SSC · State PCS
The concept of 'carbon credits' originated from the:
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Answer: Option B — Kyoto Protocol
Detailed Solution
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was adopted on 11 December 1997 at the third Conference of the Parties (COP 3) in Kyoto, Japan, and came into force on 16 February 2005. It was the first treaty to set legally binding targets for developed countries to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.
Under the Protocol, developed (Annex I) countries agreed to reduce their combined emissions of six greenhouse gases by an average of about 5% below 1990 levels during the first commitment period (2008-2012). The six gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. Developing countries such as India and China did not have binding targets, following the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". The Doha Amendment (2012) set a second commitment period from 2013 to 2020.
The Protocol introduced three market-based mechanisms to help countries meet their targets:
Emissions trading (carbon trading): countries with spare emission allowances can sell them to countries that exceed their targets.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): developed countries can invest in emission-reduction projects in developing countries and earn Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits.
Joint Implementation (JI): developed countries can earn credits from projects in other developed countries.
A carbon credit is a permit that allows the holder to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of another greenhouse gas. India was a major host of CDM projects. The Paris Agreement (2015) later replaced the Kyoto approach. India launched its own Carbon Credit Trading Scheme in 2023 under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Montreal Protocol (1987) phases out ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs.
- ✗The Ramsar Convention (1971) protects wetlands.
- ✗The Cartagena Protocol (2000) deals with biosafety and living modified organisms.
Quick tip
Remember: Kyoto Protocol = adopted 1997 (COP 3), in force 2005, binding targets for developed countries; mechanisms = emissions trading, CDM and JI; 1 carbon credit = 1 tonne CO2.
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Environmental Conventions, Laws & Organisations — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Environmental Conventions, Laws & Organisations, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers international environmental agreements, such as the Montreal Protocol, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity, Indian environmental laws, and environmental organisations and movements such as the Chipko movement. Questions usually ask what an agreement deals with (the Montreal Protocol protects the ozone layer, and the Ramsar Convention protects wetlands), when India passed an environmental law (such as the Environment Protection Act 1986), and who led a movement (Sunderlal Bahuguna is associated with the Chipko movement). Climate summit outcomes change every year, so check current affairs. Practise the environmental conventions and laws questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.