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With reference to the New York Declaration on Forests', which of the following statements are correct? 1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014. 2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests. 3. It is a legally binding international declaration. 4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities. 5. India was one of the signatories at its inception. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1 (1, 2, and 4). The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a landmark political declaration with the following characteristics:
- Statement 1 is correct: It was first launched and endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit held in New York in 2014.
- Statement 2 is correct: It sets a global timeline to halve the loss of natural forests by 2020 and strive to end it by 2030, alongside restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land.
- Statement 4 is correct: It is a multi-stakeholder initiative endorsed by over 200 entities, including national governments, sub-national governments, multi-national companies, and indigenous peoples' organizations.
Why other statements are incorrect:
- Statement 3 is incorrect: The NYDF is a voluntary and non-legally binding political declaration, not a treaty.
- Statement 5 is incorrect: While many major nations signed it, India was not a signatory at its inception in 2014.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a 'Contemporary Affairs' trap. The question appeared in 2021 because the NYDF's 2020 targets were reported as 'missed' that year, and the new Glasgow Declaration (COP26) was replacing it. The lesson: When a new pact arrives, study the failure of its predecessor and India's consistent stance on both.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"the New York Declaration on Forests, agreed at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014;"
Why this source?
- Explicitly states the Declaration was agreed at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014.
- Directly ties the NYDF to the 2014 UN Climate Summit, matching the statement's timing and venue.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"summarizes the wealth of announcements on forests at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit, including the New York Declaration on Forests ... The New York Declaration on Forests (Section 1) is a non-legally binding political declaration that grew out of dialogue among governments, companies and civil society, spurred by the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit."
Why this source?
- Describes the NYDF as part of the announcements at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit.
- Says the Declaration "grew out of dialogue... spurred by the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit," linking its origin to that event.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Climate Summit 2014 | 23 September 2014 Q&A What is the New York Declaration? The New York Declaration on Forests is a political declaration that grew out of dialogue among companies and governments, spurred by the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit"
Why this source?
- Q&A dated to the Climate Summit 2014 (23 September 2014) linking the NYDF directly to that Summit.
- States the Declaration "grew out of dialogue... spurred by the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit," supporting endorsement timing.
- Explicitly states the Declaration was agreed at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014.
- Directly ties the NYDF to the 2014 UN Climate Summit, matching the statement's timing and venue.
- Describes the NYDF as part of the announcements at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit.
- Says the Declaration "grew out of dialogue... spurred by the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit," linking its origin to that event.
- Q&A dated to the Climate Summit 2014 (23 September 2014) linking the NYDF directly to that Summit.
- States the Declaration "grew out of dialogue... spurred by the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit," supporting endorsement timing.
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
Strength: 4/5
“In June 1992, more than 100 heads of states met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first International Earth Summit. The Summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of environmental protection and socioeconomic development at the global level. The assembled leaders signed the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and Biological Diversity. The Rio Convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21 for achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century.”
Why relevant
Shows that major global environmental/forest agreements and principles have historically been endorsed at large UN summits (e.g., Rio Earth Summit produced Forest Principles and Agenda 21).
How to extend
A student could use this pattern to check whether the New York Declaration fits the same pattern of being launched/endorsed at a major UN summit by comparing dates and venues of such summits.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > 28.TT. UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS (UNT) > p. 401
Strength: 3/5
“28.TT. UNITEI} NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS {UNTT)}} The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), established the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) in October 2000, a subsidiary body with the main objective to promote 'the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment to this end' based on the Rio Declaration, the Forest Principles, Chapter III of Agenda 21 and the outcome of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) / Intergovernmental Forum. The Forum has universal membership, and is composed of all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies: All Rights Reserved.”
Why relevant
Describes the UN Forum on Forests (established via ECOSOC) and ties forest policy action to UN processes and outcomes from major conferences (Rio-related instruments).
