Question

The Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 was called:

• A. to reduce CO2 emissions and global warming.
• B. for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilization of its benefits.
• C. to assess threat posed to native species by invasive weed species.
• D. for immediate steps to discontinue use of CFCs that were damaging the ozone layer.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 is officially known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The primary focus of this summit was to address various environmental issues and to encourage nations to work together towards sustainable development. Let's examine the options provided and see why option 2 is the correct choice:

1. Option 1: to reduce CO2 emissions and global warming.
   While reducing CO2 emissions and addressing global warming are important environmental goals, the Earth Summit aimed at a broader range of issues under sustainable development, not focused on this alone.
2. Option 2: for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilization of its benefits.
   This option correctly describes one of the main objectives of the Earth Summit. At the summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity was introduced, which focused on the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
3. Option 3: to assess threat posed to native species by invasive weed species.
   This specific concern falls under biodiversity conservation but was not the standalone focus of the entire summit.
4. Option 4: for immediate steps to discontinue use of CFCs that were damaging the ozone layer.
   The issue related to Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) was addressed primarily at a different event, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted in 1987. Although related, it was not the main focus of the Earth Summit.

Hence, the correct answer is the second option: "for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilization of its benefits."