Question map
The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at
Explanation
The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at The [1]United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro[1]. This conference, also known as Rio+20, marked the 20th anniversary of the original Earth Summit and focused on green economy as one of its key themes. PAGE unites the expertise of five UN agencies β UN Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR)[2]. The initiative was launched to provide coordinated support to countries seeking to transition towards resource-efficient, low-carbon, and socially inclusive development pathways. Option A refers to an earlier summit in Johannesburg (2002), while Options C and D refer to different events - the Paris Climate Agreement (2015) and a summit in New Delhi (2016) - neither of which were the origin of PAGE.
Sources- [2] https://www.unep.org/topics/finance-and-economic-transformations/transforming-economies/partnership-action-green-economy
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis question rewards 'Thematic Mapping' over rote memorization. While PAGE is a specific entity, the answer lies in knowing that 'Green Economy' was the central theme of the Rio+20 Conference (2012). If you knew the headline theme of each summit, the answer was automatic.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Did the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) emerge at the Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 in Johannesburg?
- Statement 2: Did the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) emerge at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 in Rio de Janeiro?
- Statement 3: Did the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) emerge at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015 in Paris?
- Statement 4: Did the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) emerge at the World Sustainable Development Summit 2016 in New Delhi?
- Explicitly states that PAGE "emerged" in association with the Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 in Johannesburg.
- Identifies PAGE as a UN mechanism for assisting countries transition to greener, more inclusive economies, tying the entity named to the claimed origin event.
Explicitly links Rio+20 (2012) with a focus on the 'Green economy' and institutional framework for sustainable development.
A student could infer that initiatives explicitly about a 'green economy' are more likely to have been launched or emphasised at Rio+20 (2012) than at Johannesburg 2002, and check PAGE's founding date against 2012.
Describes the Johannesburg 2002 outcomes (the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation) and their emphases (Agenda 21, MDGs), showing the summit's documented priorities.
Use this pattern to judge whether a programme about the 'green economy' fits Johannesburg 2002's documented priorities or seems more aligned with later Rio+20 themes.
Lists milestones including Rio+20 and Sustainable Development initiatives (SDSN, SDGs), indicating an ongoing evolution of sustainability agendas after 1992 and 2002.
A student could use this timeline pattern to place the likely origin of a green-economy partnership within the sequence (e.g., closer to Rio+20) and then verify PAGE's founding year.
Notes that the 2012 UN Conference (Rio+20) was a UN conference on sustainable development, reinforcing that major new themes (like green economy) were advanced at Rio+20 rather than earlier summits.
Combine this with the explicit green-economy link at Rio+20 (snippet 10) to suspect PAGE more plausibly emerged around 2012 than at Johannesburg 2002.
Summarises the original Earth Summit (1992) outputs (Agenda 21, conventions), showing earlier summits set different agendas and naming conventions for initiatives.
A student could contrast the 1992/2002 summit outputs with the later green-economy emphasis to assess whether PAGE fits the 2002 summit's typical outputs or a later shift.
States Rio+20 focused on the 'Green economy' and aimed to develop an institutional framework for sustainable development, suggesting Rio+20 was a venue where new greenβeconomy initiatives could be launched.
A student could use this rule (Rio+20 as a launch venue for greenβeconomy institutions) plus an external check of PAGE's founding date/place to see if it matches Rio+20 timing.
Explains that the Rio+20 outcome document specifically identifies the green economy in the context of sustainable development, showing Rio+20 formally promoted the greenβeconomy concept.
Combine this with knowledge that PAGE is a greenβeconomy partnership and then look up where/when PAGE was announced to test if it coincides with Rio+20.
Gives an example that a major institutional body (the UN Environment Assembly) was created at Rio+20, demonstrating that new UN institutions or mechanisms have been established at that conference.
Use this pattern (Rio+20 spawning institutions) and then check whether PAGE is listed among initiatives created or announced at Rio+20 in UN records or contemporaneous reports.
Rio+20 (2012) explicitly focused on the Green Economy in the context of sustainable development, showing that major UN conferences are venues for launching or emphasising 'green economy' initiatives.
