Question map
"Momentum for Change : Climate Neutral Now" is an initiative launched by
Explanation
The correct answer is option C - The UNFCCC Secretariat.
Momentum for Change is a special initiative of the UNFCCC launched[1] at the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Durban. The UNFCCC secretariat's Momentum for Change Initiative presented awards to representatives of some of the best examples of climate solutions in the world—which inspire increased climate action.[2] "Climate Neutral Now" is one of the specific focus areas under this broader Momentum for Change initiative by the UNFCCC Secretariat.
The other options are incorrect as they refer to different UN climate-related bodies. The IPCC (option A) is primarily a scientific assessment body, UNEP (option B) is the broader environmental programme, and WMO (option D) focuses on meteorological services. The initiative specifically belongs to the UNFCCC Secretariat, which is the operational body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Sources- [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 2011 > p. 323
- [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Climate action, or the ground celebrated by the UN. > p. 331
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Sitter' found verbatim in standard reference books (like Shankar IAS). It rewards candidates who don't just read the treaty names (Kyoto, Paris) but also the specific outreach campaigns and initiatives listed in the 'Organizations' chapters. If you missed this, you are skimming too fast.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Was "Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now" launched by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?
- Statement 2: Was "Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now" launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Secretariat?
- Statement 3: Was "Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now" launched by the UNFCCC Secretariat?
- Statement 4: Was "Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now" launched by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)?
Explicitly states 'Momentum for Change, a special initiative of the UNFCCC launched.' indicating UNFCCC ownership/launch.
A student could use this to check which organization (UNFCCC vs IPCC) normally launches such initiatives by comparing organizational mandates and press releases.
Notes the UNFCCC secretariat's Momentum for Change Initiative presented awards and is run by the UNFCCC secretariat, tying the initiative operationally to UNFCCC.
Combine with a lookup of launch announcements or UNFCCC materials to confirm the launcher and distinguish from IPCC activities.
Describes IPCC's role as an independent scientific assessment body that surveys literature and publishes reports, not as a secretariat that launches awards/initiatives.
Use this to infer that launching an awards-type initiative would be outside IPCC's primary assessment role and thus likely done by a different UN body like UNFCCC.
Explains IPCC was established by UNEP and WMO to provide scientific assessment and that its Secretariat coordinates IPCC work—implying a technical/assessment mandate rather than running public award initiatives.
A student can contrast IPCC's establishment and remit with the UNFCCC secretariat's mandate to run international policy and outreach initiatives.
Describes IPCC's internal mandate and task forces (e.g., inventories), reinforcing that IPCC activity centers on reports and methodologies rather than public awards/initiative launches.
Combine this pattern with the UNFCCC linkage in snippets 1 and 3 to deduce which organization more plausibly launched Momentum for Change.
Explicitly identifies 'Momentum for Change' as a special initiative of the UNFCCC and notes it was launched, linking the initiative to the UNFCCC rather than UNEP.
A student could use this to suspect the UNFCCC (not UNEP) launched the initiative and then check which secretariat (UNFCCC Secretariat vs UNEP Secretariat) runs it.
States that the UNFCCC secretariat's Momentum for Change Initiative presented awards, showing operational control by the UNFCCC secretariat.
Combine this with the launch attribution (snippet 3) to strengthen the inference that the initiative is UNFCCC-run rather than UNEP-run.
Shows a pattern that UNEP and other UN agencies create and support major climate bodies (e.g., establishing IPCC with WMO), illustrating UNEP's role in launching environmental initiatives in some cases.
A student could contrast this pattern (UNEP launches some initiatives) with the Momentum for Change being tied to UNFCCC to assess which agency likely launched it.
Defines UNEP as the leading global environmental authority that sets agendas and launches programmes, establishing that UNEP is a plausible launcher of major environmental initiatives in general.
Use this general role to evaluate plausibility: because UNEP often launches initiatives, one should look for direct attribution to UNEP if claiming it launched Momentum for Change.
Gives an example of UNEP collaborating and administering programmes (UN-REDD), reinforcing that UNEP runs multi-agency climate programmes in some contexts.
A student can use this example to check whether Momentum for Change shows similar UNEP administration or instead shows UNFCCC administration (as snippets 1 and 3 suggest).
- Explicitly states 'Momentum for Change' as a special initiative of the UNFCCC and notes it was launched.
- Directly links the initiative's origin to the UNFCCC context, implying UNFCCC responsibility for the launch.
- Refers to the 'UNFCCC secretariat's Momentum for Change Initiative', indicating secretariat ownership/operation.
- Describes secretariat activities (presenting awards) under Momentum for Change, supporting active secretariat role.
Explicitly calls Momentum for Change a special initiative of the UNFCCC, indicating its provenance lies with the UN climate convention rather than WMO.
A student could use this to check UNFCCC materials or COP announcements to confirm the initiative's origin and organizers.
States the UNFCCC secretariat's Momentum for Change Initiative presented awards, reinforcing that the UNFCCC secretariat runs the initiative.
Combine this with a search of UNFCCC Secretariat publications or award pages to verify administrative ownership versus WMO involvement.
Describes a pattern where WMO co‑establishes major scientific bodies (e.g., IPCC with UNEP), suggesting WMO's typical role is scientific/meteorological collaboration rather than launching UNFCCC initiatives.
