UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The Kyoto Protocol,adopted in 1997,committed industrialised countries listed in Annex I of the UNFCCC to legally binding emission reduction targets for a first commitment period. It also created market mechanisms such as emissions trading and the Clean Development Mechanism. The stem clearly refers to binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for developed countries,which identifies the Kyoto Protocol. Hence Option B is correct.

Option A:
Montreal,as used in the Montreal Protocol,relates to ozone layer protection rather than greenhouse gas control. Although both agreements concern the atmosphere,they have different objectives,so Montreal is not the right answer here.

Option B:
The Kyoto Protocol represents an early attempt to operationalise the UNFCCC’s goal of stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations. Its legally binding targets for developed (Annex I) countries match the stem.

Option C:
The Cartagena Protocol deals with biosafety,particularly the transboundary movement of living modified organisms. It does not set greenhouse gas emission targets.

Option D:
Doha is associated with an amendment extending Kyoto commitments,not the original protocol establishing binding targets referred to in the stem.

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that operationalised the UNFCCC by establishing quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments for specific industrialised nations. These Annex I countries agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions relative to a baseline period. The protocol also introduced flexible mechanisms such as emissions trading and the Clean Development Mechanism. Therefore, describing it as setting legally binding targets for Annex I industrialised countries accurately captures its core nature.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because, unlike a purely declaratory statement, the Kyoto Protocol contains binding obligations for those parties that ratified it. Compliance procedures and reporting requirements are integral parts of the regime.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since least developed countries do not have binding reduction targets under Kyoto. The burden of commitments falls primarily on industrialised countries, reflecting historical responsibilities.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because the protocol does not replace the UNFCCC; it is linked to and builds upon the convention. The UNFCCC remains the overarching framework within which Kyoto operates.

Option D:
Option D is correct as it states that certain industrialised countries in Annex I accepted quantified, legally binding targets. This differentiation between country groups is a defining feature of the Kyoto architecture.