A student could check whether PAGE, a 'green economy' partnership, was instead launched at or near Rio+20 or later gatherings rather than necessarily at the 2015 Paris UNFCCC COP.
Snippet notes the One Planet Summit held in Paris produced finance commitments linked to climate action around the time of Paris events, indicating Paris hosted multiple complementary initiatives and finance pledges.
A student could investigate whether PAGE was announced at the One Planet Summit or another Paris-side event in 2015 rather than as a formal product of the UNFCCC COP itself.
Discussion of the Adaptation Fund being decided to 'serve the Paris Agreement' illustrates that Paris 2015 produced specific finance/institutional decisions and spawned follow-on mechanisms.
A student could use this patternβParis generating funding/institutional directionsβto look for records of PAGE as a funding/institutional initiative associated with Paris outcomes or separate multilateral processes.
The Bali Action Plan example shows UNFCCC COPs are used to 'launch comprehensive processes' and dialogues to implement climate goals, implying that new partnerships can be created at COPs.
A student could search COP 21 (Paris) decisions and side events to see if PAGE was launched as such a COP-led process or instead originated outside UNFCCC formal decisions.
Reference to high-level dialogues (Petersberg Climate Dialogue) and their role in advancing climate action suggests many fora around COPs host launches and announcements beyond formal UNFCCC texts.
A student could check whether PAGE appeared in side events, high-level dialogues or partner summits in Paris 2015 rather than in the core UNFCCC negotiating text.
- Explicitly discusses when/where PAGE emerged and lists earlier UN summits as origins, not 2016 New Delhi.
- Names the Earth Summit 2002 (Johannesburg) and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio) in the context of PAGE's emergence.
- Describes PAGE as a UN partnership uniting five UN agencies, implying an institutional UN origin rather than emergence at a single 2016 summit in New Delhi.
- Passage provides organizational origin/context but does not support a 2016 New Delhi founding.
Defines 'green economy' as a debated concept linked to Rio+20 and sustainable development, showing PAGE (which is about green economy) would relate to venues discussing that theme.
A student could check which conferences after Rio+20 (e.g., national or regional summits) featured green-economy launches or partnerships and compare their dates/locations to 2016 New Delhi.
States Rio+20 focused on the green economy and on developing an institutional framework for sustainable development, implying international summits are plausible sites for launching institutions/partnerships.
Use this rule to look for official announcements or institutional launches that occur at sustainable-development summits (check summit programmes or press releases from 2012β2016).
Notes that the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg 2002) produced formal implementation plans, illustrating that global sustainable-development summits often produce new plans/partnerships.
Investigate whether the 2016 World Sustainable Development Summit similarly hosted formal partnership announcements by reviewing summit outcomes or side-event records.
Lists major sustainable-development milestones (Rio+20, SDSN, SDGs), showing a pattern of new initiatives emerging from international sustainable-development processes.
Compare the timeline of these milestone events to the founding date of PAGE to see if a 2016 summit is a plausible origin point.
Records India engaging in high-profile environmental initiatives (e.g., International Solar Alliance in 2017, headquartered in New Delhi), indicating India/New Delhi as a venue for launching international sustainability partnerships.
A student could examine New Delhi summit agendas and press coverage from 2016 to see if PAGE was announced there, given India's recent role in launching international environmental initiatives.
- [THE VERDICT]: Conceptual Sitter disguised as a Bouncer. Solvable via standard books (Shankar/Singhania) if you tracked summit themes.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Rio Timeline' (1992 -> 2002 -> 2012). Specifically, the outcome documents of Rio+20.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Rio+20 Outcomes: 'The Future We Want' report, launch of SDGs process, replacement of CSD with High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), and the '10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production'.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just memorize dates. Tag every major UN summit with its 1-2 unique keywords. Rio 1992 = 'Agenda 21/Conventions'; Joburg 2002 = 'Implementation'; Rio+20 2012 = 'Green Economy & SDGs'; Paris 2015 = 'Temperature Goals'.
