisions:
- Aim: Phase out ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, Halons)
- Unique: Only UN treaty ratified by all 197 member states
- Kigali Amendment (2016): Includes HFCs
| Aspect | Details | NET Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Impact | Ozone layer recovering by 1-3% per decade | Environmental success stories |
| India's Role | Phased out CFCs by 2010 | Global environmental governance |
🌱 Rio Earth Summit (1992)
| Convention | Focus Area | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| UNFCCC | Climate Change | Led to Kyoto Protocol |
| CBD | Biological Diversity | Nagoya Protocol |
| Agenda 21 | Sustainable Development | Local action plans |
2. Climate Change Agreements
⚖️ Kyoto Protocol (1997-2020)
Key Features:
- First legally binding emissions targets
- Annex I vs Non-Annex countries
- Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
🌿 Paris Agreement (2015)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Goal | Limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial |
| NDCs | Nationally Determined Contributions |
| India's Commitment | 40% renewable energy by 2030 |
3. Biodiversity and Solar Initiatives
🦋 Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
| Protocol | Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Cartagena | 2000 | Biosafety |
| Nagoya | 2010 | Access and Benefit Sharing |
☀️ International Solar Alliance (2015)
Key Facts:
- Launched at Paris COP21
- Headquarters: Gurugram, India
- 121 sunshine countries between tropics
- One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative
4. Comparative Analysis
| Agreement | Year | Primary Focus | Legally Binding? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 1987 | Ozone Layer | Yes |
| Kyoto | 1997 | GHG Reduction | Yes (Annex I) |
| Paris | 2015 | Climate Change | Partially |
5. UGC NET Expected Questions
- Which amendment added HFCs to Montreal Protocol? (Ans: Kigali)
- NDCs are part of which agreement? (Ans: Paris)
- How many conventions were adopted at Rio? (Ans: 3)
- ISA headquarters is located in? (Ans: Gurugram)
6. India's Role in Global Agreements
India's Contributions:
- Co-founder of International Solar Alliance
- Met Montreal targets 2 years ahead of schedule
- Hosted CBD COP11 (Hyderabad, 2012)
- Launched LiFE Movement at COP26
🎯 Preparation Strategy
For UGC NET Aspirants:
- Create timeline of environmental agreements
- Memorize key years and locations
- Note India-specific commitments
- Understand differences between protocols
