Question map
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.
- Statement 1: Was the New York Declaration on Forests first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014?
- Statement 2: Does the New York Declaration on Forests endorse a global timeline to end the loss of forests (for example halving natural forest loss by 2020 and ending it by 2030)?
- Statement 3: Is the New York Declaration on Forests a legally binding international declaration?
- Statement 4: Is the New York Declaration on Forests endorsed by governments, major companies, and indigenous communities?
- Statement 5: Was India one of the signatories of the New York Declaration on Forests at its inception in 2014?
- 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.
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.
This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
Login with Google to unlock all statements.
This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
Login with Google to unlock all statements.
This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
Login with Google to unlock all statements.
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