JAGTIV · Previous Year Questions

UPSC

ENVIRONMENT · 2014

Previous Year Question

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Earth Hour’:

  1. It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO.

  2. It is a movement in which the participants switch off the lights for 1 hour on a certain day every year.

  3. It is a movement to raise the awareness about the climate change and the need to save the planet.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

A.

1 and 3 only

B.

2 only

C.

2 and 3 only

D.

1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: C

Detailed Solution

  • Earth Hour is a global environmental movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

  • It is not an initiative of UNEP or UNESCO. Therefore, Statement 1 is not correct.

  • Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 as a symbolic ‘lights off’ event.

  • It is generally observed every year on the last Saturday of March from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time.

  • Under it, individuals, communities, institutions and establishments switch off non-essential lights for one hour. Therefore, Statement 2 is correct.

  • Its objective is to raise awareness about climate change, loss of nature and environmental sustainability. Therefore, Statement 3 is correct.

  • Saving electricity during that one hour is not its only or primary objective.

  • Switching off lights is a symbolic act expressing collective commitment to protecting the Earth.

  • WWF is an independent international nature-conservation organization, whereas UNEP is the environmental programme of the United Nations.

  • UNESCO is the specialized agency of the United Nations concerned with education, science and culture.

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