Biodiversity Convention (Earth Summit), 1992 — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit on:

   • 5 June 1972
   • 5 June 1992 (correct answer)
   • 22 May 1992
   • 29 December 1993

   Explanation. The text was adopted at Nairobi on 22 May 1992 and opened for signature at Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992. It came into force on 29 December 1993.

2. Which two binding treaties were opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit?

   • The Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement
   • The UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (correct answer)
   • The Ramsar Convention and the Bonn Convention
   • The Montreal Protocol and the Basel Convention

   Explanation. The UNFCCC and the CBD were both opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

3. The Convention on Biological Diversity's three objectives are:

   • Only the conservation of species
   • Conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources (correct answer)
   • Banning all international trade in plants and animals
   • Establishing a single global biodiversity court

   Explanation. Article 1 of the CBD sets out three equally-ranked objectives: conservation, sustainable use, and fair and equitable benefit-sharing.

4. The CBD's benefit-sharing objective was designed to directly address which problem?

   • Ozone layer depletion
   • Biopiracy — uncompensated commercial exploitation of a developing country's genetic resources or traditional knowledge (correct answer)
   • Transboundary air pollution
   • Overfishing in international waters

   Explanation. The CBD's third objective directly targets biopiracy by requiring prior informed consent and fair benefit-sharing for access to genetic resources.

5. Which supplementary protocol to the CBD operationalises access and benefit-sharing (ABS) procedures?

   • The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, 2000
   • The Nagoya Protocol, 2010 (in force 2014) (correct answer)
   • The Kyoto Protocol, 1997
   • The Montreal Protocol, 1987

   Explanation. The Nagoya Protocol (2010, in force 2014) sets out detailed rules for access and benefit-sharing under the CBD.

6. India implemented the CBD domestically through:

   • The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
   • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (correct answer)
   • The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
   • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

   Explanation. India is a Party to the Convention. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 sets up the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards and local Biodiversity Management Committees.