The references repeatedly reference the sequence of major UN sustainable development conferences β Rio (1992), Johannesburg (2002) and Rio+20 (2012) β which is central to locating when initiatives emerged.
High-yield for UPSC: knowing the chronology of major summits helps answer questions about origins of international initiatives, policy commitments and follow-up mechanisms. It links to topics on global environmental governance, international agreements, and India's role in multilateral fora. Study by timeline and outcomes to quickly place initiatives in the correct summit context.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Historical Perspective > p. 28
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > The Johannesburg Summit > p. 390
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > Ro+20 > p. 598
Evidence shows Agenda 21 (from Rio) and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (2002) were principal outcome documents used to track implementation of sustainable development commitments.
Essential for UPSC aspirants: questions often ask which summit produced which document or institutional follow-up. Mastering these documents clarifies where policy commitments and implementation mechanisms were established and distinguishes between summits' outputs. Link this to UN bodies and subsequent national action plans.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > The Johannesburg Summit > p. 390
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > towards a Sustainable Future > p. 6
The references identify Rio+20 (2012) as explicitly focusing on the green economy β the thematic area relevant to PAGE.
Important for exam answers that ask when 'green economy' entered the global summit agenda or which conference emphasized it. This helps distinguish origin of thematic focus (green economy) from earlier summits' broader sustainable development agendas, aiding accurate attribution in essays and prelims/mains questions.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > Ro+20 > p. 598
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE > p. 595
Several references identify the 2012 Rio conference (Rio+20/UNCSD) and its timing and broad purpose, which is the setting referenced in the statement.
Knowing the identity, date and primary objectives of Rio+20 is high-yield for UPSC: it anchors questions on international environmental diplomacy, outcomes across decades (1992 vs 2012), and links to sustainable development policy. This concept connects to multilateral processes, convention outcomes, and institutional reforms; practice by summarising conference aims and major institutional results.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > Ro+20 > p. 598
- NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe > Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992 > p. 4
References explicitly state that Rio+20 focused on the Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.
Understanding 'green economy' as a central Rio+20 theme helps answer questions about the conference's policy priorities and follow-up programmes. It's useful for linking global policy language to national strategies and for evaluating which initiatives could plausibly have been launched there. Learn by comparing Rio+20 language on green economy across sources.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > Ro+20 > p. 598
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 24.22. GREEN ECONOMY > p. 342
At least one reference ties Rio+20 to institutional change β creation/upgrade of UN Environment Assembly β showing Rio+20 produced institutional outcomes.
Candidates should master how major UN conferences can produce institutional reforms or bodies; this helps evaluate claims about where programmes or partnerships might have been launched. It links to questions on global governance, UN organs, and environmental law; study by mapping conference outcomes to subsequent institutional developments.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > History of the United Nations Environment Assembly > p. 387
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > Ro+20 > p. 598
Several references state that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, giving foundational context for later COP processes and agreements.
High-yield for UPSC: understanding when and where UNFCCC originated anchors questions on global climate governance, treaty evolution, and institutional linkages. Connects to topics on international environmental law, multilateral negotiations, and subsequent COP decisions. Learn by mapping timeline (Earth Summit β COP sequence β Paris Agreement).
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 1992 "l > p. 321
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Rio Conventinns > p. 427
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > THE EARTH SUMMIT > p. 597
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. It was established at the same Rio+20 conference (2012) to replace the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). This is a prime candidate for a future 'bodies established' question.
Use the 'Scope vs. Name' filter. Option C (Paris 2015) is strictly 'Climate Change' (too narrow for a broad 'Green Economy' mechanism). Option A (2002) focused on 'Implementation' of 1992 goals. Option D (New Delhi) is a trapβWSDS is organized by TERI (an NGO/Think Tank), not the UN itself, so it cannot launch a formal 'UN Mechanism'. Option B is the only major UN summit with 'Green Economy' as a headline agenda.
Links to GS-3 (Inclusive Growth & Employment). PAGE involves the ILO (International Labour Organization) because the transition to a Green Economy is framed as creating 'Green Jobs'. This connects Environmental mandates to Social Justice.