Which of the following statements about the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) are correct?
1. It is the only legally binding international treaty that links environmental protection, sustainable land management, and development.
2. The convention was adopted during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, along with the UNFCCC and CBD.
3. India is a signatory to the UNCCD and actively participates in its initiatives and programs.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Question

Which of the following statements about the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) are correct?
1. It is the only legally binding international treaty that links environmental protection, sustainable land management, and development.
2. The convention was adopted during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, along with the UNFCCC and CBD.
3. India is a signatory to the UNCCD and actively participates in its initiatives and programs.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is correct: The UNCCD is the only legally binding agreement that specifically focuses on land degradation, desertification, and drought while linking them to sustainable development. It aims to combat desertification through national action programs, international cooperation, and sustainable land management practices.
Other treaties like UNFCCC (climate change) and CBD (biodiversity conservation) address environmental concerns, but only UNCCD focuses on desertification and land degradation as core issues.

Statement 2 is not correct: The 1992 Rio Earth Summit led to the adoption of three major treaties:
● United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) &rarr; Climate change.
● Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) &rarr; Biodiversity conservation
● The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD was NOT adopted in 1992.
● The UNCCD was established later in 1994 and came into force in 1996, following global recognition of the increasing threat of desertification.

Statement 3 is correct: India is a signatory to the UNCCD and has taken significant steps to combat land degradation and desertification. In 2019, India hosted the 14th Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the UNCCD in New Delhi and pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
India has launched several programs, including:
● National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (NAPCD)
● Green India Mission (GIM)
● Soil Health Card Scheme (SHCS)

International Organizations

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Website Link

Test Your Knowledge

Student Resources


M Question 1	⏱ 0
Which of the following statements about the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) are correct? 1. It is the only legally binding international treaty that links environmental protection, sustainable land management, and development. 2. The convention was adopted during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, along with the UNFCCC and CBD. 3. India is a signatory to the UNCCD and actively participates in its initiatives and programs. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, and 3