UPSC Prelims 2017 Question:

Consider the following statements

1. Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique initiative of G20 group of countries. 
2. The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons.
   
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

• The Climate and Clean Air Coalition was established in 2012 to treat short-lived climate pollutants as an urgent and collective challenge. Participation in the Coalition is voluntary and open to governments, subnational, intergovernmental organizations, financial institutions and civil society organizations that commit to addressing short-lived climate pollutants collectively and individually. It was formed by the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the United States, along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• Short-lived climate pollutants are powerful climate forcers that remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time than carbon dioxide (CO2), yet their potential to warm the atmosphere can be many times greater. The short-lived climate pollutants black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons are the most important contributors to the man-made global greenhouse effect after carbon dioxide, responsible for up to 45% of current global warming. The CCAC is focussing on these short-lived climate pollutants i.e. black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone and hydrofluorocarbons. So, statement 2 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Environmental Organizations and Conventions