How to extend
A student could infer that major forest declarations are often linked to UN-organized processes and thus verify whether the New York Declaration was presented within a UN summit framework in 2014.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > Poznan SummIt. > p. 8
Strength: 3/5
“Te Poznan Summit (Poland) was held in December 2008 In this summit the delegates agreed on principles for fnancing of a fund to help the poorest nations to cope up with the efects of climate change. Tey approved a mechanism to incorporate forest protection into the eforts of the international community to combat climatic change.”
Why relevant
Gives an example (Poznan Summit 2008) where a UN climate meeting produced agreements/mechanisms specifically addressing forest protection.
How to extend
Use this example to support the plausibility that a UN Climate Summit (e.g., one held in New York) could be the venue for a forests declaration and then check the specific 2014 summit agenda and outcomes.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 2019 > p. 323
Strength: 4/5
“To boost ambition and to accelerate actions to implement the Paris Agreement, UN Secretary-General hosted a UNSG's Climate Action Summit in New York. The Summit took place exactly one year before countries are set to enhance their national climate pledges under the Paris Agreement.
All Rights l{eseryed. No part of this material mav be reproduced iI anv tbrm or lrv an.y means, rt ithout permission in $'riting.”
Why relevant
Mentions a UN Secretary‑General‑hosted Climate Action Summit in New York as a venue for boosting climate ambition and accelerating implementation of UN agreements—illustrating that New York has been used for high‑level UN climate events.
How to extend
A student could look up whether a UN climate summit occurred in New York in 2014 and whether its official outcomes include endorsement of the New York Declaration on Forests.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > THE EARTH SUMMIT > p. 597
Strength: 3/5
“The delegates from 178 nations met in Rio De Janeiro in June 1992 for the largest UN conference - 'The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)' also known as 'The Earth Summit'. The summit was intended to put sustainable development at the forefront and to frame a common action plan to stop environmental degradation. An action plan was framed in this summit with regard to sustainable development, known as 'Agenda 21'. • Outcome documents of the Earth Summit: Rio Declaration on Environment and ö Development, Agenda 21, Forest Principles. • Important legally binding agreements that were signed: Convention on Biological ō Diversity (CBD), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).”
Why relevant
Reinforces that major environmental declarations and legally binding agreements have historically emerged from named UN conferences (dates and outcomes listed for Earth Summit).
How to extend
Apply this historical pattern to ask whether the New York Declaration corresponds to a named UN conference/outcome in 2014 and then verify the specific summit records for that year.
Shows that major global environmental/forest agreements and principles have historically been endorsed at large UN summits (e.g., Rio Earth Summit produced Forest Principles and Agenda 21).
A student could use this pattern to check whether the New York Declaration fits the same pattern of being launched/endorsed at a major UN summit by comparing dates and venues of such summits.
Describes the UN Forum on Forests (established via ECOSOC) and ties forest policy action to UN processes and outcomes from major conferences (Rio-related instruments).
A student could infer that major forest declarations are often linked to UN-organized processes and thus verify whether the New York Declaration was presented within a UN summit framework in 2014.
Gives an example (Poznan Summit 2008) where a UN climate meeting produced agreements/mechanisms specifically addressing forest protection.
Use this example to support the plausibility that a UN Climate Summit (e.g., one held in New York) could be the venue for a forests declaration and then check the specific 2014 summit agenda and outcomes.
Mentions a UN Secretary‑General‑hosted Climate Action Summit in New York as a venue for boosting climate ambition and accelerating implementation of UN agreements—illustrating that New York has been used for high‑level UN climate events.
A student could look up whether a UN climate summit occurred in New York in 2014 and whether its official outcomes include endorsement of the New York Declaration on Forests.
Reinforces that major environmental declarations and legally binding agreements have historically emerged from named UN conferences (dates and outcomes listed for Earth Summit).
Apply this historical pattern to ask whether the New York Declaration corresponds to a named UN conference/outcome in 2014 and then verify the specific summit records for that year.
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