Kigali Agreement - GS questions based on daily current affairs

1)   Which of the following is/are true regarding the Kigali Agreement?

1) Montreal protocol has emission targets for all nations unlike Kyoto protocol which has for developed nations only.
2) The freeze year is the time from when the use of the harmful chemical must begin to go below the average amounts used in the baseline period.

a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

  • The Montreal Protocol seeks the elimination of harmful chemicals by all its member countries, though on different time schedules. The Kyoto Protocol, on the other hand, requires only a set of developed countries to mandatorily accept emission reduction targets.
  • Both sets of countries are assigned a ‘baseline year’ (or three-year period), and a ‘freeze year’.
  • The production or consumption of the harmful substance, like HFC, in the baseline year (or the average of three-year period) serves as the baseline amount against which reductions are assigned in the phasedown schedule.
  • The freeze year, which is a few years after the baseline period, is the time from when the use of the harmful chemical must begin to go below the average amounts used in the baseline period.
  • The use of the chemical can grow between the baseline year and the freeze year, but must come down to at least baseline levels in the freeze year.
2)   Which of the following is/are true regarding the Kigali Agreement?

1) Kigali Agreement is legally binding like the Paris Agreement.
2) All countries are divided into 3 groups with different timelines to phase out emissions with India in the third group.

a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

  • The Paris agreement which will come into force by 2020 is not legally binding on countries to cut their emissions.
  • The Kigali Amendment is considered very vital for reaching the Paris Agreement target of keeping global temperature rise to below 2-degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial times.
  • For the first time in the Montreal mechanism, developing countries got divided into two different groups with different phasedown schedules.
  • The amendment, which will come into force in 2019, will ensure that the developed countries eliminate at least 85% of their HFCs from the baseline period of 2011-13 by the year 2036.
  • The Chinese group of developing countries has the target of eliminating 80% of their 2020-22 baseline HFC use by the year 2045, while the Indian group will have to phase out 85% of their baseline HFCs by the year 2047.
3)   Kigali Agreement will come into force from

a. June 5th 2021
b. June 5th 2021
c. January 1st 2019
d. June 5th 2020
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: January 1st 2019

Explanation:

  • The Kigali Agreement (Hydroflurocarbon (HFC) Amendment to the Montreal Protocol) is a reaffirmation of the global intent to mitigate climate change and exemplifies international co-operation in this regard.
  • The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is legally binding and will come into force from January 1, 2019.
  • The Agreement upholds the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR & RC).
  • It recognizes the development imperatives of high-growth economies like India, and provides a realistic and viable roadmap for the implementation of a phase-out schedule for high global warming potential (GWP) HFCs.

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