Question 79 from UPSC CSE 2018 - Environment

Question

With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015.
2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations.
3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: - **Statement 1:** The claim that GACSA originated from the Paris 2015 Climate Summit is incorrect; GACSA was launched in 2014.
- **Statement 2:** The assertion that the alliance is non-binding is correct, as GACSA operates as a voluntary, cooperative network.
- **Statement 3:** The claim of India playing an instrumental founding role is inaccurate; core documentation indicates India as a participant, not a lead architect.

Only Statement 2 stands as factually correct.

Key Info: ## About GACSA
The Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA) is a multi-stakeholder platform promoting climate-smart approaches in agriculture worldwide. It was launched in September 2014 during the UN Climate Summit in New York. GACSA is an inclusive, voluntary alliance, operating without binding legal obligations for its members.

The concept of climate-smart agriculture was championed by the FAO in 2010, forming the foundation upon which GACSA builds. The alliance facilitates knowledge exchange among diverse entities, including governments, NGOs, research bodies, farmer groups, and private sector stakeholders.

## Participation & Structure
*   **Donor Governments:** Canada, France, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.
*   India has participated in GACSA activities through some NGOs but was not a driving force in its creation.
*   The Alliance's work is structured through voluntary participation, imposing no regulatory or enforcement requirements on member countries or organizations.
*   GACSA operates independently of the UNFCCC negotiation framework, providing a non-binding, action-oriented forum for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

## Key Objectives
*   Support sustainable productivity increases in agriculture.
*   Enhance climate resilience.
*   Reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer

Option A: 1 and 3 only

Answer

Option C: 2 and 3 only

Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3