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UPSC Prelims 2018 · Environment · Rules for the Planet
With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct? Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015.
- Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations.
- India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA.
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) 2 only
Only the non-binding nature is right.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG GACSA was launched at the UN Climate Summit in New York, 2014 — not Paris 2015.
2. ✓ CORRECT Membership is voluntary and creates no binding obligations.
3. ✗ WRONG India was not instrumental in creating it (it isn’t even a member).
The idea
Climate-smart agriculture is an FAO idea with three aims at once: grow more food and income, adapt farming to a changing climate, and cut emissions from farming where possible. GACSA is a voluntary platform to share such practices.
UN Climate Summit, New York (September 2014) → Alliance launched as a voluntary platform → FAO hosts its small secretariat → Members share knowledge → No targets, no legal duty
The trap
Paris 2015 is the default climate event in the mind. Many alliances came from the 2014 New York summit.
Also know
Why developing countries were careful: the “cut emissions” aim could later be used to demand emission cuts from their farmers, while agriculture is mainly a livelihood and adaptation issue for them. India did not join. India’s own programme is NICRA (National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture) run by ICAR since 2011.
🔒 GACSA (2014, New York; FAO hosts it) = voluntary; India not a member.