Which one of the following statements best describes the 'Polar Code'?
- A.It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.
- B.It is the agreement of the countries around the North Pole regarding the demarcation of their territories in the polar region.
- C.It is a set of norms to be followed by the countries whose scientists undertake research studies in the North Pole and South Pole.
- D.It is a trade and security agreement of the member countries of the Arctic Council.
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A. The Polar Code is the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters, adopted by the International Maritime Organization and in force since the beginning of 2017. It is mandatory under the conventions on safety of life at sea and on prevention of pollution from ships, and it covers ship design, equipment, crew training and operation in ice-covered waters, as well as discharges of oil, sewage and garbage in the Arctic and the Antarctic.
Option B is wrong because territorial claims in the Arctic are dealt with under the law of the sea and the continental shelf procedure, not by this code. Option C describes what the Antarctic Treaty system and its environmental protocol do for scientific activity. Option D is wrong because the Arctic Council is a forum for cooperation on environment and sustainable development and does not conclude trade or security agreements.
Read the full article: International Environmental Conventions: Treaties and PYQs
Practice Questions
View allRamsar Convention is related to
- A.Climate change
- B.Pesticide pollution
- C.Ozone layer depletion
- D.Wetland conservation
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The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar and came into force in 1975.
Read the full explanation →Which declaration was signed at UNCED 1992 at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil?
- A.Agenda 39
- B.Agenda 19
- C.Agenda 22
- D.Agenda 21
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The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, popularly called the Earth Summit, met at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and adopted Agenda 21, a detailed non-binding programme of action for sustainable development.
Read the full explanation →The Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987, deals with:
- A.Substances that deplete the ozone layer
- B.Transboundary movement of hazardous waste
- C.Conservation of migratory species
- D.Trade in endangered species
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The Montreal Protocol was adopted in 1987 under the Vienna Convention of 1985 and entered into force in 1989. It fixed timetables for phasing out chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride and other ozone depleting chemicals, with later deadlines for developing countries.
Read the full explanation →International trade in endangered species of wild animals and plants is regulated by which convention?
- A.Ramsar Convention
- B.CITES
- C.Basel Convention
- D.Rotterdam Convention
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It was agreed at Washington in 1973 and came into force in 1975.
Read the full explanation →The Kyoto Protocol, which set binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for developed countries, was adopted in which year?
- A.1992
- B.1995
- C.1997
- D.2005
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The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the third Conference of the Parties to the framework convention on climate change, held at Kyoto in Japan in 1997.
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