Which one of the following cities is associated with Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2000)?
- A.Geneva
- B.Nairobi
- C.Cartagena
- D.Rio de Janeiro
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Cartagena. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, adopted in January 2000, is named after Cartagena in Colombia, where the negotiations were held in 1999.
The protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It deals with the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) produced by modern biotechnology that may harm biodiversity or human health. It is based on the precautionary approach and sets up an Advance Informed Agreement procedure and a Biosafety Clearing-House for sharing information. It was finally adopted in Montreal and came into force in 2003; India is a party.
A is wrong because Geneva is not linked to this protocol; it is the home of several UN bodies such as the WHO.
B is wrong because Nairobi is the headquarters of UNEP, where the text of the CBD was agreed in 1992.
D is wrong because Rio de Janeiro hosted the 1992 Earth Summit, where the CBD itself was opened for signature.
Exam tip: CBD – Rio 1992; Cartagena Protocol – biosafety of LMOs, 2000; Nagoya Protocol – access and benefit sharing, 2010.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following statements with regard to growth of coral reefs is not correct?
- A.Coral can grow abundantly in freshwater.
- B.It requires warm water between 23 °C-25 °C.
- C.It requires shallow saltwater, not deeper than 50 metres.
- D.It requires plenty of sunlight to aid photosynthesis.
Show answer
Reef-building corals are marine animals and die in fresh water, so this statement is false. Corals are tiny polyps that build skeletons of calcium carbonate and live with algae called zooxanthellae inside their tissues.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following biosphere reserves is spread over three States in India?
- A.Nilgiri
- B.Achanakmar-Amarkantak
- C.Seshachalam
- D.Agasthyamalai
Show answer
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve spreads across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Set up in 1986, Nilgiri was India's first biosphere reserve, and in 2000 it became the first Indian reserve on UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following is/are renewable source(s) of energy? 1. Fossil fuel 2. Biofuel 3. Uranium 4. Hydropower Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A.2 only
- B.3 and 4
- C.1 and 3
- D.2 and 4
Show answer
Biofuel and hydropower are renewable because nature replaces them within a human lifetime, while fossil fuels and uranium are not.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is NOT decomposed by bacterial action ?
- A.Vegetable remains
- B.Plastic materials
- C.Animal carcasses
- D.Wastes of flowers
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Ordinary plastics are non-biodegradable, so bacteria and fungi cannot break them down in any useful length of time. Most plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC, are long synthetic polymers made from petroleum.
Read the full explanation →According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?
- A.Locomotives using fossil fuels
- B.Ships using fossil fuels
- C.Extraction of metals from ores
- D.Power plants using fossil fuels
Show answer
The EPA names the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities as the largest source of sulphur dioxide.
Read the full explanation →