Paris Agreement, UNEP - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

1)   How many states have signed the Paris Agreement as per Nov 2016?

a. 172
b. 162
c. 182
d. 192
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 182

Explanation:
The Paris Agreement has entered into force on Nov 4, 2016.

  • The agreement involves GHG emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance.
  • Paris Agreement’s entry into force comes after countries representing 55 percent of the world’s emissions joined the deal.
  • As per Nov 2016, 192 states have signed the agreement.
  • The EU is also a signatory to the agreement.
  • 97 of these parties have ratified or accepted the agreement.
  • Notable among these are the leading GHG emitters China, the US and India.
  • The Paris Agreement is inked within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
  • Language of the agreement was negotiated by 195 nations at the 21st COP of the UNFCC in Paris.
  • It was adopted by consensus on 12th December 2015.
  • It was launched for the signatories on 22nd April 2016 in NYC.
  • The EU ratified the agreement in Oct 2016.
  • The agreement has come into force due to ratification by enough countries.
  • The prime aim of the protocol is to limit global average temperature to well below 2 degree C above pre-industrial levels.
  • COP has established a global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and lowering vulnerability to climate change.
  • Averting, minimising and coping with losses due to climate change is another mitigation based goal.
Other aspects of the agreement focus on:
  • Technology Transfer
  • Capacity Building
  • Financing
  • Implementation
  • Review


2)   International Tiger Day has been celebrated on which day?

a. 28th July
b. 29th July
c. 30th July
d. 31st July
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 29th July

Explanation:
UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) celebrated International Tiger’s Day on 29th July 2016.

  • Of 100000 tigers roaming the nation a century ago only 3200 are left behind, according to a WWF 2014 report.
  • Between 2000 and 2014, authorities across Asia seized parts of as many as 1590 tigers killed for traditional medicine, according to wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic.
  • WWF has warned that poaching and habitat loss could bring extinction for the Asian big cats.
  • India is home to 50 percent of the world’s tiger population with 1706 tigers.
  • Of 9 species, 3 are extinct while 6 exist in the world today. The tigers that are not extinct include Siberian Tigers, Bengal tigers, Indochinese tigers, Malayan and Sumatran tigers and South China tigers.
  • 3 extinct species are Bali, Caspian and Java tigers.


3)   Consider the following statements

1. UNEP was awarded with Nobel peace prize in 2001.
2. The winner of Miss Earth beauty pageant serves as the spokesperson of UNEP.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
UNEP was never awarded with Nobel peace prize.