Use this pattern to assess whether WMO commonly launches initiatives named in UNFCCC contexts; if not, that argues against WMO being the launcher.
Reiterates WMO's role in creating large intergovernmental scientific panels (IPCC), highlighting the distinction between WMO's mandate and UNFCCC secretariat activities.
A student could contrast WMO's documented projects with UNFCCC initiatives to judge which organization is more likely to have launched a named program.
Lists WMO among organizations focused on atmospheric monitoring and weather services, implying WMO's core functions are operational/scientific rather than running UNFCCC award initiatives.
Use knowledge of organizational mandates (WMO = meteorological services; UNFCCC = climate policy/initiatives) to infer probable origin of Momentum for Change.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from Shankar IAS Environment (Chapter: Climate Change Organizations).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Institutional Mechanisms of Climate Change (Who does what in the UN system?).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map these siblings: UNFCCC (Race to Zero, Marrakech Partnership, NAZCA Portal); UNEP (Emissions Gap Report, Champions of the Earth); IPCC (Assessment Reports, Special Report on 1.5°C); WMO (State of the Global Climate).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Distinguish between 'Scientific Bodies' (IPCC/WMO) and 'Implementation Bodies' (UNFCCC/UNEP). Scientific bodies publish reports; Implementation bodies launch campaigns/movements.
References identify 'Momentum for Change' as a special initiative presented or launched by the UNFCCC/its secretariat, which is central to assessing the statement's attribution.
High-yield for UPSC: candidates must know which UN bodies run specific programmes and initiatives (e.g., UNFCCC initiatives vs. IPCC reports). This helps answer questions on institutional responsibilities in climate governance and avoid misattribution. Learn by mapping initiatives to their parent organisations and practising source-based reasoning.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 2011 > p. 323
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Climate action, or the ground celebrated by the UN. > p. 331
Evidence describes the IPCC as an assessment body established by WMO and UNEP that surveys scientific literature and produces assessment reports — relevant to whether IPCC launches operational initiatives.
High-yield: UPSC frequently asks about mandates of UN bodies. Knowing IPCC's scientific/assessment role versus implementation or award-giving roles clarifies likely origins of initiatives and supports answer elimination strategies. Connects to topics on international environmental governance and institutional mandates.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) > p. 426
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > i:r Efil{r=t#$.fificfl$ s!:J > p. 340
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Mandate > p. 342
References note the UNFCCC secretariat presents awards and runs Momentum for Change, highlighting the secretariat's operational/programmatic functions distinct from IPCC.
Useful for UPSC: distinguishes secretariat-level action (programmes, awards, initiatives) from technical-scientific bodies. Helps tackle questions on implementation mechanisms, reporting bodies, and climate action instruments under the UN system.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Climate action, or the ground celebrated by the UN. > p. 331
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 2011 > p. 323
References identify Momentum for Change as a UNFCCC initiative and separately describe UNEP as the UN environmental authority, highlighting that initiatives may originate from different UN bodies.
High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask which UN agency launched specific climate programmes or their mandates. Mastering institutional attribution avoids common errors and links to topics on global governance, climate negotiations, and international organisations. Study by mapping major initiatives to their parent bodies.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Climate action, or the ground celebrated by the UN. > p. 331
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 2011 > p. 323
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > 28.1. UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) > p. 387
Evidence explicitly labels Momentum for Change as a special initiative of the UNFCCC and describes actions by the UNFCCC secretariat.
Useful for quick recall in questions about flagship climate programmes and awards under UNFCCC. Understanding such named initiatives helps answer both direct factual questions and analytical ones about implementation and public engagement in climate policy.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Climate action, or the ground celebrated by the UN. > p. 331
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 2011 > p. 323
References describe secretariats' coordinating and supportive functions (e.g., IPCC secretariat coordination, secretariats coordinating treaty activities).
Important for UPSC because many questions probe institutional functions (coordination, hosting, support) rather than programme names alone. Knowing secretariat roles clarifies who launches, administers, or coordinates initiatives across agencies.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > i:r Efil{r=t#$.fificfl$ s!:J > p. 340
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Rio Conventinns > p. 427
References identify 'Momentum for Change' as a UNFCCC special initiative and describe secretariat involvement.
High-yield for questions on UNFCCC-led climate programs; helps distinguish initiatives launched by the UNFCCC from those by other bodies. Connects institutional knowledge (program names) with implementation actions and award mechanisms.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 2011 > p. 323
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Climate action, or the ground celebrated by the UN. > p. 331
The 'Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action' is the sibling initiative often mentioned alongside this. It was launched to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement by enabling collaboration between governments and non-state actors.
Name Analysis: 'Momentum for Change' sounds like a slogan, a movement, or a call to action.
- IPCC is a group of scientists (they write academic reports).
- WMO is technical (weather data).
- UNFCCC is the political/administrative body managing the treaties.
Campaigns and 'Momentum' are the job of the Secretariat (UNFCCC) to keep the political process alive, not the scientists.
Links to GS-3 (Environment - Mitigation): This initiative promotes 'Climate Neutrality' (Net Zero). Connect this to India's 'Panchamrit' pledge (Net Zero by 2070) and the concept of Carbon Offsetting (buying CERs).